Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100260323 | X-RAY TUBE HAVING A FERROFLUID SEAL AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SAME - An x-ray tube includes a vacuum enclosure, a shaft having a first end and a second end, a flange attached to the first end of the shaft, the flange having an outer perimeter, and a ferrofluid seal assembly having an inner bore, the inner bore having an outer perimeter smaller than the outer perimeter of the flange. The shaft is inserted through the bore of the ferrofluid seal assembly such that the ferrofluid seal assembly is positioned between the first end of the shaft and the second end of the shaft and such that the first end extends into the vacuum enclosure, and the ferrofluid seal is configured to fluidically seal the vacuum enclosure from an environment into which the second end of the shaft extends. | 10-14-2010 |
20100260324 | AIR-COOLED FERROFLUID SEAL IN AN X-RAY TUBE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING SAME - An x-ray tube includes a rotatable shaft having a first end and a second end, a target coupled to the first end of the rotatable shaft, the target positioned to generate x-rays toward a subject upon impingement of electrons thereon, and an impeller coupled to the second end of the rotatable shaft and positioned to blow a gas into an inlet of an aperture passing into the rotatable shaft. | 10-14-2010 |
20100310050 | ROTATING UNION FOR A LIQUID COOLED ROTATING X-RAY TARGET - A rotating union for an X-ray target is provided. The rotating union for the X-ray target comprises a housing, a coolant-slinging device comprising a rotating shaft having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, a proximal end and a distal end, and a bore therein, one or more slingers coupled to a proximal end of the rotating shaft; a drain annulus coupled to the one or more slingers, wherein the one or more slingers are configured to direct a coolant to the drain annulus and the drain annulus is configured to direct the coolant through a primary coolant outlet; and a stationary tube having a first end and a second end, wherein at least a portion of the stationary tube is disposed within the bore of the rotating shaft. | 12-09-2010 |
20110026681 | METHOD OF FAST CURRENT MODULATION IN AN X-RAY TUBE AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING SAME - An x-ray imaging system includes a detector positioned to receive x-rays, and an x-ray tube coupled to a mount structure. The x-ray tube is configured to generate x-rays toward the detector and includes a target, a cathode cup, an emitter attached to the cathode cup and configured to emit a beam of electrons toward the target, the emitter having a length and a width, and a one-dimensional grid positioned between the emitter and the target and attached to the cathode cup at one or more attachment points. The one-dimensional grid includes a plurality of rungs that each extend in a direction of the width of the emitter, and the plurality of rungs are configured to expand and contract relative to the one or more attachment points without substantial distortion with respect to the emitter. | 02-03-2011 |
20110116593 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BEAM FOCUSING AND CONTROL IN AN INDIRECTLY HEATED CATHODE - An indirectly heated cathode assembly is presented. The indirectly heated cathode assembly includes at least one electron source for generating a first electron beam, an emitter for producing a second electron beam when heated by the first electron beam and a focusing electrode for controlling, and directing the first electron beam towards the emitter. | 05-19-2011 |
20110142193 | X-RAY TUBE FOR MICROSECOND X-RAY INTENSITY SWITCHING - An injector for an X-ray tube is presented. The injector includes an emitter to emit an electron beam, at least one focusing electrode disposed around the emitter, wherein the at least one focusing electrode focuses the electron beam and at least one extraction electrode maintained at a positive bias voltage with respect to the emitter, wherein the at least one extraction electrode controls an intensity of the electron beam. | 06-16-2011 |
20110142204 | APPARATUS FOR MODIFYING ELECTRON BEAM ASPECT RATIO FOR X-RAY GENERATION - An apparatus for modifying an aspect ratio of an electron beam to form a focal spot having a desired size and aspect ratio on a target anode is disclosed. The apparatus includes an emitter element configured to generate an electron beam having a first aspect ratio shape and an extraction electrode positioned adjacent to the emitter element to extract the electron beam out therefrom, the extraction electrode including an opening therethrough. The apparatus also includes at least one shaping electrode positioned to receive the electron beam after passing through the extraction electrode, the shaping electrode defining a non-circular aperture therein and being configured to provide at least one of shaping and focusing of the electron beam to have a second aspect ratio shape different from the first aspect ratio shape so as to form a focal spot having a desired size and aspect ratio on a target anode. | 06-16-2011 |
20120082292 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING AN ELECTRON BEAM SYSTEM - A method for operating an electron beam system is presented. Further, an electron beam system, an X-ray tube and a CT system that implement the presented method are also described. The method includes generating an electron beam in an X-ray tube in an imaging system. Additionally, a current configuration corresponding to a particular view of the imaging system is identified. If the identified current configuration is within a determined range, a duty cycle of the electron beam for the particular view of the imaging system is modulated using pulse width modulation. Further, the modulated electron beam is focused towards a target. | 04-05-2012 |
20120099700 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED TRANSIENT RESPONSE IN AN ELECTROMAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED X-RAY TUBE - An x-ray tube assembly includes a vacuum enclosure including a cathode portion, a target portion, and a throat portion. The throat portion includes a magnetic field section, upstream section, and downstream section. The magnetic field section has a first susceptibility to generate eddy currents in the presence of a magnetic field intensity. The upstream section is coupled to the cathode portion and the magnetic field section and has a second susceptibility to generate eddy currents in the presence of the magnetic field intensity. The downstream section is coupled to the magnetic field section and has a third susceptibility to generate eddy currents in the presence of the magnetic field intensity. The first susceptibility to generate eddy currents is less than the second and third susceptibilities to generate eddy currents. The assembly includes a target within the target portion, and a cathode within the cathode portion. | 04-26-2012 |
20120099701 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED TRANSIENT RESPONSE IN AN ELECTROMAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED X-RAY TUBE - An x-ray tube assembly includes a vacuum enclosure having a cathode portion, a target portion, and a throat portion comprising a non-electrically conductive tube. The throat portion has an upstream end coupled to the cathode portion and a downstream end coupled to the target portion. The x-ray tube assembly also includes a target positioned within the target portion of the vacuum enclosure, and a cathode positioned within the cathode portion of the vacuum enclosure. The cathode is configured to emit a stream of electrons through the throat portion toward the target. | 04-26-2012 |
20120099707 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED TRANSIENT RESPONSE IN AN ELECTROMAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED X-RAY TUBE - An x-ray tube assembly includes a vacuum enclosure that has a cathode portion, a target portion, and a throat portion. The throat portion includes a metal bellows. An upstream end of the throat portion is coupled to the cathode portion and a downstream end of the throat portion is coupled to the target portion. The x-ray tube assembly also includes a target positioned within the target portion of the vacuum enclosure, and a cathode positioned within the cathode portion of the vacuum enclosure. The cathode is configured to emit a stream of electrons through the throat portion toward the target. | 04-26-2012 |
20120099708 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED TRANSIENT RESPONSE IN AN ELECTROMAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED X-RAY TUBE - An x-ray tube assembly includes a vacuum enclosure that includes a cathode portion, a target portion, and a throat portion having a plurality of recesses formed therein to break up eddy currents generated in the throat portion. The throat portion has an upstream end coupled to the cathode portion and a downstream end coupled to the target portion. The x-ray tube assembly also includes a target positioned within the target portion of the vacuum enclosure, and a cathode positioned within the cathode portion of the vacuum enclosure. The cathode is configured to emit a stream of electrons through the throat portion toward the target. | 04-26-2012 |
20140079187 | EMISSION SURFACE FOR AN X-RAY DEVICE - Embodiments of the disclosure relate to electron emitters for use in conjunction with X-ray devices. In one embodiment, the emitter features a round emission area capable of emitting electrons when heated, wherein the round emission area comprises at least one of a gap, a channel, or a combination thereof that separates a first portion of the round emission area from a second portion of the round emission area and permits thermal expansion of the first portion and the second portion within the at least one gap or channel without permitting the first portion and the second portion to touch one another. The two electrically conductive legs coupled to the surface at respective locations outside the round emission area and that are capable of supplying current to the round emission area. | 03-20-2014 |
20140112449 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COLLIMATING X-RAYS IN AN X-RAY TUBE - An apparatus and method for providing a predefined x-ray field is presented. Briefly in accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, the apparatus includes a cathode unit configured to emit electrons within a vacuum chamber. The apparatus further includes an anode unit configured to generate x-rays when the emitted electrons impinge on a target surface of the anode unit. Also, the apparatus includes a collimating unit comprising a primary set of blades disposed in the vacuum chamber at a first distance from the anode unit for collimating the generated x-rays to provide the predefined x-ray field at a detector. | 04-24-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140126704 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING AN ELECTRON BEAM - An X-ray tube assembly includes an electron beam transport tube, a beam tube protection assembly, and a control module. The electron beam transport tube includes an opening configured for passage of an electron beam, and includes an inner surface bounding the opening along a length of the electron beam transport tube. The beam tube protection assembly includes a plurality of beam protection electrode segments disposed within the opening of the electron beam transport tube and configured to protect the inner surface of the electron beam transport tube from contact with the electron beam. The control module is configured to determine a direction of the electron beam responsive to information received from the beam tube protection assembly. | 05-08-2014 |
20140169523 | X-RAY TUBE WITH ADJUSTABLE INTENSITY PROFILE - An X-ray tube includes an emitter, and an electrode assembly. The emitter is configured to emit an electron beam toward a target. The electrode assembly includes at least one electrode having a bias voltage with respect to the emitter. At least one electrode of the electrode assembly is a segmented electrode including a plurality of segments. The plurality of segments includes a first member and a second member. The first member is configured to have a first bias voltage and the second member is configured to have a second bias voltage that is different from the first bias voltage. | 06-19-2014 |
20140169530 | X-RAY TUBE WITH ADJUSTABLE ELECTRON BEAM - An X-ray tube assembly is provided including an emitter configured to emit an electron beam, an emitter focusing electrode, an extraction electrode, and a downstream focusing electrode. The emitter focusing electrode is disposed proximate to the emitter and outward of the emitter in an axial direction. The extraction electrode is disposed downstream of the emitter and the emitter focusing electrode. The extraction electrode has a negative bias voltage setting at which the extraction electrode has a negative bias voltage with respect to the emitter. The downstream focusing electrode is disposed downstream of the extraction electrode, and has a positive bias voltage with respect to the emitter. When the extraction electrode is at the negative bias voltage setting, the electron beam is emitted from an emission area that is smaller than a maximum emission area from which electrons may be emitted. | 06-19-2014 |