Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method of manufacturing a collimator comprising: providing a plate-like body;  coating a predetermined portion of a surface of the body with an x-ray attenuating material; and  machining at least one collimating slit through the coating and the plate-like body. 2. A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising machining mounting apertures in the plate-like body between an outer periphery of the coating and an outer periphery of the body. claim 1 3. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the coating is provided using a thermal spray process. claim 1 4. A method according to  claim 3 , wherein the coating is provided using a plasma thermal spray process. claim 3 5. A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the collimating slit is provided using a wire EDM process. claim 1 6. A collimater manufactured by a method according to  claim 1 . claim 1 7. A method of manufacturing a collimator comprising: providing a plate-like body;  coating a predetermined portion of a surface of the body with an x-ray absorbing material; and  machining at least one collimating slit through the coating and the plate-like body. 8. A method according to  claim 7 , further comprising machining mounting apertures in the plate-like body between an outer periphery of the coating and an outer periphery of the body. claim 7 9. A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the coating is provided using a thermal spray process. claim 7 10. A method according to  claim 9 , wherein the coating is provided using a plasma thermal spray process. claim 9 11. A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the collimating slit is provided using a wire EDM process. claim 7 12. A collimater manufactured by a method according to  claim 7 . claim 7