Surgical table and method of operating the same

A surgical table comprising:

• a base for standing on a floor;
• a column extending from the base;
• a tabletop providing a patient support surface;
• a tabletop traverse drive mechanism coupling the tabletop to the column, which tabletop traverse drive mechanism is for causing movement of the tabletop relative to the column in a selected longitudinal or transverse direction of the tabletop;
• and
• a controller for controlling operation of the tabletop traverse drive mechanism;
• wherein the controller is configured to control the tabletop traverse drive mechanism to cause movement of the tabletop relative to the column between first and second traverse positions via a predetermined traverse position, and configured, when the tabletop is at the predetermined traverse position relative to the column, to control the tabletop traverse drive mechanism to cause the movement of the tabletop relative to the column to be paused for a predetermined period of time.

A method of operating a surgical table having a base for standing on a floor;

• a column extending from the base;
• a tabletop providing a patient support surface;
• a tabletop traverse drive mechanism coupling the tabletop to the column, which tabletop traverse drive mechanism is for causing movement of the tabletop relative to the column in a selected longitudinal or transverse direction of the tabletop;
• and a controller for controlling operation of the tabletop traverse drive mechanism, the method comprising:
• the controller controlling the tabletop traverse drive mechanism to cause movement of the tabletop relative to the column between first and second traverse positions via a predetermined traverse position;
• and
• the controller controlling the tabletop traverse drive mechanism to cause the movement of the tabletop relative to the column to be paused for a predetermined period of time when the tabletop is at the predetermined traverse position relative to the column.