Multileaf collimator cone enabling stereotactic radiosurgery

Abstract

An apparatus includes a first multileaf collimator comprising a plurality of pairs of beam-blocking leaves each comprising an end portion. The end portions of beam-blocking leaves of two adjacent pairs are configured to collectively form an aperture when the two adjacent pairs of beam-blocking leaves are closed. The aperture may be sized and shaped to allow a radiation beam to pass through for radiosurgery.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A multileaf collimator, comprising:
 a plurality of beam-blocking leaves arranged side by side in a first bank;   a plurality of beam-blocking leaves arranged side by side in a second bank opposite to the first bank,   wherein at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the first bank is provided with a first through-hole configured to allow a radiation beam to pass through for radiosurgery.   
     
     
         13 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 12 , wherein the first through-hole has a generally truncated cone shape or cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         14 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the second bank is provided with a second through-hole configured to allow a radiation beam to pass through for radiosurgery, wherein the second through-hole has a size different from a size of the first through-hole. 
     
     
         15 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves is disposed in or proximate to a middle of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the first bank to facilitate alignment of the first through-hole with a beam's central axis when in use. 
     
     
         16 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the first bank is further provided with a second through-hole configured to allow a radiation beam to pass through for radiosurgery, wherein the second through-hole has a size different from a size of the first through-hole. 
     
     
         17 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 12 , wherein the first through-hole has a diameter projected an isocenter plane suitable for SRS. 
     
     
         18 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the first bank provided with the first through-hole and the at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the second bank provided with the second through-hole are paired and longitudinally movable relative to each other. 
     
     
         22 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the first bank provided with the first through-hole is disposed in or proximate to a middle of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the first bank, and the at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the second bank provided with the second through-hole is disposed in or proximate to a middle of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the second bank. 
     
     
         23 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 21 , wherein wherein the first through-hole has a generally truncated cone shape or cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         24 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 21 , wherein the second through-hole has a generally truncated cone shape or cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         25 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 24 , wherein the second through-hole has a diameter projected an isocenter plane suitable for SRS. 
     
     
         26 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the first bank provided with the first through-hole and the at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the second bank provided with the second through-hole are unpaired. 
     
     
         27 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 16 , wherein the first through-hole has a generally truncated cone shape or cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         28 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 27 , wherein the first through-hole has a diameter projected an isocenter plane suitable for SRS. 
     
     
         29 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 27 , wherein the second through-hole has a generally truncated cone shape or cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         30 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 29 , wherein the second through-hole has a diameter projected an isocenter plane suitable for SRS. 
     
     
         31 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the first bank is provided with a second through-hole configured to allow a radiation beam to pass through for radiosurgery, wherein the first through-hole and the second through-hole are provided in different beam-blocking leaves in the first bank. 
     
     
         32 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves provided with the first through-hole is disposed in or proximate to a middle of the plurality of beam-blocking leaves in the first bank. 
     
     
         33 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 31 , wherein the first through-hole has a generally truncated cone shape or cylindrical shape, and a diameter projected an isocenter plane suitable for SRS. 
     
     
         34 . The multileaf collimator of  claim 33 , wherein the second through-hole has a generally truncated cone shape or cylindrical shape, and a diameter projected an isocenter plane suitable for SRS.