Movable Anode X-ray Source Thermal Load Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
X-ray tube assemblies face thermal overload issues during high-power, short-duration imaging protocols, leading to potential anode melting or cracking, as the heat generated by electron strikes is concentrated on a small area, despite advancements in reducing X-ray dose and tube current.
Innovation Solution
The anode element is made movable with respect to the cathode, allowing for coordinated motion to spread the heat across a larger surface area, using linear or rotary actuators and heat dissipation configurations, ensuring the anode target is not overloaded, enabling higher tube current and power output without thermal damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a rotating anode is used to spread thermal load, then the anode can handle higher power output, but the mechanical complexity and potential for failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The anode is made movable relative to the cathode through linear or rotary actuators, allowing dynamic adjustment of the focal spot position on the anode surface. This enables the system to spread thermal load by moving the focal spot to different locations without requiring the entire anode to rotate mechanically, thus achieving thermal management with reduced mechanical complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The anode surface is effectively divided into multiple focal spot positions that can be selectively activated. By moving the focal spot to different segmented locations on the anode surface, the thermal load is distributed across multiple areas rather than concentrated at a single fixed point, enabling higher power output while managing thermal stress
2Productivity
If tube current is increased to reduce scan time, then productivity improves, but thermal overload and risk of anode damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The movable anode allows dynamic redistribution of the electron beam impact locations during the exposure period. By coordinating anode movement with electron beam generation, the system can sustain higher tube currents for shorter durations while spreading the thermal load across multiple focal spot positions, thereby maintaining both high productivity and anode reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic or coordinated movement of the anode during the X-ray generation process. The anode moves in a controlled manner to present different focal spot positions to the electron beam at different times, creating a periodic distribution of thermal load that allows higher average power delivery without exceeding the thermal limits of any single location
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for increased instantaneous power output during short duration protocols, reducing exam time and improving patient throughput while preventing thermal overload, thus enhancing imaging efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a cathode element adapted to generate a stream of electrons
Implementation Method 2
an anode element adapted to present a focal spot position for the stream of electrons
Data Source
AI summary
An X-ray source comprising a cathode element adapted to generate a stream of electrons. The X-ray source includes an anode element adapted to present a focal spot position for the stream of electrons. A vacuum chamber contains the cathode element and anode element. The anode element and/or the cathode element can be moveable with respect to the other in coordination with the generation of the stream of electrons.