X-Ray Collimator

An X-ray collimator for controlling an X-ray radiation field, the X-ray collimator comprising:

• a lower base member to serve as a base for the collimator;
• a pair of regulating members provided vertically on the lower base member, so as to have opposed surfaces parallel to each other;
• a pair of surrounding members having substantially U-shaped forms in planar view and having a predetermined height, the surrounding members sandwiched between the opposed surfaces of the regulating members in such a way that both U-shaped forms face each other;
• N columnar members surrounded by the pair of surrounding members, each of the columnar members having a planar shape obtained by dividing a substantially regular polygon shape into N equal parts (where N is 4, 6, or 8);
• a guiding member having a rectangular shape in planar view, provided vertically on a protruding section extending from the lower base member so that the rectangular shape has a long side perpendicular to the opposed surfaces of the regulating members;
• a pair of moving members configured to move parallel to the opposed surfaces of the regulating members in a manner that respectively follows both respective side surfaces of the guiding members, and fixed on external surfaces of each of the pair of surrounding members adjacent to the guiding member;
• an upper base member for fixing upper end surfaces of at least the regulating members;
• a first motor for horizontally moving the pair of moving members;
• and
• a second motor for moving the columnar members,
• wherein the first motor is configured to horizontally move the pair of moving members over the same distance in opposite directions, thereby horizontally moving the pair of surrounding members over the same distance in opposite directions, the pair of surrounding members surrounding the columnar members,
• wherein the second motor is configured to move one of the columnar members along an internal surface of the surrounding member surrounding the columnar member, thereby moving the other N−1 columnar members sequentially along internal surfaces of the surrounding members surrounding each of the other columnar members.