193results about "X-ray tube shielding arrangements" patented technology

An X-ray source includes a magnetic appliance to provide electron beam focusing. The magnetic appliance can provide variably focused and non-focused configurations. The magnetic appliance can include one or more electromagnets and / or permanent magnets. An electric potential difference is applied to an anode and a cathode that are disposed on opposite sides of an evacuated tube. The cathode includes a cathode element to produce electrons that are accelerated towards the anode in response to the electric field between the anode and the cathode. The anode includes a target material to produce x-rays in response to impact of electrons.

In an X-ray generation apparatus of transmission type including an electron passage surrounded by and formed in an electron passage forming member, and generating an X-ray by colliding electrons having passed through the electron passage against a target, wherein the electron passage includes a secondary X-ray generation portion that generates an X-ray with collision of electrons reflected by the target against the secondary X-ray generation portion, the secondary X-ray generation portion and the target are arranged such that the X-ray generated with direct collision of the electrons against the target and the X-ray generated with the collision of the electrons reflected by the target against the secondary X-ray generation portion are both radiated to an outside, and an atomic number of a material of the electron passage forming member is larger than that of the target. X-ray generation efficiency is increased by effectively utilizing the electrons reflected by the target.

An improved x-ray tube cooling system is disclosed. The system utilizes a shield structure that is connected between a cathode cylinder and an x-ray tube housing and is disposed between the electron source and the target anode. The shield includes a plurality of cooling fins to improve overall cooling of the x-ray tube and the shield so as to extend the life of the x-ray tube and related components. When immersed in a reservoir of coolant fluid, the fins facilitate improved heat transfer by convection from the shield to the to the coolant fluid. The cooling effect achieved with the cooling fins is further augmented by a convective cooling system provided by a plurality of fluid passageways formed within the shield, which are used to provide a fluid path to the coolant. In particular, a cooling unit takes fluid from the reservoir, cools the fluid, then circulates the cooled fluid through the fluid passageways. One or more depressions of "V" shaped cross section defined on the surfaces of the fluid passageways serve to facilitate nucleate boiling of the coolant in the passageway, and thereby materially increase the heat flux through the passageway to the coolant. Additionally, one or more extended surfaces disposed on the surfaces of the fluid passageways also facilitate a relative increase in the rate of heat transfer from the shield structure to the coolant. After flowing through the fluid passageway, the coolant is then discharged from the fluid passageways and directed over the cooling fins. In some embodiments, the fluid passageways are oriented so as to provide a greater heat transfer rate in certain sections of the shield than in other sections. Also disclosed is an improved braze joint for connecting the shield to the x-ray tube housing.

An x-ray tube electron shield is disclosed for interposition between an electron emitter and an anode configured to receive the emitted electrons. The electron shield includes expansion joints to accommodate thermal expansion.

The present invention is a shielded anode having an anode with a surface facing an electron beam and a shield configured to encompass the anode surface. The shield has at least one aperture and an internal surface facing the anode surface. The shield internal surface and anode surface are separated by a gap in the range of 1 mm to 10 mm. The shield of the present invention is fabricated from a material, such as graphite, that is substantially transmissive to X-ray photons.

A radiation generating apparatus 30 according to the present invention including: a radiation generating tube 10 having a target 14, a tubular shielding member 18 that shields a part of a radiation generated from the target 14 and also has an aperture 21 through which the radiation generated from the target 14 passes, and an envelope 1 that has the target 14 so as to be brought into contact with the internal space thereof and also has the tubular shielding member 18 so as to protrude toward an external space thereof; a storage container 1 for storing the radiation generating tube 3 therein; and an insulating liquid 8 that comes in contact with the tubular shielding member 18 and the storage container 1, wherein the tubular shielding member 18 has a protruding portion P, and the protruding portion P is covered with a solid insulating member 9.

A shield assembly for an x-ray device is disclosed herein. The shield assembly includes a radiation shielding layer comprised of a first material; and a thermally conductive layer attached the radiation shielding layer. The thermally conductive layer is comprised of a second material. The shield assembly also includes an electron absorption layer attached to the radiation shielding layer. The electron absorption layer is comprised of a third material. The electron absorption layer is configured to absorb backscattered electrons.

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.

The present invention relates to a radiation generating apparatus which includes an envelope provided with a first window through which radiation is transmitted, a radiation tube housed in the envelope and provided with a second window through which the radiation is transmitted, the second window being located at a position opposite the first window, and an insulating fluid adapted to fill between the inner wall of the envelope and the radiation tube. Plural plates are arranged side by side between the first window including its periphery and the second window including its periphery by overlapping one another via gaps. The gaps is formed among the plates, thereby the withstanding voltage between the first window and second window is made larger.

A radioactive ray generating apparatus includes a second shielding member, a target, and a first shielding member, which are sequentially disposed from an electron emission source side. A shortest distance from a maximum radiation intensity portion of the target to the first shielding member is shorter than a shortest distance from the maximum radiation intensity portion of the target to the second shielding member.

A radiation generating apparatus of the present invention includes an envelope 1 including a first window 2 allowing radiation to pass; a radiation tube 10 that is accommodated in the envelope 1, and includes a second window 15 allowing radiation to pass, at a position opposite to the first window 2; a radiation passing hole 21 that is thermally connected to the second window 15 and communicates with the second window 15; and a radiation shielding member 16 protruding from the second window 15 toward the first window 2. In this apparatus, a thermal conducting member 17 having a higher thermal conductivity than the radiation shielding member 16 is connected to an outer periphery of the protruding portion of the radiation shielding member 16. The simple configuration can shield unnecessary radiation, and cool the target, while facilitating reduction in weight.

X-ray tube aperture body with shielded vacuum wall. In one example embodiment, an aperture body for use in an x-ray tube having an anode and a cathode includes an electron shield and a vacuum wall. The electron shield is configured to intercept backscattered electrons from the anode. The vacuum wall is separated by a gap from the electron shield and is shielded from the backscattered electrons by the electron shield. The aperture body also includes an electron shield aperture defined in the electron shield and a vacuum wall aperture defined in the vacuum wall through which electrons may pass between the cathode and the anode.

An X-ray source and a corresponding method for generating X-ray radiation are disclosed. The X-ray source includes a chamber comprising an interaction region, and a first electron source operable to emit a first electron beam, including electrons of a first energy, towards the interaction region such that the first electron beam interacts with a target to generate X-ray radiation. The X-ray source further includes a second electron source adapted to be independently operated to emit a second electron beam including electrons of a second energy for ionising particles in the chamber, and an ion collection tool that is adapted to remove the ionised particles from the chamber by means of an electromagnetic field. By ionising particles and preventing them from moving freely in the chamber, problems related to contamination of the chamber may be mitigated.

An X-Ray tube is provided. The X-Ray tube includes a frame structure surrounding at least a portion of an electron beam source and an electron beam target. The frame structure has a cooling system integrated therein. The cooling system includes at least one air / fin layer; and a sub-cooled working fluid in thermal contact with the at least one air / fin layer, the sub-cooled working fluid being adapted to undergo a phase change in response to heat introduced to the frame structure by one or more of the electron beam source and the electron beam target, wherein the phase change facilitates transfer of the heat to the at least one air / fin layer.

An X-ray generator includes a booster circuit formed by sequentially connecting a plurality of boosting steps extending from a low-voltage terminal to a high-voltage terminal of its own.The booster circuit is arranged in a lateral region of the X-ray tube so as to make the low-voltage terminal of its own correspond to the anode of the X-ray tube and the high-voltage terminal of its own correspond to the cathode of the X-ray tube. A lead wire extending from the cathode to the outside of the X-ray tube is connected to the high-voltage terminal of the booster circuit. A molded member containing insulating resin is formed to shield at least a cathode side end part of the X-ray tube, the lead wire outwardly extending from the cathode side end part and a high-voltage terminal side end part of the booster circuit.

In a radiation imaging apparatus which comprises an envelope which has a first window for transmitting a radiation and is filled with an insulating liquid, a radiation tube in the envelope which has, at a position facing the first window, a second window for transmitting the radiation, and a shielding member, a solid insulating member is arranged between the shielding member and the inner wall of the envelope, an opening is formed at a position on the insulating member corresponding to the first window, and a shortest distance from the shielding member to the first window or the inner wall of the envelope through the opening of the insulating member without the insulating member is made longer than a shortest distance from the shielding member to the first window or the inner wall of the envelope through the insulating member, thereby improving withstand voltage performance without reducing an radiation amount.

Provided is an X-ray generator including an electron passage in an electron-passage forming member; and a target on an insulative substrate. The transmission X-ray generator irradiates the target with electrons that have passed through the electron passage to generate X-rays. The target is provided at a central region of the substrate; the electron passage accommodates a secondary-X-ray generating section that generates X-rays by irradiation with electrons reflected from the target; the secondary-X-ray generating section and the target are disposed so that both of X-rays generated by direct irradiation of the target with the electrons and X-rays generated by irradiation of the secondary-X-ray generating section with the electrons reflected from the target are radiated to the outside; and at least part of the peripheral region of the substrate has higher transmittance for the X-rays generated at the secondary-X-ray generating section than the central region of the substrate.

An X-ray tube (1) comprising a cathode (3), an anode (5) and a further electrode (7) is proposed. Therein, the further electrode is arranged and adapted such that, due to impact of ‘free electrons (27) coming from the anode (5), the further electrode (7) negatively charges to an electrical potential lying between a cathode's potential and an anode's potential. The further electrode (7) may be passive, i.e. substantially electrically isolated and not connected to an active external voltage supply. The further electrode (7) may act as an ion pump removing ions from within a primary electron beam (21) and furthermore also removing atoms of residual gas within the housing (11) of the X-ray tube (1). In order to further increase the ion pumping capability of the further electrode (7), a magnetic field generator (61) can be arranged adjacent to the further electrode (7).

A radiation generating apparatus includes a radiation generation tube including an electron emitting source having an electron emitting member, a transmission type target, a tubular backward shielding member having an electron passing hole facing the target layer at one end, located at the electron emitting source side of the transmission type target, and connected to the periphery of the base member. The radiation generating apparatus further includes a collimator having an opening for defining an angle for extracting the radiation at the opposite side of the electron emitting source side of the transmission type target, and an adjusting device connected to the collimator, and configured to vary an opening diameter of the opening, wherein the target layer has a portion separated from a connection portion of the base member and the backward shielding member at the periphery.

An imaging tube (52, 52′) includes a vacuum vessel (96) and an atmospheric-side supply line assembly (104, 104′). The vacuum vessel (96) has an internal vacuum (98). The supply line assembly (104, 104′) has an electromagnetic shield (94, 94′). An insulator (106, 106′) separates the internal vacuum (98) from an external atmosphere (126). A cathode post (92, 92′) resides within the vacuum vessel (96). The cathode post (92, 92′) is in conductive proximity with the electromagnetic shield (94, 94′) and prevents the bending of electrostatic field lines within the imaging tube (52, 52′).

An X-ray generating apparatus controls driving of an X-ray tube. The X-ray tube includes an electron source emitting electrons due to application of a voltage, a transmission-type target generating an X-ray due to collision of electrons emitted from the electron source, and a shield member disposed between the electron source and the transmission-type target, the shield member having an opening that electrons emitted from the electron source pass through, and blocking an X-ray that scatters toward the electron source. When generating the X-ray, application of a voltage to the transmission-type target is started, and emission of electrons from the electron source is caused after passage of a predetermined period indicating a time period from starting voltage application until the transmission-type target reaches a predetermined voltage. When stopping X-ray generation, application of the voltage to the transmission-type target is stopped after stopping the emission of electrons from the electron source.

A radiation generating apparatus 31 comprises: a radiation generating tube 11; a holding container 12 holding the radiation generating tube; and a cooling medium 33 between the holding container and the radiation generating tube, wherein the radiation generating tube includes an envelope 14 including an aperture 14a, an electron emitting source arranged in the envelope, a target 18, 19 arranged so as to face the electron emitting source, for generating a radiation responsive to an irradiation with an electron beam emitted from the electron emitting source, and a shield 20 of a tubular shape, for holding the target by an inner wall of the tubular shape and shielding a part of the radiation emitted from the target, the shield is arranged so as to protrude outward of the envelope so that the target is positioned on an outer side of the aperture, and the cooling medium contacts at least a part of the shield.

Systems, methods, and devices with improved electrode configuration for downhole nuclear radiation generators are provided. For example, one embodiment of a nuclear radiation generator capable of downhole operation may include a charged particle source, a target material, and an acceleration column between the charged particle source and the target material. The acceleration column may include an intermediate electrode that remains floating at a variable potential, being electrically isolated from the rest of the acceleration column.

A reduced power consumption x-ray source comprising:In one embodiment, an x-ray tube including an infrared heat reflector disposed inside an x-ray tube cylinder between the cathode and the anode and oriented to reflect a substantial portion of infrared heat radiating from a filament back to the filament, thus reducing heat loss from the filament.In another embodiment, an alternating current source for an x-ray tube filament including a switch for allowing power to flow to the filament for a longer or shorter time depending on the desired output x-ray flux.In another embodiment, a neutral grounded, direct current (DC) high voltage, power supply with parallel high voltage multipliers, each supplied by separate alternating current sources, but both the output of one alternating current source connected to ground and the input of another alternating current source connected to ground. The output of both high voltage multipliers are connected.

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.

A shield assembly for an x-ray device is disclosed herein. The shield assembly includes a radiation shielding layer comprised of a first material. The radiation shielding layer defines a collection surface. The shield assembly also includes a thermally conductive layer attached the radiation shielding layer. The thermally conductive layer is comprised of a second material. The shield assembly also includes a passage defined by the radiation shielding layer and / or the thermally conductive layer. The passage generally conforms to the size and shape of an electron beam when it passes through the passage.

An x-ray tube has a vacuum housing containing an anode that generates usable x-ray radiation upon being struck by electrons generated by an electron source. The usable x-ray radiation escapes from the vacuum housing through an x-ray exit window. A backscatter electron barrier device arranged in the vacuum housing affects the backscatter electrons in the region of the usable x-ray radiation such that no backscatter electrons reach the x-ray exit window. Such an x-ray tube exhibits an invariably constant x-ray intensity and a high reliability.