Multi-leaf collimator module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12138482-B2
Application number	US-202117906147-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2021
Priority date	Mar 13, 2020
Publication date	Nov 12, 2024
Grant date	Nov 12, 2024

Abstract

A multi-leaf collimator module for a radiotherapy device comprises: a leaf bank comprising a plurality of leaves. The module also comprises a leaf guide arranged to guide linear movement of the leaves in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, the leaf guide being in direct contact with the leaves. The module further comprises a plurality of leaf actuators, each leaf actuator arranged to engender relative linear motion in the first direction and second direction between one leaf in the leaf bank and other leaves in the leaf bank; and a leaf bank actuator arranged to engender relative linear motion in the first direction and second direction between the entire leaf bank and the leaf guide.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multi-leaf collimator module for a radiotherapy device, the multi-leaf collimator module comprising:
a leaf bank comprising a plurality of leaves;
a leaf guide arranged to guide linear movement of the plurality of leaves in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, the leaf guide being in direct contact with the plurality of leaves;
a plurality of leaf actuators, wherein each leaf actuator arranged to cause relative linear motion in the first direction and second direction between a particular leaf in the leaf bank and one or more other leaves in the leaf bank; and
a leaf bank actuator arranged to cause relative linear motion in the first direction and second direction between the entire leaf bank and the leaf guide.

2. The multi-leaf collimator module according to claim 1 , wherein the leaf bank actuator is coupled at a first end thereof to the leaf guide and at a second end thereof to the leaf bank.

3. The multi-leaf collimator module according to claim 2 , wherein the leaf bank actuator is coupled at the second end thereof to the leaf bank via one or more of the plurality of leaf actuators.

4. The multi-leaf collimator module according to claim 3 , wherein each leaf actuator of the plurality of leaf actuators is coupled at a first end thereof to the second end of the leaf bank actuator and at a second end thereof to the particular leaf.

5. The multi-leaf collimator module according to claim 1 , wherein each leaf actuator of the plurality of leaf actuators is coupled at a first end thereof to the leaf bank actuator and at a second end thereof to the particular leaf.

6. The multi-leaf collimator module according to claim 1 , wherein the leaf bank actuator is arranged to cause relative linear motion between the entire leaf bank and the leaf guide by causing relative linear motion between the plurality of leaf actuators and the leaf guide.

7. The multi-leaf collimator module according to claim 1 , wherein the leaf guide comprises:
a first leaf guide unit; and
a second leaf guide unit spaced from the first leaf guide unit in the first direction, wherein the first leaf guide unit and second leaf guide unit are in direct contact with the leaf bank.

8. A multi-leaf collimator comprising:
a mount;
a first multi-leaf collimator module; and
a second multi-leaf collimator module, wherein each of the first multi-leaf collimator module and the second multi-leaf collimator module comprise:
a leaf bank comprising a plurality of leaves;
a leaf guide arranged to guide linear movement of the plurality of leaves in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, the leaf guide being in direct contact with the plurality of leaves;
a plurality of leaf actuators, wherein each leaf actuator arranged to cause relative linear motion in the first direction and second direction between a particular leaf in the leaf bank and one or more other leaves in the leaf bank; and
a leaf bank actuator arranged to cause relative linear motion in the first direction and second direction between the entire leaf bank and the leaf guide;

wherein the leaf guide of the first multi-leaf collimator module and the leaf guide of the second multi-leaf collimator module are fixed to or integral with the mount, and wherein a leading end of the leaf bank of the first multi-leaf collimator module and a leading end of the leaf bank of the second multi-leaf collimator module are arranged to face each other to define an aperture therebetween.

9. The multi-leaf collimator of claim 8 , wherein the leaf guide of the first multi-leaf collimator module is rigidly coupled to the leaf guide of the second multi-leaf collimator module.

10. The multi-leaf collimator of claim 8 , wherein the leaf guide of the first multi-leaf collimator module is arranged to remain static in relation to the leaf guide of the second multi-leaf collimator module during operation of at least one of the leaf bank actuator of the first multi-leaf collimator module or the leaf bank actuator of the second multi-leaf collimator module.

11. The multi-leaf collimator of claim 8 , wherein the multi-leaf collimator is included on or coupled to a beam limiting device.

12. The multi-leaf collimator of claim 11 , wherein the beam limiting device comprises:
a controller arranged to drive at least one of the leaf bank actuator of the first multi-leaf collimator module or the leaf bank actuator of the second multi-leaf collimator module to cause relative linear motion between the leaf bank of the first multi-leaf collimator module and the leaf guide of the first multi-leaf collimator module or between the leaf bank of the second multi-leaf collimator module and the leaf guide of the second multi-leaf collimator module.

13. The multi-leaf collimator of claim 11 , wherein the beam limiting device is included in or coupled to a radiotherapy device.

14. A method of driving a multi-leaf collimator module, the multi-leaf collimator module comprising:
a leaf bank comprising a plurality of leaves;
a leaf guide arranged to guide linear movement of the plurality of leaves in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction, the leaf guide being in direct contact with the plurality of leaves;
a plurality of leaf actuators, wherein each leaf actuator arranged to cause relative linear motion in the first direction and second direction between a particular leaf in the leaf bank and one or more other leaves in the leaf bank; and
a leaf bank actuator arranged to cause relative linear motion in the first direction and second direction between the entire leaf bank and the leaf guide;

the method comprising:
driving the leaf bank actuator to cause relative linear motion between the entire leaf bank and the leaf guide.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the leaf bank actuator is coupled at a first end thereof to the leaf guide and at a second end thereof to the leaf bank.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the leaf bank actuator is coupled at the second end thereof to the leaf bank via one or more of the plurality of leaf actuators.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein each leaf actuator of the plurality of leaf actuators is coupled at a first end thereof to the second end of the leaf bank actuator and at a second end thereof to the particular leaf.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein each leaf actuator of the plurality of leaf actuators is coupled at a first end thereof to the leaf bank actuator and at a second end thereof to the particular leaf.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the leaf bank actuator is arranged to cause relative linear motion between the entire leaf bank and the leaf guide by causing relative linear motion between the plurality of leaf actuators and the leaf guide.

20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the leaf guide comprises:
a first leaf guide unit; and
a second leaf guide unit spaced from the first leaf guide unit in the first direction, wherein the first leaf guide unit and second leaf guide unit are in direct contact with the leaf bank.

Assignees

• Elekta ltd

Inventors

• Broad Martin

Classifications

• A61N5/1048

  Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods · CPC title

• A61N5/1045 Primary

  using a multi-leaf collimator, e.g. for intensity modulated radiation therapy or IMRT · CPC title

• G21K1/046 Primary

  varying the contour of the field, e.g. multileaf collimators · CPC title

• A61N5/1042 Primary

  with spatial modulation of the radiation beam within the treatment head · CPC title