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US 10,037,829 B2Granted
Multi-leaf collimator with leaf sliding means using rolling elements
AssigneeElekta Limited
InventorClifford William Perkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The leaves of a multi-leaf collimator can be driven more easily and hence more quickly if they are supported on a ball-race instead of in a sliding groove. A recirculating path is preferred, in which the rolling elements of the ball-race support the leaf over part of their path and then return to a start of the path. In addition, the rolling elements could be driven by a drive screw in order to drive the leaf.
Claims8
A multi-leaf collimator for a radiotherapy apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of leaves having an elongated shape;
- and
- a frame housing the plurality of leaves, the plurality of leaves being arranged side-by-side and being individually moveable in their elongate directions,
- wherein:
- the frame includes a pair of bearings located on opposite sides of at least one leaf to support the leaf, each bearing including a plurality of rolling elements retained within a retaining path located on the frame, wherein the retaining path is a recirculating path;
- the rolling elements in each bearing move in the elongate direction relative to the frame and with the at least one leaf;
- the rolling elements support an edge of the leaf over a limited part of the recirculating path;
- and
- the rolling elements are driven by a drive motor that contacts the rolling elements at a part of the recirculating path located outside the limited part.
6 more elements
A multi-leaf collimator for a radiotherapy apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of leaves having an elongated shape;
- and
- a frame housing the plurality of leaves, the plurality of leaves being arranged side-by-side and being individually driven to move in their elongate directions,
- wherein:
- the frame includes a bearing supporting at least one leaf, the bearing including a plurality of rolling elements retained within a recirculating path located on the frame, wherein the rolling elements are driven by a drive motor to assist a movement of the leaf and wherein the rolling elements move, when driven, relative to the frame in the elongate direction of the corresponding leaf;
- and
- the drive motor contacts the rolling elements at a part of the recirculating path located outside a limited part over which the rolling elements support an edge of the leaf.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.