Zend_Db_Table example

$stmt = $this->_db->query($select);
        $data = $stmt->fetchAll(Zend_Db::FETCH_ASSOC);
        return $data;
    }

    public static function getTableFromString($tableName, Zend_Db_Table_Abstract $referenceTable = null)
    {
        if ($referenceTable instanceof Zend_Db_Table_Abstract) {
            $tableDefinition = $referenceTable->getDefinition();

            if ($tableDefinition !== null && $tableDefinition->hasTableConfig($tableName)) {
                return new Zend_Db_Table($tableName, $tableDefinition);
            }
        }

        // assume the tableName is the class name         if (!class_exists($tableName)) {
            try {
                Zend_Loader::loadClass($tableName);
            } catch (Zend_Exception $e) {
                throw new Zend_Db_Table_Row_Exception($e->getMessage(), $e->getCode(), $e);
            }
        }