Abstract: A device for supporting and positioning a patient in a medical equipment comprises a positioning mechanism supporting a patient support unit. The positioning mechanism comprises a motorized rotary joint member for positioning the patient support unit using a motorized pivoting motion about a pivot axis. A rotational release unit associated with the motorized rotary joint member comprises an override bearing arranged adjacent to or in the motorized rotary joint member configured to be substantially coaxial with the pivot axis, and allow a free pivoting motion of the positioning mechanism about the pivot axis. A rotation locking mechanism cooperates with the override bearing. This rotation locking mechanism switches between a locked state, in which it locks the override bearing in a mechanically defined angular position, and an unlocked state, in which the override bearing is unlocked and the positioning mechanism can freely pivot about the pivot axis.