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.