Error control in algorithmic approach to step-and-shoot intensity modulated radiation therapy

The present invention provides a method comprising the following steps: (a) partitioning an intensity modulated beam into a set of sub-IMBs; and (b) partitioning the sub-IMBs into segments, wherein steps (a) and (b) introduce no machine delivery error. The present invention also provides a method comprising the following steps: (a) recursively partitioning an intensity modulated beam into plateaus; and (b) partitioning the plateaus into segments, wherein step (a) comprises determining a tradeoff between machine delivery error and the number of segments into which the plateaus will be partitioned in step (b).