A device for supporting and positioning a patient in a medical equipment comprises a patient support means, a robotic arm supporting the patient support means, and an robotic wrist with at least two motorized rotational degrees of freedom, the robotic wrist being borne by the robotic arm and bearing the patient support means. A translational release unit is connected between the robotic wrist and the patient support means. It includes an XY translation mechanism providing two translational degrees of freedom and a translation locking mechanism cooperating with the XY translation mechanism. The translation locking mechanism is switchable between a locked state, in which it locks the two translational degrees of freedom of the XY translation mechanism in a mechanically defined position, and an unlocked state, in which the two translational degrees of freedom are unlocked.
