Patent ID: 7194063
Filing Date: 2007-03-20
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. A method of performing radiation therapy on a subject comprising: delivering a therapeutic dose of high energy electromagnetic radiation substantially only to a target tissue by generating a broad beam radiation effect substantially only within the target tissue, the broad beam radiation effect not being generated in non-target tissue, said delivering comprising irradiating the target tissue with at least two non-intersecting arrays of microbeams, said two non-intersecting arrays comprising a first array including at least a first and a second microbeam, said first and second microbeams defining two parallel, spatially distinct microbeam paths, and a second array comprising at least a third microbeam defining a third microbeam path, wherein said first and second microbeam arrays are interleaved substantially only within the target tissue, whereby said third microbeam path is angularly rotated and laterally translated with respect to said first and second microbeam paths, and whereby said third microbeam path crosses between, but does not intersect with, said first and second microbeam paths to form a substantially continuous broad beam of radiation substantially only within the target tissue.