Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A single-leaf X-ray collimator comprising:at least one planar collimating leaf member disposed along a path of X-rays, the planar collimating leaf member comprising at least one non-circular continuously elliptical collimating aperture therewithin,wherein the planar collimating leaf member is configured to rotate about at least one of a horizontal or vertical direction, anda driving means for tilting the at least one planar collimating leaf member relative to the path of X-rays in the least one of a horizontal or vertical direction. 2. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 1 wherein the collimating aperture provides improved collimating efficiency. 3. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 1 further comprises at least one auxiliary leaf member disposed along the path of X-rays. 4. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 3 wherein the auxiliary leaf member is provided in combination with the collimating leaf member. 5. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 3 wherein the collimating leaf member comprises a source side and an imager side for X-rays, wherein the auxiliary leaf member is disposed at the source side of the collimating leaf member. 6. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 3 wherein the auxiliary leaf member comprises a size that is predetermined to cover the entire field of X-rays at a distance from the source side. 7. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 3 wherein the collimating leaf member and the auxiliary leaf member are constructed of an X-ray attenuating material. 8. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 1 wherein the driving means further comprises a DC servomotor. 9. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 8 wherein the auxiliary leaf member further comprises the driving means. 10. A single-leaf collimator comprising:a housing;a collimating member operable to collimate a beam of X-rays within said housing; anda driving means operably coupled to the collimating member,wherein when the collimating member is rotated in at least one of a horizontal or vertical direction by the driving means, the X-ray beam is collimated to a non-circular continuously-elliptical shape. 11. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 10 further comprising an auxiliary leaf member in combination with the collimating member. 12. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 11 wherein the auxiliary leaf member is adapted for sliding along the path of X-rays, in combination with the collimating member. 13. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 11 wherein the auxiliary leaf member is configured to cover about entire field of X-rays. 14. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 11 wherein the auxiliary leaf member is configured to allow passage of X-rays therethrough to the collimating member. 15. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 14 wherein the collimating member and the auxiliary member are constructed of an X-ray attenuating material. 16. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 11 wherein the auxiliary leaf member further comprises the driving means. 17. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 11 wherein the auxiliary leaf member further comprises:an auxiliary leaf member for collimating, the auxiliary leaf member being substantially large to cover an entire field of the X-ray beam, in a rotated position and allow passage of the X-ray beam only through an aperture of the collimating member. 18. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 10 wherein the collimating member comprises a source side and an imager side for X-rays, wherein the auxiliary leaf member is disposed at the source side of the collimating member. 19. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 10 wherein the driving means further comprises:a hydraulic actuator. 20. The single-leaf collimator according to claim 10 wherein the driving means further comprises:a DC Servo motor.