Abstract: A collimator (1) primarily adapted for usage in a narrow scanned pencil beam radiation therapy system (100) includes adjacent pairs (5) of collimator leaves (10, 20). An inner portion (12) of a collimator leaf (10) facing the opposite leaf (20) of a pair (5) is made of a first material having high linear radiation attenuation. The remaining, major portion (14) of the leaf (10) is made of a second material having a comparatively low density, weight and radiation attenuation. The collimator (1) provides effective penumbra trimming of a radiation beam (60), while simultaneously protecting healthy tissue around a tumor in an irradiated patient (80) from the radiation. The new design results in a significantly more compact, lighter and less expensive collimator (1) as compared to traditional collimators.

Abstract: A stereoscopic phase-contrast X-ray imaging system (1) comprises a stereoscopic radiation head (20) having at least one X-ray source (30, 31) providing a first (32) and second (33) X-ray beam in stereoscopic configuration onto an object (110). At least one detector (40, 41) detects the beams (32, 33) having passed through the object (110) and generates detection data. This data is processed by a phase-contrast stereoscopic reconstruction processor (60) to generate two 2D phase-contrast images (80, 82) of the object (110) collectively forming a stereoscopic image pair or stereo image providing high resolution 3D representation of the object (110).

Abstract: A collimator (1) primarily adapted for usage in a narrow scanned pencil beam radiation therapy system (100) includes adjacent pairs (5) of collimator leaves (10, 20). An inner portion (12) of a collimator leaf (10) facing the opposite leaf (20) of a pair (5) is made of a first material having high linear radiation attenuation. The remaining, major portion (14) of the leaf (10) is made of a second material having a comparatively low density, weight and radiation attenuation. The collimator (1) provides effective penumbra trimming of a radiation beam (60), while simultaneously protecting healthy tissue around a tumor in an irradiated patient (80) from the radiation. The new design results in a significantly more compact, lighter and less expensive collimator (1) as compared to traditional collimators.

Abstract: A stereoscopic phase-contrast X-ray imaging system (1) comprises a stereoscopic radiation head (20) having at least one X-ray source (30, 31) providing a first (32) and second (33) X-ray beam in stereoscopic configuration onto an object (110). At least one detector (40, 41) detects the beams (32, 33) having passed through the object (110) and generates detection data. This data is processed by a phase-contrast stereoscopic reconstruction processor (60) to generate two 2D phase-contrast images (80, 82) of the object (110) collectively forming a stereoscopic image pair or stereo image providing high resolution 3D representation of the object (110).

Abstract: A radiation beam modulator for modulating a radiation beam in a radiation system, includes an array of multiple columns of a radiation modulating fluid or liquid and a height adjuster which adjusts the heights of the multiple fluid columns so that the adjusted columns collectively will form a target radiation modulating profile. In a first embodiment, the modulator includes a bundle of capillaries in which the modulating fluid is conveyed to form the columns. An antagonizing fluid is conveyed into an opposite end of the capillaries to lock the modulating fluid in position between adjustments. In a second embodiment, the modulator includes a bath of the modulating fluid, in which bars can be immersed and retracted to generate the target radiation modulating profile.

Abstract: A radiation beam modulator (1; 500; 600) that can be employed for modulating a radiation beam (60) in a radiation system. The modulator (1; 500; 600) comprises a bath (590; 690) containing a radiation attenuating fluid (520; 620) and multiple low radiation attenuating bars (570; 670) immersed in the fluid (520; 620) to form an array of multiple columns (525; 625). A height adjuster (530; 630) is arranged for adjusting a respective level of immersion of the bars (570; 670) in the fluid (520; 620) thereby to adjust the heights of the fluid columns (525; 625) such that the columns (525; 625) collectively form a radiation beam modulating profile.