Multi-leaf collimators
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.
Claims12
A multi-leaf collimator for a radiotherapy apparatus, comprising a frame in which are housed a plurality of elongate leaves, the leaves being arranged side-by side and being individually moveable in their elongate directions, wherein each leaf is supported by the frame on a bearing including a plurality of rolling elements such that rolling surfaces of the rolling elements contact at least a surface of the frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.