199results about "X-ray tube anode cooling" patented technology

This invention relates to a microfocus X-ray tube having a heat-dissipation solid formed on the target adhesively. Specifically, the heat-dissipation solid defining an opening is formed on the target surface irradiated with an electron beam. Heat generated adjacent the target surface by impingement of an electron beam having passed through the opening is promptly distributed by heat conduction through the surface solid. The heat-dissipation solid contributes to lowering of a surface temperature of the target layer with which the electron beam collides, and a reduction of evaporation of a material forming the target, thereby extending an X-ray generating time.

The present invention is directed to an anode for an X-ray tube. The X-ray tube has an electron aperture through which electrons emitted from an electron source travel subject to substantially no electrical field and a target in a non-parallel relationship to the electron aperture and arranged to produce X-rays when electrons are incident upon a first side of the target, wherein the target further comprises a cooling channel located on a second side of the target. The cooling channel comprises a conduit having coolant contained therein. The coolant is at least one of water, oil, or refrigerant.

An x-ray target pedestal assembly and a method of protecting the x-ray target from breaking down as a result of the extreme heat that is produced when an electron beam is aimed at the target to produce x-rays. The target is submerged in cooling fluid and is rotated by a constant flow of the cooling fluid over and around the target in order to dissipate heat. The fluid is guided by integrated flow diverters in the target cover. The target may also be protectively coated either in its entirety or along the electron beam path in order to further protect it from the heat of the electron beam impact or from breakdown as a result of attack of free radicals or other chemically reactive components of the cooling fluid which are produced in the extreme target environment.

A target for X-ray generation has a substrate and a target portion. The substrate is comprised of diamond and has a first principal surface and a second principal surface opposed to each other. A bottomed hole is formed from the first principal surface side in the substrate. The target portion is comprised of a metal deposited from a bottom surface of the hole toward the first principal surface. An entire side surface of the target portion is in close contact with an inside surface of the hole.

A compact source for high brightness x-ray generation is disclosed. The higher brightness is achieved through electron beam bombardment of multiple regions aligned with each other to achieve a linear accumulation of x-rays. This may be achieved by aligning discrete x-ray sub-sources, or through the use of x-ray targets that comprise microstructures of x-ray generating materials fabricated in close thermal contact with a substrate with high thermal conductivity. This allows heat to be more efficiently drawn out of the x-ray generating material, and in turn allows bombardment of the x-ray generating material with higher electron density and / or higher energy electrons, leading to greater x-ray brightness. The orientation of the microstructures allows the use of an on-axis collection angle, allowing the accumulation of x-rays from several microstructures to be aligned to appear to have a single origin, also known as “zero-angle” x-ray radiation.

An X-ray generating device includes an electron-beam generator, a target assembly group, and an electron-beam focusing unit. The electron-beam generator generates electron beams. The target assembly group includes a plurality of target assemblies that are arranged along a straight line in a direction in which X-rays are output; each of the target assemblies includes a target and a supporting member; the target generates X-rays from one of the electron beams generated by the electron-beam generator; and the supporting member supports the target by being disposed adjacent thereto. The electron-beam focusing unit focuses the electron beams onto the targets included in the target assembly group so that X-rays are generated in each of the target assemblies and output along the straight line after passing through the target assemblies.

The present invention is an x-ray tube anode with two targets oriented back-to-back. The targets have separate and opposing cathodes. The targets are a fixed distance apart and rotate together on the same bearing shaft. The cathodes are mounted at either end of the vacuum tube. The cathodes may operate simultaneously or independent of each other based on the CT application.

This invention involves the application of dense, metallurgically bonded deposits of tungsten and tungsten rhenium coatings onto preformed based x-ray anodes to be used as focal tracks. The coatings are applied by low pressure DC plasma spraying. The invention also includes heat treatments that further densify the as-applied coatings improving their suitability for use as focal tracks.

A target assembly for generating x-rays includes a target substrate, and an emissive coating applied to a portion of the target substrate, the emissive coating comprising one or more of a carbide and a carbonitride.

An X-ray tube includes an evacuated envelope; a cold cathode mounted at one end of the envelope and capable of field emission of electrons when subjected to a high electrostatic field; and an anode mounted at the opposite end of the envelope coaxial with and axially spaced from the cathode, and capable of emitting X-rays when struck by electrons emitted by the cathode. The envelope includes an end wall made of thermally-conductive and electrically-insulating material in contact with the anode and formed with a fluid cooling channel to remove the heat generated at the anode. In one described embodiment, the cathode includes a body of a getter material which is both electron emissive and gas absorptive. In other described embodiments, the cathode includes a carbon nanotube field-emission electron source.

An anode for an X-ray tube includes at least one thermally conductive anode segment in contact with a rigid support member and cooling means arranged to cool the anode. The anode may further include a plurality of anode segments aligned end to end, each in contact with the support member.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some embodiments an X-Ray energy target includes composite material that varies spatially in thermal properties, and in some embodiments, the composite material varies spatially in strength properties. In some embodiments, the spatial variance is a continuum and in other embodiments, the spatial variance is a plurality of distinct portions.

The present invention is directed to an anode for an X-ray tube. The X-ray tube has an electron aperture through which electrons emitted from an electron source travel subject to substantially no electrical field and a target in a non-parallel relationship to the electron aperture and arranged to produce X-rays when electrons are incident upon a first side of the target, wherein the target further comprises a cooling channel located on a second side of the target. The cooling channel comprises a conduit having coolant contained therein. The coolant is at least one of water, oil, or refrigerant.

X-ray generation apparatus including an elongated target body and a mount from which the body projects to a tip remote from the mount. The target body includes a substance that, on being irradiated by a beam of electrons of suitable energy directed onto the target body from laterally of the elongate target body, generates a source of x-ray radiation from a volume of interaction of the electron beam with the target body. The mount provides a heat sink for the target body.

Disclosed are targets for generating x-rays using electron beams and their method of fabrication. They comprise a number of microstructures fabricated from an x-ray target material arranged in close thermal contact with a substrate such that the heat is more efficiently drawn out of the x-ray target material. This allows irradiation of the x-ray generating substance with higher electron density or higher energy electrons, leading to greater x-ray brightness, without inducing damage or melting. The microstructures may comprise conventional x-ray target materials (such as tungsten) that are patterned at micron-scale dimensions on a thermally conducting substrate, such as diamond. The microstructures may have any number of geometric shapes to best generate x-rays of high brightness and efficiently disperse heat. In some embodiments, the target comprising microstructures may be incorporated into a rotating anode geometry, to enhance x-ray generation in such systems.

A transmissive target includes a target layer configured to include target metal and generate X-ray when receiving electrons and a substrate configured to support the target layer and include carbon as a main component. A carbide region including carbide of the target metal and a non-carbide region including the target metal are disposed in a mixed manner on a boundary surface between the substrate and the target layer on a target layer side.

A modular x-ray source for an imaging system includes a structure forming a cavity and having a first wall and a second wall, at least one target positioned on the first wall within the cavity and configured to receive a first electron beam at a first spot position and a second electron beam at a second spot position, and a shielding material positioned on the second wall.