Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Stiftung Des Oeffentlichen Rechts

Walter Ganter

Gernot Echner

Otto Pastyr

Wolfgang Schlegel

The invention relates to a collimator ( ) for limiting a bundle of high-energy rays ( ), which is emitted by a substantially point-like radiation source ( ) and directed towards a treatment object ( ) and used in particular for the stereotactic conformation radiotherapy of tumors. According to the invention the collimator ( ) comprises a plurality of diaphragm leaves ( &prime;) 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 ( &prime;) of the diaphragm leaves ( &prime;) being parallel to the optical path at all times. Avoiding penumbral shadows with this kind of collimator ( ) is made considerably easier if the diaphragm leaves ( &prime;) consists of a rear partial element ( &prime;) which can be linearly displaced and a front partial element ( &prime;) which is hinged to same. Drive means adjust the front partial element ( &prime;) in accordance with the prevailing position of the rear partial element ( &prime;) in such a way that the front edges ( &prime;) are parallel to the optical path at all times.

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Walldorf, Germany

Walter Ganter