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Abstract

A radiation therapy/surgery device optimised to meet the needs of the Neurosurgeon is provided, i.e. one for the treatment of tumours in the brain. It combines the qualities of a good penumbra and accuracy, simple prescription and operation, together with high reliability and minimal technical support. The device comprises a rotateable support, on which is provided a mount extending from the support out of the plane of the circle, and a radiation source attached to the mount via a pivot, the pivot having an axis which passes through the axis of rotation of the support, the radiation source being aligned so as to produce a beam which passes through the co-incidence of the rotation axis and the pivot. It will generally be easier to engineer the apparatus if the rotateable support is planar, and more convenient if the rotateable support is disposed in an upright position. The rotation of the rotateable support will be eased if this part of the apparatus is circular. A particularly preferred orientation is one in which the radiation source is spaced from the rotateable support, to allow it to pivot without fouling the latter. It is thus preferred that the mount extends transverse to the support. In this way, the pivot axis is spaced from the rotateable support providing free space in which the radiation source can pivot. Another way of expressing this preference is to state that the pivot axis is located out of the plane of the rotateable support. To simplify the geometry of the device and the associated arithmetic, it is preferred both that the pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis, and that the beam direction is perpendicular to the pivot axis. It is preferred that the radiation source is a linear accelerator. The output of the radiation source is preferably collimated to conform to the shape of the area to be treated.

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First Claim