According to some embodiments, a patient support system for a nuclear medical imaging system is provided that includes: a patient support; a collimator storage unit located under the patient support; a first support means for supporting substantially all of the weight of the collimator storage unit; and a second support means for supporting the patient support at least at a position distal from a gantry of the nuclear medical imaging system. In some embodiments, the first support means includes means for supporting the patient support at a position proximate a gantry of the nuclear medical imaging system and the second support means includes two vertical support structures. In addition, the system preferably includes at least one laterally extendable frame member mounted between the two vertical support structures.