Reducing the number of monitor units in multileaf collimator field segmentation.

Multileaf collimators (MLCs) are the prevailing tool for the realization of radiation fields in intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). One step in the treatment planning is to determine a set of leaf positions realizing a certain intensity modulated radiation field. In this paper we suggest two extensions in the use of the MLC that lead to considerable savings in terms of monitor units, thus potentially increasing the treatment quality. We test our method with random and with clinical sample matrices.