A method and apparatus for radiation therapy using functional measurements of branching structures. The method includes determining a location of each voxel of a plurality of voxels in a reference frame of a radiation device. The method further includes obtaining measurements that indicate a tissue type at each voxel. The method further includes determining a subset of the voxels based on an anatomical parameter of a respective branching structure of a set of branching structures indicated by the measurements. The method further includes determining a subset of the voxels that enclose an organ-at-risk (OAR) volume. The method further includes determining a value of a utility measure at each voxel. The method further includes determining a series of beam shapes and intensities which minimize a value of an objective function based on a computed dose delivered to each voxel and the utility measure for that voxel summed over all voxels.

One or more example embodiments of the present invention relates to a fin for collimating therapeutic radiation. The fin comprises a collimation area made of a first material and a holding area made of a second material. Herein, the collimation area and the holding area are soldered together. Herein, the first material is formed to collimate therapeutic radiation. Herein, the holding area can be coupled to an adjustment device for adjusting the fin.

One or more example embodiments of the present invention relates to a fin for collimating therapeutic radiation. The fin comprises a collimation area made of a first material and a holding area made of a second material. Herein, the collimation area and the holding area are pressed together. Herein, the first material is formed to collimate therapeutic radiation. Herein, the holding area can be coupled to an adjustment device for adjusting the fin.

Presented systems and methods facilitate efficient and effective generation and delivery of radiation. In one embodiment, an accelerator system includes a particle source, an acceleration portion, a high intensity target, and a target location control component. The particle source is configured to generate charged particles. The acceleration portion is configured to accelerate the charged particles. The high intensity target is configured to generate Bremsstrahlung radiation in response to impact by the charged particles. The target location control component configured to change the location of charged particle impacts on the high intensity target. In one exemplary implementation the change of location of charged particle impact is based on thermal diffusion and said location of charged particle impacts is moved at a rate greater than a rate of diffusion of detrimental heat impacts on the high intensity target.

Presented systems and methods facilitate efficient and effective generation and delivery of radiation. In one embodiment, a radiation generation component includes a high intensity target that produces Bremsstrahlung radiation in response to impacts by charged particles, wherein the high intensity target is configured with operating limitations based primarily on catastrophic failure mechanisms rather than fatigue failure mechanisms. The high intensity target is configured to be compatible with a loading system of a radiation generation system. The high intensity target can have a catastrophic failure strain percentage in the range of 0.5 to 4.0 percent. The catastrophic failure mechanisms can include at least one selected from the group comprising ultimate tensile strength, fracture strain, and melting point. The high intensity target can have a product life in a low cycle fatigue regime range. The high intensity target can comprise a material with a melting temperature in the range of 800 C to 3,700 C. The high intensity target can be configured to load in an accelerator enclosure. The high intensity target can include an identification feature. Th e Bremsstrahlung radiation can correspond to average dose rates greater than 1.0 greys per second (Gy/s).

The invention provides a charged particle irradiation apparatus including: a collimator apparatus provided in an irradiation nozzle that emits a charged particle beam to an irradiation target; and a collimator control unit that controls the collimator apparatus. The collimator apparatus includes a collimator mechanism having one or more arm-shape collimators extending from a base part and a drive mechanism that moves the collimator mechanism on a plane perpendicular to a traveling direction of a charged particle beam. The arm-shape collimator includes one or more movable leaves that rotate independently of each other on the perpendicular plane. By moving the collimator mechanism and/or rotating the movable leaves so that the arm-shape collimators are arranged along a shape of an edge of an irradiation target on the perpendicular plane, the collimator control unit causes the arm-shape collimators to block a charged particle beam that would otherwise irradiate outside of the edge of the irradiation target.

A method for driving a leaf of a multi-leaf collimator (MLC) mounted on a collimator that is mounted on a gantry is provided. The method may include obtaining an electrical current of an actuator of the leaf; generating a target control signal based on the electrical current of the actuator; and causing a drive circuit to generate a driving signal for driving the leaf to move by providing the target control signal to the drive circuit.

A leaf for a multi-leaf collimator comprises a leaf portion for delineating a beam of radiation, the leaf portion having first attenuation factor. The leaf also comprises a tail portion having a second attenuation factor, the first attenuation factor being greater than the second attenuation factor.

A leaf assembly for a multi-leaf collimator comprises a leaf and a leaf nut removably mounted within the profile of the leaf, the leaf nut comprising a threaded hole for receiving a leaf actuator screw oriented along a first axis in the plane of the leaf. The leaf nut is mounted within the leaf such that relative movement between the leaf nut and the leaf is prevented both linearly along the first axis and rotationally about the first axis.

A linear accelerator head for use in a medical radiation therapy system can include a housing, an electron generator configured to emit electrons along a beam path, and a microwave generation assembly. The linear accelerator head may include a waveguide that is configured to contain a standing or travelling microwave. The waveguide can include a plurality of cells that are disposed adjacent one another, wherein each of the plurality of cells may define an aperture configured to receive electrons therethrough. The linear accelerator head can further include a converter and a primary collimator.