Appeal No. 2001-0837
Application No. 09/131,177
and second frames, respectively. The second frame rotates
relative to the first frame through a range from parallel to
perpendicular.
Claim 1 is illustrative of the claimed invention, and it
reads as follows:
1. A multiple layer multileaf collimator capable of
improving resolution for coverage of a target during
radiation therapy, the multiple layer multileaf collimator
comprising:
a first layer of multiple elongated radiation blocking
leaves supported by a first frame for individual leaf
positioning in a first direction; and
a second layer of multiple elongated radiation blocking
leaves supported by a second frame for individual leaf
positioning in a second direction, the second direction
offset at a desired angle x, where 0o<x<90o, relative to the
first direction to achieve an arrangement of the first layer
and second layer that ranges from parallel to perpendicular
through rotation of the second layer relative to the first
layer, wherein the individual leaves of the first and second
layers conform more closely with a target shape to improve
resolution.
The references relied on by the examiner are:
Klasen et al. (Klasen) 4,987,309 Jan. 22, 1991
Cosman 5,748,703 May 5, 1998
Claims 1 through 3, 5 through 11 and 13 through 19 stand
rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over
Klasen in view of Cosman.
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