US 12,076,589 B2
Method and apparatus for using a multi-layer multi-leaf collimator as a virtual flattening filter
Mika Miettinen, San Francisco, CA (US); Ross B. Hannibal, Saratoga, CA (US); and Mu Young Lee, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed by Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 12, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/133,732.
Application 18/133,732 is a continuation of application No. 16/369,299, filed on Mar. 29, 2019, granted, now 11,679,278.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/650,603, filed on Mar. 30, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0241415 A1, Aug. 3, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61N 5/10 (2006.01); A61B 6/03 (2006.01); A61B 6/06 (2006.01); A61B 6/40 (2024.01); G21K 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC A61N 5/1065 (2013.01) [A61B 6/032 (2013.01); A61B 6/06 (2013.01); A61B 6/4085 (2013.01); A61N 5/1031 (2013.01); A61N 5/1039 (2013.01); A61N 5/1045 (2013.01); A61N 5/1048 (2013.01); A61N 5/1078 (2013.01); G21K 1/046 (2013.01); A61N 2005/1074 (2013.01); A61N 2005/1091 (2013.01); A61N 2005/1095 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for sourcing a photon beam towards a treatment area of a patient, the apparatus comprising:
a photon source configured to emit a photon beam;
a multi-layer multi-leaf collimator disposed between the photon source and the treatment area of the patient;
a control circuit operably coupled to the multi-layer multi-leaf collimator and configured to automatically arrange operation of some, but not all, of the layers of the multi-layer multi-leaf collimator to serve as a virtual flattening filter with respect to the photon beam.