A radiation therapy system is provided having a radiation source for
providing radiation for treating a patient, including treating skin
cancer, wherein the radiation source features a filtering device that
changes its filtering characteristic for filtering the radiation for
treating the patient in response to a control signal. The filtering
device includes two filters and a radiation blocker circumferentially
arranged on a cylindrical member. The filtering characteristic is changed
by rotating the filtering device in response to the control signal. The
filtering device includes a driving unit for rotating the filtering
device in response to the control signal in order to change its filtering
characteristic, such as a motor with a gearing arrangement for coupling
to a corresponding gearing arrangement on the filtering device. In this
embodiment, the means for providing the radiation, i.e. the x-ray tube,
is arranged inside the filtering device.