Safety system for use in medical tables

A system for determining and displaying restrictions on operation of an operating table, the system comprising:

• a patient support surface configured for connection to an operating table column of an operating table, the patient support surface comprising:
• a main support surface section having an interface configured for coupling to the operating table column, the main support surface section having at least one light source and at least one detector element, and
• one or more secondary support surface sections which are detachably connectable to the main support surface section, each of the one or more secondary support surface sections having one or more light guides and a marking element which changes light in a manner unique to the respective secondary support surface section, the one or more secondary support surface sections being configured to transmit signals to the main support surface section when connected to the main support surface section, the signals comprising light generated by the at least one light source and guided by means of the light guides to the marking elements of the one or more secondary support surface sections connected to the main support surface section and from the marking elements to the at least one detector element;
• a display unit;
• and
• an evaluation unit configured to:
• determine, based on the signals transmitted to the main support surface section, which type or types of secondary support surface sections are connected to the main support surface sections,
• determine the restrictions on operation of the operating table based on at least identification of the one or more secondary support surface sections or a configuration of the patient support surface determined from the signals, and
• display the restrictions on the display unit before the patient is placed on the patient support surface.