Multileaf collimator

• US 7,558,378 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthineers AG (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Schramm, Rene, Seeber, Steffen, Reger, Johannes
• Primary Examiner(s): Kiknadze; Irakli
• Application Number:
  US11/899,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20080063147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 378/145-160,65
• US Class Current: 378/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1042 with spatial modulation of the radiation beam within the treatment head
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/04 using variable diaphragms, shutters, choppers
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/046 varying the contour of the field, e.g. multileaf collimators

Abstract

A multileaf collimator is provided. The multileaf collimator may be used for radiotherapy. The multileaf collimator may include a plurality of leaves that are adjustable along a displacement direction for the absorption of rays propagated along a direction of radiation, with opposing leaves relative to the displacement direction with front faces oriented toward each other being displaceable into a closed position. The multileaf collimator may also include a shielding-intensifying planar shape, which in closed position, is characterized by an at least partial overlapping of the front faces relative to the direction of radiation.

Claims

1. A multileaf collimator for radiotherapy comprising:

a first plurality of leaves and a second plurality of leaves, which are adjustable along a displacement direction and operable to absorb rays propagated along a direction of radiation,

the first plurality of leaves opposing to the second plurality of leaves relative to the displacement direction with front faces oriented toward each other being displaceable into a closed position,

wherein, in the closed position, the front faces of opposing leaves overlap relative to the direction of radiation at least in a sub-area.

2. The multileaf collimator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front faces of opposing leaves are intermeshed in the closed position.

3. The multileaf collimator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the intermeshed front faces comprise corresponding surface profiles.

4. The multileaf collimator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the front faces are correspondingly concavely and convexly toward each other for intermeshing.

5. The multileaf collimator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the front faces comprise a radius of curvature of approximately 200 mm to approximately 800 mm.

6. The multileaf collimator as claimed in claim 2, wherein the surface profile of the front faces comprises at least one shoulder.

7. The multileaf collimator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front faces in the sub-area are smoothly curved.

8. The multileaf collimator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the front faces comprise rounded edges.

9. The multileaf collimator as claimed in claim 7, wherein the front faces comprise a sinusoidal front face shape.

10. The multileaf collimator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sinusoidal front face shape comprises an amplitude of approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 0.5 mm.

11. The multileaf collimator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front faces overlap in a region of approximately 0.1 mm to approximately 1 mm in the closed position.

12. The multileaf collimator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leaves are grouped in different planes.

13. A radiotherapy device for shaping X-radiation, comprising:

a multileaf collimator having at least two radiation absorbent leaves being adjustable in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of radiation, a first of the at least two leaves having a first front face and a second of the at least two leaves having a second front face,

wherein the first and second front faces overlap each other in a closed position.