X-ray rotating anode, X-ray tube, and X-ray radiator

Abstract

This invention relates to an X-ray rotating anode, an X-ray tube, and an X-ray radiator. The X-ray rotating anode according to this invention comprises: - a carrier made of molybdenum and / or a molybdenum alloy; - a first focal zone formed on the carrier; - a second focal zone formed on the carrier; - wherein the first focal zone and / or the second focal zone comprises tungsten and / or rhenium, characterized in that the first focal zone and / or the second focal zone are formed on the carrier by means of a VPS coating method, and the first focal zone and the second focal zone are spaced apart from each other by an intermediate segment in the carrier between the first focal zone and the second focal zone.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to an X-ray rotating anode, an X-ray tube, and an X-ray radiator. Background Technology

[0002] In an X-ray tube, electrons are accelerated from the cathode toward the anode to produce X-ray radiation in the focal spot. Typically, the anode is rotatably supported so that the heat introduced into the anode during electron interaction is distributed along the focal band. With this rotating X-ray anode, a high dose rate can usually be achieved in the generated primary X-ray radiation.

[0003] Extrafocal X-ray radiation is generated, particularly outside the focal spot or focal zone, and especially in the surrounding environment, by scattered and / or reflected electrons at the anode. Extrafocal X-ray radiation exhibits spectral characteristics similar to primary X-ray radiation. Therefore, extrafocal X-ray radiation can result in additional patient dose and / or image artifacts, depending heavily on the collimation of the X-ray radiation. A typical image artifact is shadow projection, which degrades image quality. Conventionally, extrafocal X-ray radiation can be reduced through additional filters, collimation, and / or geometric adjustments. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide an X-ray rotating anode, X-ray tube, and X-ray radiator with reduced extrafocal X-ray radiation.

[0005] The objective is achieved by an X-ray rotating anode, an X-ray tube, and an X-ray radiator. Advantageous designs are described in the following description.

[0006] Regardless of the grammatical gender of a particular term, people with male or female gender identities are included.

[0007] The X-ray rotating anode according to this invention has the following characteristics:

[0008] - A support structure made of molybdenum and / or molybdenum alloys,

[0009] - The first focal zone formed on the support body

[0010] - The second focal zone formed on the support structure,

[0011] - Wherein the first focal zone and / or the second focal zone include tungsten and / or rhenium,

[0012] Its features are,

[0013] - The first focal zone and / or the second focal zone are formed on the substrate using the VPS coating method, and

[0014] - The first focal zone and the second focal zone are spaced apart from each other by an intermediate segment in the carrier between the first focal zone and the second focal zone.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the intermediate section includes a connecting plate, which is bounded on one side by a first focal band and on the other side by a second focal band.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the intermediate segment includes a well-shaped portion, which is bounded on one side by a first focal zone and on the other side by a second focal zone.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the lower side of the first focal zone and the lower side of the second focal zone are parallel to the surface plane of the intermediate segment.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the surface of the carrier has a first groove and a second groove, wherein a first focal zone is formed in the first groove and a second focal zone is formed in the second groove.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the first focal zone, the intermediate segment, and the second focal zone are configured to be planar parallel to each other.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the first focal zone, the intermediate segment, and the second focal zone are arranged in a stepped manner.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the first focal band and the second focal band are connected to the support plate in a stepped manner in the sections of the first focal band and the second focal band.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the first focal band and the second focal band are configured to be parallel to the plane of the segments of the first focal band and the second focal band about the connection of the bearing plate.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the first focal band and the second focal band are connectedly formed on the carrier in a common manufacturing step and then separated by forming an intermediate segment.

[0024] The X-ray tube according to this utility model has the following characteristics:

[0025] - A vacuum-sealed housing with an X-ray exit window.

[0026] - Electron transmitter, and

[0027] - X-ray rotating anode

[0028] The electron emitter and the X-ray rotating anode are housed within a vacuum-sealed housing.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the X-ray exit window is configured to filter X-rays generated in the intermediate section.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the X-ray exit window has beryllium and / or titanium and / or aluminum for filtering.

[0031] The X-ray radiator according to this utility model has the following features:

[0032] - X-ray tube, and

[0033] - A filter unit for filtering X-rays generated in the intermediate section, the filter unit being disposed outside the vacuum-sealed housing.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the filter unit has aluminum and / or titanium. In principle, the filter unit may also have beryllium.

[0035] By separating the first and second focal zones through a middle segment within the carrier, a molybdenum-free region of the carrier is advantageously created between the focal zones. Scattered or reflected electrons incident in this free region advantageously produce a radiation spectrum shifted compared to the radiation spectrum of the focal zones. Therefore, an advantage of this invention is that out-of-focus X-ray radiation can be significantly and more easily reduced by shifting energy between the two radiation spectra. This, in particular, improves image quality and / or reduces the amount of image artifacts, especially the negative effects caused by shadowing from out-of-focus X-ray radiation.

[0036] Reduction of extrafocal X-ray radiation can be achieved, for example, by means of a filter, which is part of and / or additionally provided in the X-ray exit window of an X-ray tube having a rotating X-ray anode. The filter can be, in particular, a beryllium filter, a titanium filter, and / or an aluminum filter. Typically, medical X-ray tubes, in particular, are equipped with an aluminum filter by design, eliminating the need for additional consumables. Attached Figure Description

[0037] In the following description, the present invention is described and illustrated in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. In principle, the same structures and units are retained in the following description using the same reference numerals as when the corresponding structures or units first appear.

[0038] The attached diagram shows:

[0039] Figure 1 This illustrates an X-ray rotating anode according to the present invention.

[0040] Figure 2 The X-ray rotating anode in the first embodiment is shown.

[0041] Figure 3 The X-ray rotating anode in the second embodiment is shown.

[0042] Figure 4 The X-ray rotating anode in the third embodiment is shown.

[0043] Figure 5 The X-ray rotating anode in the fourth embodiment is shown.

[0044] Figure 6 The X-ray rotating anode in the fifth embodiment is shown.

[0045] Figure 7 An X-ray tube according to the present invention is shown, and

[0046] Figure 8 An X-ray radiator according to the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0047] Figure 1 The X-ray rotating anode 10 according to the present invention is shown in the overview cross-sectional view.

[0048] The X-ray rotating anode 10 has a support 11 made of molybdenum, preferably a molybdenum alloy, and especially TZM. The X-ray rotating anode 10 also has a first focal zone 12 and a second focal zone 13 formed on the support 11. The first focal zone 12 and the second focal zone 13 comprise tungsten, preferably combined with rhenium.

[0049] The first focal band 12 and preferably the second focal band 13 are formed on the carrier 11 by means of the VPS coating method. The first focal band 12 and the second focal band 13 are spaced apart from each other by a middle segment 14 in the carrier 11 between the first focal band 12 and the second focal band 13.

[0050] The first focal band 12 and the second focal band 13 are preferably formed on the carrier 11 in separate manufacturing steps without being connected. In this case, the intermediate segment 14 can be produced, for example, by performing a VPS coating method via the intermediate segment 14 spaced apart and / or covering the intermediate segment 14.

[0051] Alternatively, the first focal band 12 and the second focal band 13 can be formed concurrently on the carrier 11 in a common manufacturing step and subsequently separated by forming an intermediate segment 14. Forming the intermediate segment 14 may include removing at least the VPS coating. Removal may be performed, for example, by unscrewing and / or laser methods.

[0052] The X-ray rotating anode 10 is further ground, especially after forming the first focal zone 12 and the second focal zone 13.

[0053] The support 11 is particularly configured for cooling the first focal zone 12 and / or the second focal zone 13. The X-ray rotating anode 10 is configured for rotational symmetry and is typically rotatably supported about the axis of rotation R. Therefore, the first focal zone 12 and / or the second focal zone 13 are also configured for rotational symmetry, preferably annularly.

[0054] The intermediate section 14 does not have a VPS coating. Advantageously, the intermediate section has only the material of the carrier 11. The intermediate section 14 has the same material composition as the carrier 11.

[0055] The X-ray radiation generated by the rotating X-ray anode 10 is particularly useful X-ray radiation and / or suitable for imaging and / or therapeutic applications. In imaging applications, a distinction is made between medical and non-medical applications. Medical applications include computed tomography, mammography, and / or angiography. Non-medical applications include materials inspection, security screening, and / or customs inspection.

[0056] The X-ray radiation generated in the intermediate section 14 is particularly the extrafocal X-ray radiation that can be reduced according to the present invention.

[0057] The overview cross-sectional view along the axis of rotation R also shows the region enclosed by the dashed line, which is in... Figures 2 to 6 The details are shown in the figure. Due to the rotational symmetry of the X-ray rotating anode 10, the first focal zone 12, the second focal zone 13, and the intermediate segment 14 are preferably constructed in their respective embodiments in the same way as shown in the figure, regardless of angle.

[0058] Figure 2 A detailed view of the X-ray rotating anode 10 according to the present invention in the first embodiment is shown.

[0059] The first embodiment is characterized in that the intermediate segment 14 includes a connecting plate 15, which is bounded on one side by a first focal band 12 and on the other side by a second focal band 13. The connecting plate 15 is particularly configured as part of the support body 11. The connecting plate 15 particularly has the same material composition as the support body 11. Preferably, the height of the connecting plate 15 is at least the thickness of the first focal band 12 and the thickness of the second focal band 13.

[0060] The first focal zone 12, the intermediate section 14, and the second focal zone 13 are parallel to each other in plane. The sections of the first focal zone 12 and the second focal zone 13 that connect to the support plate 11 are stepped. The sections connecting the first focal zone 12 and the second focal zone 13 are particularly surrounding the first focal zone 12, the second focal zone 13, and the intermediate section 14 located therebetween.

[0061] Figure 3 A detailed view of the X-ray rotating anode 10 according to the present invention in a second embodiment is shown.

[0062] The second embodiment is characterized in that the intermediate segment 14 includes a well-shaped portion 16, which is bounded on one side by a first focal zone 12 and on the other side by a second focal zone 13. The bottom of the well-shaped portion 16 is formed deeper than the lower side of the first focal zone 12 and the lower side of the second focal zone 13. The well-shaped portion 16 can be formed, particularly by means of a removal method. The removal method can be, in particular, an ablation and / or laser method. The depth of the well-shaped portion 16 is advantageously configured such that the X-rays generated in the intermediate segment 14 decay within the well-shaped portion 16, for example, at the well wall.

[0063] The first focal zone 12, the intermediate section 14, and the second focal zone 13 are arranged in a stepped manner. The sections of the first focal zone 12 and the second focal zone 13 that connect to the support plate 11 are also arranged in a stepped manner.

[0064] Figure 4 A detailed view of the X-ray rotating anode 10 according to the present invention in a third embodiment is shown.

[0065] The third embodiment is characterized in that the lower side of the first focal band 12 and the lower side of the second focal band 13 are parallel to the surface plane of the intermediate segment 14. In this case, the surface of the intermediate segment 14 corresponds substantially to the initial surface of the carrier 11, and therefore does not have the connecting plate 15 or the well-shaped portion 16.

[0066] The first focal zone 12, the intermediate section 14, and the second focal zone 13 are arranged in a stepped manner. The sections of the first focal zone 12 and the second focal zone 13 that connect to the support plate 11 are arranged in a stepped manner.

[0067] Figure 5 A detailed view of the X-ray rotating anode 10 according to the present invention in the fourth embodiment is shown.

[0068] The fourth embodiment is characterized in that the surface of the carrier 11 has a first groove 17 and a second groove 18. A first focal band 12 is formed in the first groove 17 and a second focal band 13 is formed in the second groove 18. The first groove 17 and the second groove 18 are filled, in particular, by means of a VPS overlay method, in order to form the first focal band 12 and the second focal band 13.

[0069] Alternatively, the surface of the carrier 11 may have a wide groove, wherein a first focal band 12 is formed in a first groove 17 and a second focal band 13 is formed in a second groove 18, wherein the intermediate section 14 includes a connecting plate 15, which is defined on one side by the first focal band 12 and on the other side by the second focal band 13 and is disposed in the wide groove between the first focal band 12 and the second focal band 13.

[0070] The first focal zone 12, the intermediate section 14, and the second focal zone 13 are formed in a plane parallel to each other. The sections of the first focal zone 12 and the second focal zone 13 that connect to the support plate 11 are formed in a plane parallel to each other.

[0071] Figure 6 A detailed view of the X-ray rotating anode 10 according to the present invention in the fifth embodiment is shown.

[0072] The fifth embodiment is characterized in that the intermediate segment 14 includes a well-shaped portion 16, which is bounded on one side by a first focal band 12 and on the other side by a second focal band 13. The bottom of the well-shaped portion 16 is formed deeper than the lower side of the first focal band 12 and the lower side of the second focal band 13. The first focal band 12 and the second focal band 13 are formed within a wide groove or within a first groove and a second groove in the surface of the support body 11.

[0073] The first focal zone 12, the intermediate section 14, and the second focal zone 13 are arranged in a stepped manner. The connection between the first focal zone 12 and the second focal zone 13 and the support plate 11 is parallel to the plane of the section of the first focal zone 12 and the second focal zone 13.

[0074] Figure 7 A longitudinal section along the rotation axis R of the X-ray tube 20 according to the present invention is shown.

[0075] The X-ray tube 20 has a vacuum-sealed housing 21 with an X-ray exit window 22, an electron emitter 23, and an X-ray rotating anode 10. The electron emitter 23 and the X-ray rotating anode 10 are disposed within the vacuum-sealed housing 21.

[0076] A section of housing 21 may form an X-ray exit window 22. Alternatively, the X-ray exit window 22 may be structurally distinguishable from the rest of housing 21 and inserted into housing 21 in a vacuum-sealed manner.

[0077] Electron emitter 23 is typically positioned on the cathode side above the first focal zone 12 and the second focal zone 14. An accelerating voltage is applied, in particular, between electron emitter 23 and X-ray rotating anode 10, by means of which the emitted electrons are accelerated toward X-ray rotating anode 10.

[0078] Electron emitter 23 may be a thermion emitter, such as an emitter plate or emitter coil. Alternatively, electron emitter 23 may be a field-effect emitter, such as a field-effect emitter made of silicon. The field-effect emitter may have an emission surface with dimensions such that the electrons can be aligned with the first focal band 12 and / or the second focal band 13 without the need for a deflection unit.

[0079] The electrons of the electron emitter 23 are preferably aligned such that the electrons are fired only onto the first focal zone 12, only onto the second focal zone 13, or simultaneously onto both the first focal zone 12 and the second focal zone 13. Electron alignment can be achieved using a deflection unit.

[0080] Preferably, the X-ray exit window 22 is configured to filter the X-rays generated in the intermediate section 14. For this purpose, the X-ray exit window 22 may in particular be made of beryllium and / or titanium and / or aluminum.

[0081] Figure 8 A longitudinal section along the rotation axis R is shown for the X-ray radiator 30 according to the present invention.

[0082] The X-ray radiator 30 has an X-ray tube 20 and a filter unit 31 for filtering X-rays generated in the intermediate section 14. The filter unit 31 is disposed outside the evacuated housing 21. The filter unit 31 can be configured, for example, as a collimator. The filter unit 31 is particularly disposed in the ray path of useful X-ray radiation, so that the X-rays generated in the intermediate section 14 can be reduced.

[0083] The filter unit 31 may in particular have aluminum and / or titanium for filtration. The filter unit 31 may in particular be configured as a disc made of aluminum with a thickness of 2.5 mm.

[0084] Although the details of this utility model have been described and illustrated in detail through preferred embodiments, this utility model is not limited to the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived by those skilled in the art without departing from the protection scope of this utility model.

Claims

1. An X-ray rotating anode (10) having: - A carrier made of molybdenum and / or molybdenum alloys (11). - A first focal zone (12) formed on the carrier (11). - A second focal zone (13) formed on the carrier (11). - Wherein the first focal band (12) and / or the second focal band (13) comprises tungsten and / or rhenium, Its features are, - The first focal band (12) and / or the second focal band (13) are formed on the carrier (11) by means of VPS coating, and - The first focal band (12) and the second focal band (13) are spaced apart from each other by an intermediate segment (14) in the carrier (11) between the first focal band (12) and the second focal band (13).

2. The X-ray rotating anode (10) according to claim 1. The intermediate section (14) includes a connecting plate (15) which is bounded on one side by the first focal band (12) and on the other side by the second focal band (13).

3. The X-ray rotating anode (10) according to claim 1. The intermediate segment (14) includes a well-shaped portion (16) which is bounded on one side by the first focal zone (12) and on the other side by the second focal zone (13).

4. The X-ray rotating anode (10) according to claim 1. The lower side of the first focal band (12) and the lower side of the second focal band (13) are parallel to the surface plane of the middle section (14).

5. The X-ray rotating anode (10) according to claim 1. The surface of the carrier (11) has a first groove (17) and a second groove (18), wherein the first focal band (12) is formed in the first groove (17) and the second focal band (13) is formed in the second groove (18).

6. The X-ray rotating anode (10) according to claim 1, 2 or 5. The first focal zone (12), the middle section (14), and the second focal zone (13) are formed in a plane parallel to each other.

7. The X-ray rotating anode (10) according to claim 1, 3 or 4. The first focal zone (12), the middle section (14), and the second focal zone (13) are arranged in a stepped manner.

8. The X-ray rotating anode (10) according to claim 6. The first focal zone (12), the middle section (14), and the second focal zone (13) are arranged in a stepped manner.

9. The X-ray rotating anode (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The first focal band (12) and the second focal band (13) are connected to the carrier (11) in a stepped manner at the segments of the first focal band (12) and the second focal band (13).

10. The X-ray rotating anode (10) according to claim 1 or 5. The first focal band (12) and the second focal band (13) are formed in parallel planes with respect to the section connecting the first focal band (12) and the second focal band (13) with respect to the carrier (11).

11. The X-ray rotating anode (10) according to claim 6. The first focal band (12) and the second focal band (13) are formed in parallel planes with respect to the section connecting the first focal band (12) and the second focal band (13) with respect to the carrier (11).

12. The X-ray rotating anode according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The first focal band (12) and the second focal band (13) are connectedly formed on the carrier (11) in a common manufacturing step and are subsequently separated by forming the intermediate segment (14).

13. An X-ray tube (20) having: - A vacuum-sealed housing (21) having an X-ray exit window (22). - Electron transmitter (23). Its features are, The X-ray tube (20) also includes: - X-ray rotating anode (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 12. - The electron emitter (23) and the X-ray rotating anode (10) are disposed within the vacuum-sealed housing (21).

14. The X-ray tube (20) according to claim 13. The X-ray exit window (22) thereon serves to filter the X-rays generated in the intermediate section (14).

15. The X-ray tube (20) according to claim 14. The X-ray exit window (22) is made of beryllium and / or titanium and / or aluminum for filtration.

16. An X-ray radiator (30). Its features are, The X-ray radiator (30) has: - The X-ray tube (20) according to any one of claims 13 to 15, and - A filter unit (31) for filtering X-rays generated in the intermediate section (14), the filter unit (31) being disposed outside the vacuum-sealed housing (21).

17. The X-ray radiator (30) according to claim 16. The filter unit (31) therein has aluminum and / or titanium.

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