US-12616429-B2 - System and apparatus for pre-collimation of a radiation beam

Abstract

An apparatus includes a pre-collimator and a shape filter. The shape filter is in at least a first portion of a first part of the pre-collimator.

Inventors

• Niklaus Schaer
• Juerg ZINNIKER
• Mathieu PLAMONDON
• Konrad Fellmann

Assignees

• SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS INTERNATIONAL AG

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20230915

Claims (16)

1. 1 . An apparatus comprising: a pre-collimator including, a first part, and a second part aligned with a central beam axis of a radiation beam, the second part being fixed with respect to the radiation beam, and the second part of the pre-collimator being closer to a source of the radiation beam than the first part of the pre-collimator; and a shape filter in at least a first portion of the first part of the pre-collimator.
2. 2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein: the first part of the pre-collimator is configured to move between a first position and a second position; the first portion is aligned with the central beam axis of the radiation beam in the first position; and the first portion is out of the radiation beam in the second position.
3. 3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first part of the pre-collimator comprises a second portion, the second portion similar to the first portion of the pre-collimator.
4. 4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein: the second portion is aligned with the central beam axis of the radiation beam and the first portion is out of the radiation beam when the first part is in the second position; and the second portion is out of the radiation beam and the first portion is aligned with the central beam axis of the radiation beam when the first part is in the first position.
5. 5 . The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising: a mount configured to hold the first portion and the second portion of the pre-collimator.
6. 6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein: the mount is configured to move between the first position and the second position; when the mount is in the first position, the first portion of the pre-collimator is aligned with the central beam axis; and when the mount is in the second position, the second portion of the pre-collimator is aligned with the central beam axis.
7. 7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising: a first beam hardening filter coupled to the mount adjacent the first portion of the pre-collimator; and a second beam hardening filter coupled to the mount adjacent the second portion of the pre-collimator.
8. 8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the shape filter includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface includes a curved surface configured to face a radiation source, and the second surface comprises a planar surface.
9. 9 . A system comprising: a radiation source configured to emit a radiation beam; and a filtering assembly, the filtering assembly including, a pre-collimator including, a first part, and a second part aligned with a central beam axis of the radiation beam, the second part being fixed with respect to the radiation beam, and the second part of the pre-collimator being closer to the radiation source than the first part of the pre-collimator, and a shape filter in at least a first portion of the first part of the pre-collimator.
10. 10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein: the first part of the pre-collimator is configured to move between a first position and a second position; the first portion is aligned with the central beam axis of the radiation beam in the first position; and the first portion is out of the radiation beam in the second position.
11. 11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the first part of the pre-collimator comprises a second portion, the second portion similar to the first portion of the pre-collimator.
12. 12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein: the second portion is aligned with the central beam axis of the radiation beam and the first portion is out of the radiation beam when the first part is in the second position; and the second portion is out of the radiation beam and the first portion is aligned with the central beam axis of the radiation beam when the first part is in the first position.
13. 13 . The system of claim 11 , further comprising: a mount configured to hold the first portion and the second portion of the pre-collimator.
14. 14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein: the mount is configured to move between the first position and the second position; when the mount is in the first position, the first portion of the pre-collimator is aligned with the central beam axis; and when the mount is in the second position, the second portion of the pre-collimator is aligned with the central beam axis.
15. 15 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising: a first beam hardening filter coupled to the mount adjacent the first portion of the pre-collimator; and a second beam hardening filter coupled to the mount adjacent the second portion of the pre-collimator.
16. 16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the shape filter includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first surface includes a curved surface configured to face the radiation source, and the second surface comprises a planar surface.

Description

FIELD The present disclosure relates to a system and apparatus for pre-collimation of a radiation beam. BACKGROUND In medical imaging, such as computed tomography (CT), filters may be used to modify the intensity and/or change the shape of a radiation beam. SUMMARY In at least one example embodiment, the present disclosure provides an apparatus. The apparatus includes a pre-collimator and a shape filter in at least a first portion of a first part of the pre-collimator. In at least one example embodiment, the first part of the pre-collimator is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The first portion is aligned with a central beam axis of a radiation beam in the first position and the first portion is out of the radiation beam in the second position. In at least one example embodiment, the pre-collimator includes a second part of the pre-collimator. The second part of the pre-collimator is aligned with the central beam axis. In at least one example embodiment, the second part of the pre-collimator is fixed with respect to the radiation beam. In at least one example embodiment, the first part of the pre-collimator includes a second portion. The second portion is similar to the first portion of the pre-collimator. In at least one example embodiment, the second portion is aligned with the central beam axis of the radiation beam and the first portion is out of the radiation beam when the first part is in the second position. The second portion is out of the radiation beam and the first portion is aligned with the central beam axis of the radiation beam when the first part is in the first position. In at least one example embodiment, the apparatus further includes a mount configured to hold the first portion and the second portion of the pre-collimator. In at least one example embodiment, the mount is configured to move between the first position and the second position. When the mount is in the first position, the first portion of the pre-collimator is aligned with the central beam axis. When the mount is in the second position, the second portion of the pre-collimator is aligned with the central beam axis. In at least one example embodiment, the apparatus further includes a first beam hardening filter coupled to the mount adjacent the first portion of the pre-collimator and a second beam hardening filter coupled to the mount adjacent the second portion of the pre-collimator. In at least one example embodiment, the second part of the pre-collimator is closer to a source of radiation than the first part of the pre-collimator. In at least one example embodiment, the shape filter includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface includes a curved surface configured to face a radiation source and the second surface comprises a planar surface. In at least one example embodiment, the present disclosure provides a system. The system includes a radiation source configured to emit a radiation beam and a filtering assembly. The filtering assembly including a pre-collimator and a shape filter in at least a first portion of a first part of the pre-collimator. In at least one example embodiment, the first part of the pre-collimator is configured to move between a first position and a second position. The first portion is aligned with a central beam axis of the radiation beam in the first position and the first portion is out of the radiation beam in the second position. In at least one example embodiment, the pre-collimator includes a second part of the pre-collimator. The second part of the pre-collimator is aligned with the central beam axis. In at least one example embodiment, the second part of the pre-collimator is fixed with respect to the radiation beam. In at least one example embodiment, the first part of the pre-collimator includes a second portion. The second portion is similar to the first portion of the pre-collimator. In at least one example embodiment, the second portion is aligned with the central beam axis of the radiation beam and the first portion is out of the radiation beam when the first part is in the second position. The second portion is out of the radiation beam and the first portion is aligned with the central beam axis of the radiation beam when the first part is in the first position. In at least one example embodiment, the system further includes a mount configured to hold the first portion and the second portion of the pre-collimator. In at least one example embodiment, the mount is configured to move between the first position and the second position. When the mount is in the first position, the first portion of the pre-collimator is aligned with the central beam axis. When the mount is in the second position, the second portion of the pre-collimator is aligned with the central beam axis. In at least one example embodiment, the system further includes a first beam hardening filter coupled to the mount adjacent the first port