Patent · US Expired

Multi-leaf collimator

US7095823B2 · kind B2 · utility

52Cited by
4References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 7, 2004
Grant dateAug 22, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 7, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG21K1/04
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A multi-leaf collimator is disclosed which alleviates the problems of inter-leaf leakage and pixellation. The collimator comprises a first multi-leaf collimator set, a second multi-leaf collimator set at an acute angle to the first, and a third multi-leaf collimator set at an acute angle to the second. Each multi-leaf collimator set will usually include a pair of leaf banks mutually opposed to each other. The acute angle between the first and the second multi-leaf collimator set is preferably the same as the acute angle between the second and the third set. A suitable angle is about 60°. To improve the penumbra characteristics, (i) the leaves of the multi-leaf collimator closest to the radiation source can be deeper in the direction of the radiation than the leaves of a multi-leaf collimator more distant from the radiation source, (ii) the leaves of the multi-leaf collimator furthest from the radiation source can be shallower in the direction of the radiation than the leaves of a multi-leaf collimator closer to the radiation source, (iii) the tips of the leaves of the multi-leaf collimators can be rounded (iv) the radius of curvature of the tips of the leaves of the multi-leaf coll…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.