Variable radiation collimator
First Claim
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1. A collimator apparatus for producing a cross-sectionally shaped beam of radiation from a radiation source which comprises:
- (a) support plate means having a central opening around a beam axis through which the beam of radiation can pass;
(b) a bundle of nested rods mounted on the support plate means each rod being movable into the beam at an angle to the beam axis to interfere with the beam, the rods having first ends which together define a first surface for shaping the beam around the beam axis and opposite ends from the first ends of the rods wherein the rods are nested so that the beam can not pass between the rods;
(c) a holder means mounting the rods so that the first surface is defined and the beam is shaped by the first ends of the rods; and
(d) releasable clamping means mounted on the support plate means and engaging the rods between the first and second ends to secure the rods together in the shape defined by the first ends of the rods.
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Abstract
A variable collimator 10 for shaping the cross-section of the beam 100 is described. The collimator relies upon rods 16 which are positioned around the beam axis a-a with the rod 16 axis b-b perpendicular to the beam axis. The rods are shaped by shaping member 24 which is cut to the shape of an area of a patient or other surface to be irradiated.
95 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A collimator apparatus for producing a cross-sectionally shaped beam of radiation from a radiation source which comprises:
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(a) support plate means having a central opening around a beam axis through which the beam of radiation can pass; (b) a bundle of nested rods mounted on the support plate means each rod being movable into the beam at an angle to the beam axis to interfere with the beam, the rods having first ends which together define a first surface for shaping the beam around the beam axis and opposite ends from the first ends of the rods wherein the rods are nested so that the beam can not pass between the rods; (c) a holder means mounting the rods so that the first surface is defined and the beam is shaped by the first ends of the rods; and (d) releasable clamping means mounted on the support plate means and engaging the rods between the first and second ends to secure the rods together in the shape defined by the first ends of the rods. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A collimator apparatus for producing a cross-sectionally shaped beam of radiation from a radiation source which comprises:
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(a) support plate means having a central opening around a beam axis through which the beam of radiation can pass; (b) a bundle of nested metal rods mounted on the support plate means each rod having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the beam axis and having first ends which together define a first surface for shaping the beam around the beam axis and opposite ends from the first ends wherein the rods are nested so that the beam can not pass between the rods; (c) a holder means mounting the rods including shaping means adjacent the opposite ends of the rods, wherein the rod shaping means has a second surface corresponding to the first surface which defines varying positions of the first ends of the rods so that the first surface is defined and the beam is shaped by the first ends of the rods; and (d) clamping means mounted on the support plate means for securing the rods together in the shape defined by the shaping means. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of producing a cross-sectionally shaped beam of radiation from a radiation source which comprises:
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(a) providing a collimator apparatus for producing a cross-sectionally shaped beam of radiation from a radiation source which comprises;
support plate means having a central opening around a beam axis through which the beam of radiation can pass;
a bundle of nested rods mounted on the support plate means each rod being movable into the beam at an angle to the beam axis to interfere with the beam, the rods having first ends which together define a first surface for shaping the beam around the beam axis and opposite ends from the first ends of the rods a holder means mounting the rods so that the first surface is defined and the beam is shaped by the first ends of the rods wherein the rods are nested so that the beam can not pass between the rods; and
releasable clamping means mounted on the support plate means and engaging the rods between the first and second ends to secure the rods together in the shape defined by the first ends of the rods;(b) moving the rods in the holder means to thereby define the first surface for shaping the beam in the collimator; (c) clamping the rods with the clamping means; and (d) irradiating the defined area of an object with the shaped beam defined by the rods.
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16. A method of producing a cross-sectionally shaped beam of radiation from a radiation source which comprises:
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(a) providing support plate means mounted on the radiation source having a central opening around a beam axis through which the beam of radiation can pass;
a bundle of nested metal rods mounted on the support plate means each rod having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the beam axis and having first ends which together define a first surface for shaping the beam around the beam axis and opposite ends from the first ends wherein the rods are nested so that the beam can not pass between the rods;
a holder means mounting the rods including shaping means adjacent the opposite ends of the rods, wherein the rod shaping means has a second surface corresponding to the first surface which defines varying positions of the first ends of the rods so that the first surface is defined and the beam is shaped by the first ends of the rods; and
clamping means mounted on the support plate means for securing the rods together in the shape defined by the shaping means;(b) providng the rod shaping means by shaping a material to conform to an outline of an x-ray image of defined area to the body to be irradiated and thereby providing the second surface of the rod shaping means; (c) mounting the rod shaping means in the holder means with the opposite ends of the rods engaging the rod shaping means second surface to thereby define the first surface for shaping the beam in the collimator corresponding to the x-ray image; (d) clamping the rods with the clamping means; and (e) irradiating the defined area of an object with the shaped beam defined by the rods. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification