Single electron source X-ray tube, X-ray tube assembly and corresponding CT device

Abstract

The present invention discloses a single-electron-source X-ray tube, an X-ray tube assembly, and a corresponding CT device. The X-ray tube includes a single electron source and at least two anode target surfaces. The single electron source is fixed to the center of the X-ray tube's tube core structure. Two exposure windows are symmetrically installed at both ends of the X-ray tube, each corresponding to one of the at least two anode target surfaces. At least two gates are installed on the electron path of the single electron source toward each anode target surface. Applying gate voltages to the gates controls the deflection field, thereby controlling the on / off and flow direction of the electron flow toward the anode target surfaces, thereby controlling the X-ray output. The present invention solves the problem of space utilization and connection method limitations when adding multiple sources to an existing X-ray tube, and improves controllability of the exposure operation of the dual target surfaces during the exposure process. Meanwhile, a CT device using this single-electron-source X-ray tube can expand the X-ray coverage area and eliminate cone-angle artifacts.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a single-electron-source X-ray tube, an X-ray tube assembly configured using a plurality of single-electron-source X-ray tubes, and a CT device including the single-electron-source X-ray tube, and belongs to the technical field of radiation imaging. [Background technology]

[0002] X-ray tubes (abbreviated as tubes) are the core components that generate X-rays and are widely used in fields such as medicine, security checks, and industrial detection. During use, the electron source located at the cathode is accelerated by the high-voltage electric field between the cathode and anode, causing the electrons to collide with the anode target surface at high speed, generating bremsstrahlung radiation. The electron source located at the cathode is often a hot cathode (mainly a filament). In recent years, cold cathode technology has also been gradually adopted.

[0003] In conventional technology, X-ray tubes typically have one electron source and one anode target surface. However, with the development of computed tomography (CT) imaging technology, the need for increasing the number of X-ray sources has become increasingly apparent, which has put forward new requirements for the scalability and space occupancy of multi-source X-ray tubes. Because conventional X-ray tubes are designed with one electron source and one anode target surface, when expanding to a multi-source distribution, there are problems such as a large space occupancy range and low scalability. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The main technical problem that the present invention seeks to solve is to provide a single electron source X-ray tube.

[0005] Another technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an X-ray tube assembly composed of a plurality of the above-described single electron source X-ray tubes.

[0006] Another technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a CT device including the above-mentioned single electron source X-ray tube.

[0007] To achieve the above technical objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0008] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a single electron source X-ray tube comprising a single electron source and at least two anode target surfaces, wherein: The single electron source is fixed to the center of a tube core structure of the X-ray tube, and two exposure windows are symmetrically installed at both ends of the X-ray tube, each corresponding to at least two anode target surfaces; At least two gates are respectively disposed on an electron transfer path of the single electron source toward each of the anode target surfaces; The deflection electric field is controlled by applying a gate voltage to the gate, and the X-ray output is controlled by controlling the on / off and flow direction of the electron flow emitted toward the anode target surface.

[0009] Preferably, the single electron source X-ray tube comprises: a first insulating support portion installed on an inner wall of a tube core structure of the X-ray tube; a second insulating support part installed on an inner wall of a tube core structure of the X-ray tube opposite to the first insulating support part, one end of the second insulating support part protruding from an outer wall of the tube core structure of the X-ray tube and having a high-voltage connection assembly attached thereto for connection to an external high-voltage generator; Here, a clamping space is formed between the first insulating support part and the second insulating support part, and the electron source is clamped in the clamping space and fixed to the center of the tube core structure of the X-ray tube.

[0010] Preferably, each of the anode target surfaces is grounded and each of the anode target surfaces is fitted with an active heat exchanger that is used to reduce the temperature of the anode target surface and cool it.

[0011] Preferably, when the gate voltage is higher than the off voltage, electron flow is interrupted and the X-ray tube does not produce X-rays.

[0012] Preferably, when the gate voltage is between an off voltage and a reference voltage, the size of the exposure focus is changed in accordance with the change in the gate voltage.

[0013] Preferably, the single electron source is replaced by at least two electron sources, each electron source corresponding to one anode target surface; A metal baffle is provided between two adjacent electron sources, and one electron source emits electrons only toward one anode target surface.

[0014] Preferably, the anode target surface is a fixed anode target surface or a rotating anode target surface.

[0015] According to a second aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an X-ray tube assembly comprising a plurality of the single electron source X-ray tubes described above, the plurality of single electron source X-ray tubes being arranged side by side.

[0016] Preferably, the X-ray tube assembly further comprises a high voltage connection integrated assembly electrically connected to each of said single electron source X-ray tubes.

[0017] According to a third aspect of the embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a CT device including the single electron source X-ray tube described above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the single electron source X-ray tube provided by the present invention solves the problem of limitations on expansion when adding multiple sources to an existing X-ray tube due to factors such as space utilization rate and connection method, and improves the controllability of the exposure operation of the dual target surface during the exposure process. Meanwhile, when applied to CT devices, this invention helps to expand the X-ray coverage range and eliminate cone angle artifacts. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a single electron source X-ray tube according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of another single electron source X-ray tube according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an X-ray tube assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a CT device including the single electron source X-ray tube according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The technical contents of the present invention will be described in detail and specifically below in combination with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0021] The present invention creatively uses dual target surfaces to provide two exposure windows, breaking away from the conventional design concept of one target surface and one filament. Instead, it uses a single electron source (i.e., a filament) to accommodate at least two anode target surfaces. By designing at least two gates and adjusting the gate voltages, the electron movement paths in two directions can be controlled, respectively, and thus the X-ray generation from the two anode target surfaces can be controlled, respectively. This single-electron-source, dual-target-surface technical solution allows for symmetrical, regular, and concentrated distribution of the electric field, which is beneficial for the insulation design of the tube core, while also improving the space utilization rate of the X-ray tube and increasing the multi-source distribution.

[0022] Hereinafter, a single electron source X-ray tube provided by an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail in combination with the accompanying drawings. <First Example>

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1 , in a first embodiment of the present invention, a single-electron-source X-ray tube includes a first anode target surface 1, a first gate 2, an electron source 3, a second gate 4, and a second anode target surface 5. The first anode target surface 1 and the second anode target surface 5 are located at the left and right ends of the X-ray tube and are tilted at 45° to receive cathode electrons emitted from the electron source 3. The first gate 2, the electron source 3, and the second gate 4 are packaged within a tube core structure 10 of the X-ray tube. An insulating support structure (described in detail below) is designed in the center of the X-ray tube core structure to fix the electron source 3 in the center and ensure that the electron source 3 can emit electrons and move in two perpendicular directions (i.e., the left and right directions in FIG. 1 ) to the first anode target surface 1 and the second anode target surface 5, thereby providing a reliable electron source and electron movement path when exposing two target disks, respectively. The first gate 2 and the second gate 4 are respectively installed symmetrically on the electron movement path at both the left and right ends (or other positions are also possible) of the electron source 3. Correspondingly, two exposure windows corresponding to the first anode target surface 1 and the second anode target surface 5 are respectively installed symmetrically at both the left and right ends of the single electron source X-ray tube. Thus, during exposure, electrons generated by the electron source 3 collide at high speed with the first anode target surface 1 and the second anode target surface 5 under the action of a high-voltage electric field, and X-rays are generated by bremsstrahlung.

[0024] Specifically, in this embodiment, applying a gate voltage to the first gate 2 controls the deflection field to control whether electron path 1 (the path from the electron source 3 to the first anode target surface 1) is beamed. When the gate voltage is higher than the off-voltage, the electrons are completely constrained, equivalent to blocking the electron flow, and no X-rays are generated. When the gate voltage is between the off-voltage and the reference voltage, controlling the magnitude of the gate voltage controls the electron deflection amplitude. This controls the position at which the electrons impinge on the first anode target surface 1, thereby controlling the focal spot size on the first anode target surface 1 and, therefore, changing the size of the exposure focal spot. Similarly, the second gate 4 can control electron path 2 (the path from the electron source 3 to the second anode target surface 5) using the same method. This allows for more flexible control of exposure by controlling the gate voltage. By adjusting the gate voltage, exposure can be quickly started (by adjusting the gate voltage to the parameter voltage within a few microseconds) and stopped (by adjusting the gate voltage to the off voltage within a few microseconds), which ensures that the electron beam is stopped during the kV and mA establishment and off process, thereby effectively reducing the reactive dose. On the other hand, by adjusting the magnitude of the gate voltage, the size of the exposure focus can be changed to suit different exposure needs.

[0025] In this embodiment, the gate voltages of the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 are independently controlled. Therefore, in specific applications, the gate voltages of the two gates can be controlled independently to achieve synchronous or alternating X-ray generation, adapting to different application scenarios. Specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, the gate voltages applied to the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 are fully synchronized. Under the influence of the gate voltages, electrons generated by the electron source 3 move to the left and right sides, respectively, and simultaneously collide with the first anode target surface 1 and the second anode target surface 5, thereby simultaneously generating X-rays on the left and right sides of the X-ray tube. In another embodiment, the gate voltages of the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 are alternately increased above the off-voltage. When the gate voltage of the first gate 2 is higher than the off-voltage, electrons on electron path 1 are completely constrained. At this time, electrons on electron path 2 can normally collide with the second anode target surface 5 to generate X-rays on the right side of the X-ray tube. When the gate voltage of the second gate 4 is higher than the off voltage, the electrons on the electron transfer path 2 are completely bound, and at this time, the electrons on the electron transfer path 1 can normally collide with the first anode target surface 1 to generate X-rays on the left side of the X-ray tube, thereby generating X-rays alternately on both the left and right sides of the X-ray tube.

[0026] 1, the insulating support structure specifically includes a first insulating support part 201 and a second insulating support part 202. The first insulating support part 201 is columnar (which may be cylindrical or prismatic) and is installed on the inner wall of the tube core structure 10 of the X-ray tube. The second insulating support part 202 is also columnar (which may be cylindrical or prismatic) and is installed on the inner wall of the tube core structure 10 of the X-ray tube opposite the first insulating support part 201, forming a clamping space 203 between the first insulating support part and the second insulating support part. The electron source 3 (i.e., the filament) is clamped in the clamping space 203, and thus the electron source 3 is stably clamped to the center of the tube core structure of the X-ray tube using the first insulating support part 201 and the second insulating support part 202. Furthermore, one end of this second insulating support 202 that is away from the electron source 3 (i.e., the upper end in Figure 1) protrudes from the outer wall of the tube core structure 10 of the X-ray tube, and a high-voltage connection assembly 20 is attached to the upper end of this second insulating support 202, thereby connecting it to an external high-voltage generator via this high-voltage connection assembly 20 and applying a high voltage to the first gate 2, the electron source 3 and the second gate 4.

[0027] Although the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 uses a fixed anode target disk (i.e., a fixed target disk) as an example, the X-ray tube provided by the embodiment of the present invention can also be applied to a rotating target disk structure. Also, although the above embodiment uses a filament as the electron source 3, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can also be applied to other electron sources, not limited to carbon nanotube electron sources.

[0028] In the above embodiment, the preferred solution is to adopt a grounded anode design, and each anode target surface is equipped with an active heat exchanger 30. Whether a fixed target disk structure or a rotating target disk structure is used, heat can be transferred to the active heat exchanger 30 to cool the anode, effectively solving the heat dissipation problem on the anode target surface and improving the power consumption of the tube core under the same conditions. <Second Example>

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, based on the first embodiment, the second embodiment of the present invention provides another single electron source X-ray tube, which includes a first anode target surface 1, a first gate 2, an electron source 3', a second gate 4 and a second anode target surface 5. The difference between this embodiment and the first embodiment is that the structural form of the electron source 3' is different.

[0030] In this embodiment, the electron source 3' is composed of at least two electron sources, each corresponding to one anode target surface. Specifically, the electron source 3' includes two electron sources corresponding to the first anode target surface 1 and the second anode target surface 5, respectively. A metal baffle 40 is provided between the two electron sources to prevent electrons from moving toward the opposite side, so that each electron source emits electrons only toward one anode target surface (i.e., the left electron source emits electrons only toward the first anode target surface 1, and the right electron source emits electrons only toward the second anode target surface 5). From the above description, although the electron source 3' is configured with multiple electron sources, the operating mode of each electron source is substantially the same as that of the single-electron-source X-ray tube in the first embodiment, and therefore it is essentially another form of single-electron-source X-ray tube.

[0031] In this embodiment, it can be seen that the structural configuration of the electron source 3' and the anode target surface is similar to the conventional design concept in which the number of target surfaces corresponds to the number of filaments, one for each. Other than this, the remaining structure of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore will not be described here. <Third Example>

[0032] As shown in FIG. 3, based on the first embodiment, a third embodiment of the present invention provides an X-ray tube assembly including a plurality of single electron source X-ray tubes according to the first or second embodiment.

[0033] Specifically, by installing two single electron source X-ray tubes side by side, the X-ray tube assembly can be expanded into a dual source, four target surface configuration; by installing three single electron source X-ray tubes side by side, the X-ray tube assembly can be expanded into a three source, six target surface configuration; etc., expansion is possible in this manner, thereby enabling adaptive multi-source expansion of the X-ray tube assembly according to exposure needs.

[0034] In this embodiment, the X-ray tube assembly is provided with a high-voltage connection integrated assembly 50, which is electrically connected to each single-electron-source X-ray tube. The high-voltage connection integrated assembly 50 may be a combination of two high-voltage connection assemblies 20 for four light sources, or a combination of three high-voltage connection assemblies 20 for six light sources. In this way, by forming multiple high-voltage connection assemblies 20 into an integrated structure, the convenience of connecting the X-ray tube assembly to the high-voltage generator can be improved and the overall circuit structure can be simplified. <Fourth Example>

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, based on the first embodiment, a fourth embodiment of the present invention provides a CT device including the above single electron source X-ray tube.

[0036] Specifically, this CT device includes a single electron source X-ray tube 100, a CT detection module 200, and a scanning frame 300. Here, the scanning frame 300 may include a fixed part 310 and a rotating part 320 (a stationary CT imaging device does not have a rotating part, and the rotational switching of the X-ray projection position is realized through the cooperation of the X-ray tube and the CT detection module). The rotating part 320 is equipped with the single electron source X-ray tube 100 and the CT detection module 200, and a central opening 321 is installed in the center of the rotating part for the scanning bed to pass through. The scanning bed 400 and the scanning frame 300 are installed correspondingly, and the scanning bed 400 is used to carry a patient and position the patient in the central opening 321 of the rotating part of the scanning frame 300 for examination. When the patient moves to a predetermined scanning position, X-rays are emitted from the single electron source X-ray tube 100 located on one side of the patient, and the X-rays pass through the patient's body and are received by the CT detection module 200 located on the opposite side. After receiving the X-rays, the CT detection module 200 converts them into visible light and forms an image according to a preset program, and then transmits the image information to a display device (not shown) for display.

[0037] Compared with the prior art, the single electron source X-ray tube and X-ray tube assembly provided by the present invention solves the problem of adding multiple sources to an existing X-ray tube, which is limited by factors such as space utilization rate and connection method, and improves the controllability of the exposure operation of the dual target surface during the exposure process. On the other hand, when this single electron source X-ray tube is applied to a CT device, it helps to expand the X-ray coverage range and eliminate cone angle artifacts.

[0038] The single electron source X-ray tube, X-ray tube assembly and corresponding CT device provided in the present invention have been described in detail above. Any obvious modifications made to the present invention by those skilled in the art without departing from the essential content of the present invention will be considered as infringement of the patent right of the present invention and will incur corresponding legal liability.

Claims

1. 1. A single electron source X-ray tube, comprising: a single electron source and at least two anode target surfaces, wherein: The single electron source is fixed to the center of a tube core structure of the X-ray tube, and two exposure windows are symmetrically installed at both ends of the X-ray tube, each corresponding to at least two anode target surfaces; At least two gates are respectively disposed on the electron transfer path of the single electron source toward each of the anode target surfaces; A single electron source X-ray tube characterized in that the deflection electric field is controlled by applying a gate voltage to the gate, and the output of X-rays is controlled by controlling the on / off and flow direction of the electron flow emitted toward the anode target surface.

2. a first insulating support portion installed on an inner wall of a tube core structure of the X-ray tube; a second insulating support part disposed on an inner wall of a tube core structure of the X-ray tube opposite to the first insulating support part, one end of the second insulating support part protruding from an outer wall of the tube core structure of the X-ray tube and having a high-voltage connection assembly attached thereto for connection to an external high-voltage generator; 2. The single electron source X-ray tube according to claim 1, wherein a sandwiching space is formed between the first insulating support part and the second insulating support part, and the electron source is sandwiched in the sandwiching space and fixed to a central part of a tube core structure of the X-ray tube.

3. 3. The single electron source X-ray tube of claim 2, wherein each of the anode target surfaces is grounded, and each of the anode target surfaces is equipped with an active heat exchanger that is used to reduce the temperature of the anode target surface and cool it.

4. 2. The single electron source X-ray tube of claim 1, wherein when the gate voltage is higher than the off voltage, electron flow is blocked and the X-ray tube does not generate X-rays.

5. 2. The single electron source X-ray tube according to claim 1, wherein when the gate voltage is between an off voltage and a reference voltage, the size of the exposure focus is changed according to the change in the gate voltage.

6. the single electron source is replaced by at least two electron sources, each electron source corresponding to one anode target surface; 2. The single-electron source X-ray tube according to claim 1, wherein a metal baffle is provided between two adjacent electron sources, and one of the electron sources emits electrons only toward one of the anode target surfaces.

7. 7. The single electron source X-ray tube according to claim 1, wherein the anode target surface is a fixed anode target surface or a rotating anode target surface.

8. An X-ray tube assembly comprising a plurality of single electron source X-ray tubes according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the plurality of single electron source X-ray tubes being arranged side by side.

9. 9. The X-ray tube assembly of claim 8, further comprising a high-voltage connection integrated assembly electrically connected to each of said single electron source X-ray tubes.

10. A CT device comprising the single electron source X-ray tube according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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