a versatile patient table system for transverse axial scanners employs front and rear tables with a spanning patient pallet for abdominal scans . a motorized conveyer belt on the front table increments the axial position of the patient . for brain scans the rear table and patient pallet are replaced by a head restraint assembly with a hinged headrest , check pad restraint members and a body pad which rests on the conveyer belt on the front table . in the automatic mode of operation , the belt moves either the body pad or the patient pallet out from the scanner in controlled increments triggered by the image processor . the hinged metal seam of the belt is used for indexing the extreme outward and inward positions .