Abstract: A photon-counting X-ray CT apparatus in an embodiment includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray detector, correction circuitry, and processing circuitry. The X-ray tube is configured to irradiate a subject with X-rays. The X-ray detector is configured to include an X-ray detection element that detects photons of the X-rays that the X-ray tube emits. The correction circuitry is configured to correct a count value observed by the X-ray detection element in each of a plurality of energy bins, based on at least one of the probability of escape in the X-ray detection element and the probability of crosstalk in the X-ray detection element. The processing circuitry is configured to generate a reconstruction image, based on the count values corrected by the correction circuitry.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for planning and delivering radiation treatments by modalities which involve moving a radiation source along a trajectory relative to a subject while delivering radiation to the subject. In some embodiments the radiation source is moved continuously along the trajectory while in some embodiments the radiation source is moved intermittently. Some embodiments involve the optimization of the radiation delivery plan to meet various optimization goals while meeting a number of constraints. For each of a number of control points along a trajectory, a radiation delivery plan may comprise: a set of motion axes parameters, a set of beam shape parameters and a beam intensity.

Abstract: A substrate may be disposed on a substrate support in a flood exposure treatment system. A flood exposure dose profile may be selected. The substrate may be exposed to flood irradiation from a source, and the flood irradiation may be terminated when the selected flood exposure dose profile is achieved. Exposing the substrate to flood irradiation may comprise controlling at least one of a substrate rotation rate, a source scanning rate, a substrate scanning rate, a source power setting, a distance from the source to the substrate, a source aperture setting, an angle of incidence of flood irradiation on the substrate, and a source focus position to achieve the selected flood exposure dose profile.

Abstract: There is provided a System and Method For Determining The Radiological Composition of Material Layers Within a Conduit. The system and method disclosed is equally applicable to pipes, vessels, and conduits as well as medical applications such as determining vessel thickness, occlusion, scarring, or the like in humans and animals. A phantom setup is disclosed that has a phantom containing a test standard such as a reactor water test standard, removable plates, a collimator and probe with a spectrometer display. The phantom setup provides a baseline data set that can be used in conjunction with field measurements to determine the composition of materials within the conduit, such as corrosion or the like. The baseline data set may be semi-logarithmic and contains spectrometer readings of various plate thicknesses or quantities of plates.

Abstract: Various configurations of shielding materials within shielding layers, such as for use in shielding radiation from implanted radioactive carriers, are discussed herein.

Abstract: A portable X-ray diffraction apparatus is provided which can be held by a person and on which an image of a spot to be measured can be viewed. The portable X-ray diffraction apparatus includes: X-ray irradiation means that irradiates a sample with collimated X-rays; diffracted X-ray detection means that detects a collimated portion of diffracted X-rays among X-rays diffracted from the sample by the irradiation of the X-rays with the X-ray irradiation means; and signal processing means that processes a signal outputted from the diffracted X-ray detection means. An X-ray diffraction method is used which includes: irradiating a sample with collimated continuous-wavelength X-rays; extracting a collimated portion of diffracted X-rays diffracted from the sample irradiated with the X-rays and condensing the extracted collimated portion of the diffracted X-rays; detecting, using an energy dispersive detection element, the condensed diffracted X-rays; and processing a signal detected by the detection element.

Abstract: A method to prevent stress corrosion cracking of a storage canister 1, wherein stress corrosion cracking is prevented by applying a compressive stress to a range where a tensile residual stress is generated on a metallic body 2 by welding a cover 4 to a top 2a of the body 2. A first compressive stress is applied beforehand to a range L of the body 2 where a tensile residual stress is expected to be generated by the welding of the cover 4, the tensile residual stress is canceled by welding the cover 4 with a compressive residual stress generated in the range L, and then a second compressive stress is applied so as to generate a compressive residual stress over the range L.

Abstract: This is a new technique of producing high energy X-rays for radiation therapy at a patient's level. The dose delivery system uses a linear accelerator with no flattening filter. The technique improves patient radiation therapy by reducing radiation scattered to surrounding normal tissue and reducing electron contamination. It increases dose rate to shorten treatment time. The flattening filter reduces the efficiency of the beam by reducing the fluence and increasing scattered radiation. This technique involves removal of the flattening filter. It uses inverse planning to shape the dose distribution.

Abstract: A system for storing radioactive materials includes a canister having a first hermetically sealed vessel having a first cavity, a second hermetically sealed vessel having a second cavity, the first vessel positioned in the second cavity, an interstitial space between the first and second vessels, and a test port through the second vessel in fluidic communication with the interstitial space. A conduit has a first end fluidically coupled to the test port, and a removable seal is operably coupled to a second end of the conduit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a variable pin-hole type collimator applied to a radiation imaging device. The variable pin-hole type collimator comprises: a hole forming module having a plurality of apertures which are stacked in a direction of irradiation such that each aperture defines a penetrating-space through which radiation passes; a plurality of driving modules which are configured that each driving module varies each penetrating-space of the aperture independently; and a collimating controller to control the driving modules such that each penetrating-space of the aperture varies independently and the hole forming module forms a pin-hole through which radiation passes. Therefore, a collimator having various types can be embodied by the variation of the pin-hole shape.

Abstract: A particle beam irradiation chamber in which a passage having a first opening part at a side of an inner wall and a second opening part at a side of an outer wall is provided and which has an isocenter inside the chamber, wherein a first line segment which connects the center of the first opening part and the center of the second opening part passes inside the passage, an angle, which is formed by a second segment, which connects the center of the first opening part and the isocenter and the first line segment, is smaller than 180 degrees, and a width of the passage is narrower than a width of opening of the first opening part.

Abstract: A system for calibrating a charged particle pencil beam includes a first pixelated detector, a second pixelated detector, a beam stop, and a diagnostics system. The first and second pixelated detectors measure the pencil beam at positions proximal and/or distal to an isocenter plane. The beam stop is configured to detect an energy level of the pencil beam. The diagnostics system is configured to transmit a signal to request a generation of the charged particle pencil beam at different settings. The diagnostics system is also configured to update a calibration parameter for each setting based on the data received from the pixelated detectors and the beam stop.

Abstract: An image processing method for the 3D display of a patient's organ in which a surgical instrument is positioned, using a medical imaging system comprising a rotating C-arm able to be positioned in at least two angular positions, the C-arm comprising a radiation source at one of its ends, a detector at the other of its ends arranged facing the radiation source, and a collimator arranged between the radiation source and the detector and defining an illumination zone, characterized in that the collimator is adjusted according to the angular position of the rotating C-arm to determine the illumination zone so that the radiation only passes through a region surrounding the surgical instrument.

Abstract: An improved radiation window comprises a film permeable to radiation disposed on a support structure. The support structure comprises a primary transmissive area comprising a plurality of support members defining a plurality of apertures for radiation to pass through; a flange disposed around the periphery of the primary transmissive area having generally greater mechanical rigidity than the primary transmissive area; and a transition region disposed between, and contiguous with, the primary transmissive area and the flange; the transition region having generally greater mechanical rigidity than the primary transmissive area and generally lesser mechanical rigidity than the flange, thereby providing an intermediate rigidity transition between the dissimilar rigidities of the primary transmissive area and the flange. A radiation detection system comprises a sensor configured to detect radiation, disposed behind such an improved radiation window.

Abstract: An adjustable collimator for shaping a beam of particles, such as for purposes of inspecting contents of a container. The adjustable collimator has an obscuring element substantially opaque to passage of the particles in a propagation direction that is radial with respect to the axis of rotation of a ring of apertures. A gap in the obscuring element may be characterized by a length taken along a long dimension and a jaw spacing taken along narrow dimension, and at least one of the length of the gap and the jaw spacing is subject to adjustment, either manual or automatic. The adjustable collimator may be disposed either inside or outside the ring of apertures, and, in some embodiments, the jaw spacing may be a function of distance along the long dimension relative to an edge of the gap.

Abstract: An X-ray fluorescence analyzer is provided which comprises: (1) an X-ray source selected to produce an intense X-ray beam, (2) a first optical element that focuses the X-ray beam produced by the X-ray source onto a sample and selects X-rays of a desired energy, (3) an energy resolving detector, and (4) a second optical element that receives fluorescent X-rays emitted from elements in the sample and focuses a selected energy range of said fluorescent X-rays onto said energy resolving detector. Each of the first and second optical elements includes a crystal component. The X-ray fluorescence analyzer is configured such that: (i) the X-ray source has a spot size dimensioned so that it is substantially in a field of view of the first optical element, and (ii) the first optical element focuses the X-ray beam emitted by the X-ray source onto an area of the sample that corresponds to a field-of-view of the second optical element.

Abstract: The present specification discloses a high speed scanning system for scanning cargo carried by rail. The system uses a two-dimensional X-ray sensor array with, in one embodiment, a cone-beam X-ray geometry. The pulse rate of X-ray source is modulated based on the speed of the moving cargo to allow a distance travelled by the cargo between X-ray pulses to be equal to the width of the detector, for a single energy source, and to half the width of the detector for a dual energy source. This ensures precise timing between the X-ray exposure and the speed of the passing object, and thus accurate scanning of cargo even at high speeds.

Abstract: An X-ray obscuration (XRO) film comprising one or more metallic wire mesh layers and an adjacent layer of indium foil having portions which extend into openings of the wire mesh and in contact with metallic portions thereof. The XRO film can be capable of absorbing at least a portion of X-ray energy thereby creating an interference pattern when the XRO film is coupled with an electronic circuit and placed between an X-ray source and an X-ray detector and subjected to radiographic inspection. The interference pattern can create sufficient visual static to effectively obscure circuit lines in the electronic circuit when subjected to radiographic inspection techniques. The XRO film can be substantially thinner than existing solutions for preventing X-ray inspection with an exemplary embodiment being no more than 5 mils thick. The metallic XRO film can also provide electromagnetic shielding and/or heat dissipation for electronic circuits.

Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for operating a traveling wave linear accelerator to generate stable electron beams at two or more different intensities by varying the number of electrons injected into the accelerator structure during each pulse by varying the width of the beam pulse, i.e., pulse width.

Abstract: A method of performing microbeam radiosurgery on a patient whereby opposing portions of target tissue within a patient are exposed to a flux of high energy quanta via microbeam envelopes. The microbeam envelopes are applied in multiple non-parallel orientations such that the exposed portions of the target tissue define a substantially closed volume. The tissue remaining inside is thereby denied blood flow and dies.

Abstract: A particle acceleration system includes a particle accelerator and at least one beam-transparent stripper element. The particle accelerator is configured to accelerate charged particles along a trajectory. The beam-transparent stripper element(s) is/are positioned along the trajectory. Each beam-transparent stripper element has a surface normal to the trajectory, wherein said surface defines a plurality of apertures configured to cause a first plurality of charged particles that strike the surface to undergo a stripping process while a second plurality of charged particles pass through one or more of the plurality of apertures without undergoing the stripping process.

Abstract: A device for sterilizing containers may include a treatment head having an outlet window for the passing of charge carriers therethrough, a charge carrier generation source for generating charge carriers, an acceleration device disposed above the outlet window, and a cooling device for cooling the outlet window. The acceleration device accelerates the charge carriers in the direction of the outlet window. The cooling device includes a feed opening for a gaseous medium. The feed opening is disposed beneath the outlet window and directs the gaseous medium at least partially from below to the outlet window.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for collimating a radiation beam, the method comprising subjecting the beam to a collimator that yaws and pitches, either separately or simultaneously relative to the incident angle of the beam. Also provided is a system for collimating radiation beams, the system comprising a collimator body, and a stage for pitching and yawing the body. A feature of the invention is that a single, compact mask body defines one or a plurality of collimators having no moving surfaces relative to each other, whereby the entire mask body is moved about a point in space to provide various collimator opening dimensions to oncoming radiation beams.

Abstract: A radiation control system and method are provided in which radiation delivered to a patient and/or the operator of the equipment is minimized. The radiation control system may be used in a large variety of applications including applications in which radiation source is used to inspect an object, such as, for example, medical imaging, diagnosis and therapy, in manufacturing operation using radiation, in airports scanning systems, in different security setups, and in nuclear reactors automation and process control. The radiation control system and method may also be used with 3D imaging.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a multilayer film, the method includes forming a first layer, forming a second layer on the first layer, and transcribing a crystal information of one of the first and second layers to the other one of the first and second layers by executing a GCIB-irradiation to the second layer.

Abstract: A collimator includes a plurality of first plate-shaped parts, and a plurality of second plate-shaped parts interlocking with the plurality of first plate-shaped parts. Each of the plurality of first plate-shaped parts and the plurality of second plate-shaped parts arranged with a rectangular spacing therebetween and form a grid-like pattern. Each of the first plate-shaped parts comprises a first slotted plate part having a plurality of first slits formed thereon that is fixed to each of the second plate-shaped parts. A second slotted plate part having a plurality of second slits formed thereon is coupled to a side of the second plate-shaped parts opposite to the first slotted plate part. An adjustment plate part is disposed between the first slotted plate part and the second slotted plate part.

Abstract: A 2D collimator is disclosed for a radiation detector. In at least one embodiment, the 2D collimator includes 2D collimator modules arranged in series, wherein adjacent 2D collimator modules are glued together to establish a fixed mechanical connection to facing module sides, and wherein, on their free-remaining side, the outer 2D collimator modules have a retaining element for mounting the 2D collimator opposite a detector mechanism. A method for manufacturing such a 2D collimator is also disclosed.

Abstract: A radiation control system and method are provided in which radiation delivered to a patient and/or the operator of the equipment is minimized. The radiation control system may be used in a large variety of applications including applications in which radiation source is used to inspect an object, such as, for example, medical imaging, diagnosis and therapy, in manufacturing operation using radiation, in airports scanning systems, in different security setups, and in nuclear reactors automation and process control. The radiation control system and method may also be used with 3D imaging.

Abstract: A system includes a first electrode to receive an ion beam, a second electrode to receive the ion beam after passing through the first electrode, the first and second electrode forming an upstream gap defined by a convex surface on one of the first or second electrode and concave surface on the other electrode, a third electrode to receive the ion beam after passing through the second electrode, wherein the second and third electrode form a downstream gap defined by a convex surface on one of the second or third electrode and concave surface on the other electrode, wherein the second electrode has either two concave surfaces or two convex surfaces; and a voltage supply system to independently supply voltage signals to the first, second and third electrode, that accelerate and decelerate the ion beam as it passes through the first, second, and third electrode.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing electron radiation therapy on a breast cancer patient preferably includes an intraoperative electron radiation therapy machine, an intraoperative electron radiation therapy collimator tube connected to the intraoperative electron radiation therapy machine, and a plurality of filters made of a material having substantially the same density as human breast tissue for placement between the machine and the patient to change the energy of a monoenergetic beam after the beam has left the machine, allowing a filter to be chosen to reduce the energy traveling through the tube to a desired amount of energy to treat the patient.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal conduction element (20) for a package for transporting and/or storing radioactive materials, comprising: an internal part (30) intended to be in contact with a lateral body (14) of the package; an external part (34) intended to form a portion of an external envelope (24) of said package, holding radiological protection means (22); an intermediate part (32) arranged between the internal and external parts, the internal, external and intermediate parts being produced from copper and one of the alloys thereof. According to the invention, the external part (34) is equipped, at each of its two opposite ends, with an area (36) for connection by welding to another thermal conduction element (20), each connection area (36) being produced from steel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a collimator electrode, comprising an electrode body (81) that is provided with a central electrode aperture (82), wherein the electrode body defines an electrode height between two opposite main surfaces, and wherein the electrode body accommodates a cooling conduit (105) inside the electrode body for transferring a cooling liquid (102). The electrode body preferably has a disk shape or an oblate ring shape. The invention further relates to a collimator electrode stack for use in a charged particle beam generator, comprising a first collimator electrode and a second collimator electrode that are each provided with a cooling conduit (105) for transferring the cooling liquid (102), and a connecting conduit (110) for a liquid connection between the cooling conduits of the first and second collimator electrodes.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode stack (70) comprising stacked electrodes (71-80) for manipulating a charged particle beam along an optical axis (A). Each electrode comprises an electrode body with an aperture for the charged particle beam. The electrode bodies are mutually spaced and the electrode apertures are coaxially aligned along the optical axis. The electrode stack comprises electrically insulating spacing structures (89) between each pair of adjacent electrodes for positioning the electrodes (71-80) at predetermined mutual distances along the axial direction (Z). A first electrode and a second electrode each comprise an electrode body with one or more support portions (86), wherein each support portion is configured to accommodate at least one spacing structure (89). The electrode stack has at least one clamping member (91-91c) configured to hold the support portions (86) of the first and second electrodes, as well as the intermediate spacing structure (89) together.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing improved scanner corrections are disclosed. Scanner corrections provided in accordance with the present disclosure may be referred to as wafer geometry aware scanner corrections. More specifically, wafer geometry and/or wafer shape signature information are utilized to improve scanner corrections. By removing the wafer geometry as one of the error sources that may affect the overlay accuracy, better scanner corrections can be obtained because one less contributing factor needs to be modeled.

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 method of producing field emitters having improved brightness and durability relying on the creation of a liquid Taylor cone from electrically conductive materials having high melting points. The method calls for melting the end of a wire substrate with a focused laser beam, while imposing a high positive potential on the material. The resulting molten Taylor cone is subsequently rapidly quenched by cessation of the laser power. Rapid quenching is facilitated in large part by radiative cooling, resulting in structures having characteristics closely matching that of the original liquid Taylor cone. Frozen Taylor cones thus obtained yield desirable tip end forms for field emission sources in electron beam applications. Regeneration of the frozen Taylor cones in-situ is readily accomplished by repeating the initial formation procedures. The high temperature liquid Taylor cones can also be employed as bright ion sources with chemical elements previously considered impractical to implement.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a particle energy modulating device for variably changing the energy of the particles of a particle beam. The particle energy modulating device has a variable energy varying device with a control value correcting device for correcting a supplied control value. The control value correcting device corrects the supplied control values through the use of previously determined calibration data.

Abstract: The invention is an imaging apparatus comprising a detector device (12) for determining points of incidence of photons and having an impact surface (13), and an aperture (16) suitable for projecting the photons to the detector device (12) having an inlet surface (17) and an outlet surface facing the impact surface (13), and comprising pinholes (18?, 18?, 22) connecting the inlet surface (17) and the outlet surface. The pinholes (18?, 18?, 22) comprise one or more central pinholes (18?, 22) and one or more peripheral pinholes (18?), and at least one central pinhole (18?, 22) and at least one peripheral pinhole (18?) are formed with focal opening (20?, 20?, 23) depth or focal opening (20?, 20?, 23) sizes different from each other. Furthermore, the invention is an aperture for the imaging apparatus and a method of manufacturing an aperture of an imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A nuclear fusion reactor first wall component includes a copper alloy element, an intermediate metal layer made from niobium and a beryllium element, directly in contact with the intermediate metal layer. The intermediate niobium layer is further advantageously associated with a mechanical stress-reducing layer formed by a metal chosen from copper and nickel. This mechanical stress-reducing layer is in particular arranged between the intermediate niobium layer and the copper alloy element. Furthermore, when the mechanical stress-reducing layer is made from pure copper, a layer of pure nickel can be inserted between the niobium and the pure copper before diffusion welding. Such a component presents the advantage of having an improved thermal fatigue behavior while at the same time preventing the formation of intermetallic compounds at the junction between the beryllium and the copper alloy.

Abstract: A multi-pinhole collimator is formed by calculating a projection size (D) for different pinhole numbers (n) for a predetermined field-of-view (FOV) (d) by arranging a plurality of projections into a pattern. A pattern is selected which utilizes a whole detector with maximized packing density, minimum truncation to provide a projection overlap below a predetermined limit. The number of pinholes is modified to calculate a collimator length, a corresponding acceptance angle and aperture size. Sensitivities for individual pinholes are added to obtain a total sensitivity for a given pinhole number, and an optimized multi-pinhole configuration is obtained by maximizing the total sensitivity for a predetermined target resolution (Re) and field-of-view (FOV) (d).

Abstract: Disclosed is a filter including a second layer disposed between a first layer and a third layer. The first layer is composed of iron. The second layer is composed of 1 part by volume of lithium fluoride, 20 to 50 parts by volume of aluminum, and 50 to 80 parts by volume of aluminum fluoride. The third layer is composed of 1 part by weight of lithium fluoride and 99 to 100 parts by weight of magnesium fluoride.

Abstract: Herein, an improved technique for processing a substrate is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be achieved using a mask for processing the substrate. The mask may be incorporated into a substrate processing system such as, for example, an ion implantation system. The mask may comprise one or more first apertures disposed in a first row; and one or more second apertures disposed in a second row, each row extending along a width direction of the mask, wherein the one or more first apertures and the one or more second apertures are non-uniform.

Abstract: A method of electron microcopy passes an electron beam through a phase plate, specifically a Zernike type phase plate, comprising a central hole, and a thin film causing a phase shift of the electrons passing through said film. This phase shift causes the Contrast Transfer Function (CTF) to change from a sine-like function to a cosine-like function. The phase plate is equipped with a film in the form of an annulus, carried by a much thinner film. As a result only in a small spatial frequency range (for low frequencies) the phase is changed (and thus the CTF), and for other spatial frequencies the phase shift is negligible, and thus the CTF remains unchanged. Due to the much smaller thickness of the carrier film the scattering of electrons is negligible as well.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a mixture comprising erbium and praseodymium as a radiation attenuating composition, i.e. as a composition that can attenuate ionizing radiation, in particular X- and gamma-type electromagnetic radiation. The invention also relates to a radiation attenuating material comprising an erbium- and praseodymium-based composition, as well as a protective article which provides group or individual protection against ionizing radiation and comprises said material. The invention is suitable for use in nuclear medicine (scintigraphy, radiotherapy, etc.), radiology, medical imaging, the nuclear industry, etc.

Abstract: An energy degrader includes: a damping unit that attenuates energy of incident charged particles and has a thickness changing stepwise or continuously according to a position of a two-dimensional coordinate system within a plane crossing a traveling direction of charged particles; and a driving unit that performs translational driving of the damping unit in first and second axial directions that are directions of two axes crossing each other in the two-dimensional coordinate system.

Abstract: A beam guidance system serves for the focusing guidance of radiation from a high-power laser light source toward a target. The beam guidance system has at least one mirror as reflective beam guidance component and at least one transmission component which is at least partially transmissive to the radiation as refractive beam guidance component. The arrangement of the at least one mirror and of the at least one transmission component is such that beam-induced changes to the beam guidance properties of the at least one mirror are at least partly compensated for by beam-induced changes to the beam guidance properties of the at least one transmission component. This results in a beam guidance system in which beam-induced changes to the beam guidance properties of the beam guidance system do not have a disturbing effect on the focusing guidance of the radiation from the laser light source.

Abstract: A lid frame for a nuclear fuel assembly shipping container and a shipping container for nuclear fuel assemblies are provided. The shipping container can include a lower container in which a cradle is installed, an upper container detachably coupled to the lower container, and a base frame coupled to the cradle with at least one nuclear fuel assembly placed thereon. The lid frame can include a plurality of supports installed apart from each other so as to surround the nuclear fuel assembly placed on the base frame, and a plurality of clamps separated from each other, coupled to the plurality of supports perpendicular to the plurality of supports, rotatably hinged to the base frame, and configured to clamp the nuclear fuel assembly. The lid frame safely protects the nuclear fuel assembly that is being transported.

Abstract: Radiation shields and radiation shielding systems for attenuating ionizing radiation include two or more attenuating elements, such as layers. The two or more attenuating elements may include different attenuating materials. The two or more attenuating elements may be configured to attenuate ionizing radiation differently than one another. In some embodiments, different attenuating elements may be configured for use with different energies or ranges of energies of ionizing radiation. The concurrent use of two or more layers or other attenuating elements may optimize the ability of a radiation shield to attenuating ionizing radiation. Systems and methods for attenuating ionizing radiation are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are radiation treatment systems with enhanced control architectures that enable more complex treatment plans to be implemented, and radiation treatment systems with enhanced resistance to the effect of neutrons. An exemplary control architectures comprises: a digital packet network; a supervisor electrically coupled to the digital packet network and having a treatment plan; and a plurality of nodes, each node coupled to digital packet network and controlling one or more treatment-related components of the radiation treatment system; and wherein the supervisor periodically communicates control orders to the nodes over the digital packet network.

Abstract: A photon collimator, suitable for use in medical imaging equipment, is constructed from a block of photon-attenuating material, such as solid tungsten or molybdenum alloy that defines a plurality of integrally formed septa slats. Each slat has an elongated length dimension greater than thickness and depth dimensions, and is oriented in an opposed pattern array that is laterally spaced relative to its respective thickness dimension. An aperture channel is defined between each pair of opposed slats. Rows of integrally formed slats in one block or separately affixed blocks may be stacked on each other at skewed angles to form two-dimensional grids of apertures having polygonal cross sections. The slats may be formed by electric discharge or laser thermal ablation machining, such as by a sequential passing of an EDM wire cutting head along the pattern array, repeating sequential cutting of respective channel depth and width.