Abstract: The invention relates to a leaf module (102) for a multi-leaf collimator (132), comprising a leaf unit (104) and a leaf drive unit (106), wherein the leaf unit (104) comprises a leaf (108) for shielding beams from a selected area, and the leaf unit (104) is mounted displaceably in an adjusting direction (110), wherein the leaf drive unit (106) is designed to displace the leaf unit (104) linearly in the adjusting direction (110), and wherein the leaf drive unit (106) comprises at least one drive mechanism (112), being designed in such a way that the drive mechanism (112) operates based on pneumatic actuation. Furthermore, the invention relates to a multi-leaf collimator (132) comprising a plurality of leaf modules (102) according to the invention. The invention is based on the objective of designing a leaf module (102) and a multi-leaf collimator (132) as compactly as possible, while achieving a simple, reliable and variable adjustability of the leaf unit (104).

Abstract: The invention relates to a leaf assembly (102) for a multi-leaf collimator, comprising a leaf frame (104) and a plurality of leaves (106) for shielding beams (108) from a selected area, wherein the leaves (106) are arranged sideways and adjacently in the leaf frame (104) for shielding beams (108) being emitted from a radiation source (110) located above the assembly (102), wherein each leaf (106) is mounted in the leaf frame (104) displaceably in an adjusting direction (112) being oriented perpendicularly related to said beams (108), and wherein the leaf frame (104) provides a linear guidance (114) for each leaf (106) within the adjusting direction (112), being designed in a such a way that the leaf frame (104) is adapted to allow for lateral movement of the leaves (106) superposing said linear guidance (114), thus allowing mutual abutting of the leaves (106).

Abstract: The invention relates to a leaf assembly (102) for a multi-leaf collimator, comprising a leaf frame (104) and a plurality of leaves (106) for shielding beams (108) from a selected area, wherein the leaves (106) are arranged sideways and adjacently in the leaf frame (104) for shielding beams (108) being emitted from a radiation source (110) located above the assembly (102), wherein each leaf (106) is mounted in the leaf frame (104) displaceably in an adjusting direction (112) being oriented perpendicularly related to said beams (108), and wherein the leaf frame (104) provides a linear guidance (114) for each leaf (106) within the adjusting direction (112), being designed in a such a way that the leaf frame (104) is adapted to allow for lateral movement of the leaves (106) superposing said linear guidance (114), thus allowing mutual abutting of the leaves (106).

Abstract: The invention relates to a leaf module (102) for a multi-leaf collimator (132), comprising a leaf unit (104) and a leaf drive unit (106), wherein the leaf unit (104) comprises a leaf (108) for shielding beams from a selected area, and the leaf unit (104) is mounted displaceably in an adjusting direction (110), wherein the leaf drive unit (106) is designed to displace the leaf unit (104) linearly in the adjusting direction (110), and wherein the leaf drive unit (106) comprises at least one drive mechanism (112), being designed in such a way that the drive mechanism (112) operates based on pneumatic actuation. Furthermore, the invention relates to a multi-leaf collimator (132) comprising a plurality of leaf modules (102) according to the invention. The invention is based on the objective of designing a leaf module (102) and a multi-leaf collimator (132) as compactly as possible, while achieving a simple, reliable and variable adjustability of the leaf unit (104).

Abstract: A leaf module for a multi-leaf collimator comprises a leaf unit and a leaf drive unit. The leaf unit comprises a leaf for shielding beams from a selected area. The leaf unit is mounted displaceably in an adjusting direction with relation to the leaf drive unit. The leaf drive unit is designed to displace the leaf unit linearly in the adjusting direction. The leaf drive unit comprises at least one drive mechanism which operates based on piezoelectric actuation, being designed such that the leaf drive unit thoroughly encloses the leaf unit within a plane being oriented substantially perpendicularly related to the adjusting direction. The multi-leaf collimator can comprise a plurality of leaf modules while being shaped as compact as possible. Both precise and stable adjustability of the leaf unit is achieved with the leaf module.

Abstract: A leaf module for a multi-leaf collimator comprises a leaf unit and a leaf drive unit. The leaf unit comprises a leaf for shielding beams from a selected area. The leaf unit is mounted displaceably in an adjusting direction with relation to the leaf drive unit. The leaf drive unit is designed to displace the leaf unit linearly in the adjusting direction. The leaf drive unit comprises at least one drive mechanism which operates based on piezoelectric actuation, being designed such that the leaf drive unit thoroughly encloses the leaf unit within a plane being oriented substantially perpendicularly related to the adjusting direction. The multi-leaf collimator can comprise a plurality of leaf modules while being shaped as compact as possible. Both precise and stable adjustability of the leaf unit is achieved with the leaf module.

Abstract: A multi-leaf collimator includes leaf drives and two sets of displaceable leaves arranged side by side and facing each other to impress a high-energy beam with the shape of an irregularly formed treatment object. Each of the leaves assumes a position oriented along the shape of the treatment object by means of a leaf drive and each are equipped with a gear rod-like drive engagement in the direction of the displacement. A leaf-side pivotable gear segment is located, together with a motor-side gear segment, on a segment disk that engages with the gear rod-like drive engagement. A pinion drivable by a motor engages with the motor-side gear segment. The segment discs are arranged side by side for each set of leaves as a package on one axis. The motor-side gear segments of two segment disks located next to each other are staggered so that they will not abut each other.

Abstract: A multi-leaf collimator includes leaf drives and two sets of displaceable leaves arranged side by side and facing each other to impress a high-energy beam with the shape of an irregularly formed treatment object. Each of the leaves assumes a position oriented along the shape of the treatment object by means of a leaf drive and each are equipped with a gear rod-like drive engagement in the direction of the displacement. A leaf-side pivotable gear segment is located, together with a motor-side gear segment, on a segment disk that engages with the gear rod-like drive engagement. A pinion drivable by a motor engages with the motor-side gear segment. The segment discs are arranged side by side for each set of leaves as a package on one axis. The motor-side gear segments of two segment disks located next to each other are staggered so that they will not abut each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for operating collimator (1) for limiting a beam of high-energy radiation (2) which, starting from an essentially point-shaped radiation source (3), is directed onto an object (4) to be treated and which is used especially for stereotactic, conformal radiation therapy of tumors, wherein the collimator (1) has an iris diaphragm (5) as a beam-limiting means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for operating collimator (1) for limiting a beam of high-energy radiation (2) which, starting from an essentially point-shaped radiation source (3), is directed onto an object (4) to be treated and which is used especially for stereotactic, conformal radiation therapy of tumors, wherein the collimator (1) has an iris diaphragm (5) as a beam-limiting means.

Abstract: An irradiation device for radiation treatment and a collimator (1) are used to define a beam of high-energy rays (2) with beam limitation by means of an iris diaphragm (5) having adjusting elements (7), and a mechanism that is used to direct the beams (2?) limited by the collimator (1) to the object to be treated (4) from all sides, wherein the parameters for direction, surface area, intensity and time of irradiation can be specified with the help of a control mechanism. An exact three-dimensional irradiation profile is produced, while keeping the costs and efforts regarding mechanical engineering, computation and irradiation time low.

Abstract: An irradiation device for radiation treatment and a collimator (1) are used to define a beam of high-energy rays (2) with beam limitation by means of an iris diaphragm (5) having adjusting elements (7), and a mechanism that is used to direct the beams (2?) limited by the collimator (1) to the object to be treated (4) from all sides, wherein the parameters for direction, surface area, intensity and time of irradiation can be specified with the help of a control mechanism. An exact three-dimensional irradiation profile is produced, while keeping the costs and efforts regarding mechanical engineering, computation and irradiation time low.

Abstract: The invention relates to a respiratory belt system for being used in a magnetic resonance imaging environment. This system comprises a belt being elastically extendable, an optical transducer and an optical pattern being coupled to the belt. During extension or contraction of the belt the optical pattern is moved relative to the light source for a distance that is substantially identical to the length of the extension or the contraction of the belt. The sensor creates a measurement signal corresponding to the change in length of the belt.

Abstract: The invention relates to a collimator (1) for limiting a beam of high-energy radiation (2) which, starting from an essentially point-shaped radiation source (3), is directed onto an object (4) to be treated and which is used especially for stereotactic, conformal radiation therapy of tumors, wherein the collimator (1) has an iris diaphragm (5) as a beam-limiting means.

Abstract: A method of intensity-modulating a beam of radiation from a radiation source is provided, the method including the steps of: a) providing a collimator having a window which allows the passage of radiation from the radiation source and which defines when viewed from the radiation source a two-dimensional array of bixels, the collimator further having a plurality of independently movable radiation attenuators which are constrained to move along columns or rows of the array to block selected bixels thereof, whereby, within each column or row along which the attenuators are movable, at least one arrangement of the respective attenuator(s) results in a pair of open bixels sandwiching a blocked bixel or line of blocked bixels; b) positioning the collimator in the path of the radiation source; and c) repeatedly: positioning the radiation attenuators within the window to form at each repeat a different pattern of bixels; and irradiating the collimator, until a predetermined pattern of radiation intensities for the be

Abstract: The invention relates to a collimator (1) for defining a beam of energetic rays (2) which is emitted from an essentially punctiform radiation source (3) and is oriented onto an object (1) to be treated. The collimator is especially used for the stereotactic conformation radiotherapy of tumors. The collimator (1) is embodied in such a way that an irregular object (4) can be scanned by rays (2, 2?) which are defined by an opening in the collimator. The invention also relates to a program for controlling the collimator. In order to define the contours (29, 29?, 29?) of the objects (4) to be irradiated in a simple but highly accurate manner, especially with a precise definition of the irradiation fields, the collimator comprises a plurality of different sized openings (5, 5? 5?). One of the openings (5, 5?, 5?) can be selectively displaced in a polydirectional manner on a strip (6) having a spherical surface, and the central axis (7) thereof is oriented towards the radiation source (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a patient positioning and transport system comprising a transportable stretcher (1) and a cart (2) for transporting the stretcher (1) with the patient. The stretcher (1) can be removed from the cart (2) to be placed on a diagnosis or treatment station (4). A patient positioning and transport system of the aforementioned type should be designed as to avoid, to the greatest possible extent, repositionings of the patient between separate diagnosis or treatment stations (4). Towards this end, at least one adapter plate (3) that can be assigned to the stretcher (1) is provided, whereby the stretcher (1), the adapter plate (3) and the cart (2) can be joined to another and are configured in such a manner that the stretcher (1) with the patient can be transferred from the cart (2) to various, differently designed diagnosis or treatment stations (4) and back.

Abstract: The invention relates to a collimator (1) for defining a beam of energetic rays (2) which is emitted from an essentially punctiform radiation source (3) and is oriented onto an object (1) to be treated. The collimator is especially used for the stereotactic conformation radiotherapy of tumors. The collimator (1) is embodied in such a way that an irregular object (4) can be scanned by rays (2, 2?) which are defined by an opening in the collimator. The invention also relates to a program for controlling the collimator. In order to define the contours (29, 29?, 29?) of the objects (4) to be irradiated in a simple but highly accurate manner, especially with a precise definition of the irradiation fields, the collimator comprises a plurality of different sized openings (5, 5? 5?). One of the openings (5, 5?, 5?) can be selectively displaced in a polydirectional manner on a strip (6) having a spherical surface, and the central axis (7) thereof is oriented towards the radiation source (3).

Abstract: The invention relates to a patient positioning and transport system comprising a transportable stretcher (1) and a cart (2) for transporting the stretcher (1) with the patient. The stretcher (1) can be removed from the cart (2) to be placed on a diagnosis or treatment station (4). A patient positioning and transport system of the aforementioned type should be designed as to avoid, to the greatest possible extent, repositionings of the patient between separate diagnosis or treatment stations (4). Towards this end, at least one adapter plate (3) that can be assigned to the stretcher (1) is provided, whereby the stretcher (1), the adapter plate (3) and the cart (2) can be joined to another and are configured in such a manner that the stretcher (1) with the patient can be transferred from the cart (2) to various, differently designed diagnosis or treatment stations (4) and back.

Abstract: The invention relates to a collimator (1) for limiting a bundle of high-energy rays (2), which is emitted by a substantially point-like radiation source (3) and directed towards a treatment object (20) and used in particular for the stereotactic conformation radiotherapy of tumors. According to the invention the collimator (1) comprises a plurality of diaphragm leaves (4, 4′) which are arranged opposite each other and which are made of a radiation-absorbing material and which, by means of drive mechanisms, can be moved into the optical path in such a way that the contours and/or exposure period of said optical path can be freely defined, the front edges (5, 5′) of the diaphragm leaves (4, 4′) being parallel to the optical path at all times.