Radiation Tube Mounting Structure for Focus Alignment in Tomosynthesis
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Solution Overview
Problem
In tomosynthesis imaging, the assembly variation of multiple radiation tubes at different irradiation angles leads to positional deviations of their focuses, making it difficult to generate appropriate tomographic images.
Innovation Solution
A radiation tube attachment member with a common substrate and positioning portions that support and align the anodes of multiple radiation tubes, ensuring precise positioning and maintaining the focus at a target position, thereby preventing positional deviations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple radiation tubes are individually attached using metal bands, then the radiation source can accommodate multiple irradiation angles, but assembly variation occurs causing focus positional deviation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual attachment operations into a single integrated attachment process. Multiple radiation tubes are simultaneously attached to the radiation source housing using a unified metal band structure, which ensures consistent spacing and positioning. This combined attachment method eliminates assembly variations that would occur with individual attachments, maintaining focus position accuracy while supporting multiple irradiation angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal band structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it attaches multiple radiation tubes to the housing, maintains precise spacing between tubes, and ensures correct angular positioning. This universal attachment mechanism handles both the mechanical mounting and the precision positioning requirements in a single integrated solution.
2Adaptability or versatility
If radiation tubes are arranged at different positions for tomosynthesis imaging, then tomographic images can be generated, but focus deviation from target position occurs due to assembly variation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the positioning functions for multiple radiation tubes into a single integrated positioning system. The metal band structure provides a unified reference framework that simultaneously positions all radiation tubes at their respective angles, ensuring that each focus remains aligned with its target position on the imaging plate. This merged positioning approach maintains reliability across all irradiation angles required for tomosynthesis imaging.
3Ease of manufacture
If individual metal bands are used to attach each radiation tube, then attachment is simple, but interval and placement angle variations occur between adjacent tubes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate attachment operations into a single simultaneous attachment process using an integrated metal band structure. This unified approach maintains the simplicity of metal band attachment while eliminating the precision problems that arise from individual attachments. The single operation ensures consistent intervals and angles between all radiation tubes.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal band structure is segmented into multiple attachment points that correspond to each radiation tube position. These segments are designed with precise geometric relationships to each other, ensuring that when the single metal band is attached, all radiation tubes are positioned with correct intervals and angles. The segmentation allows the single attachment operation to achieve multi-point precision positioning.
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
The solution effectively suppresses positional deviations of the radiation tubes' focuses, allowing for the generation of accurate tomographic images by maintaining precise alignment and facilitating efficient calibration and operation of the tomosynthesis imaging apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
a filament that emits thermal electrons is used as the cathode
Implementation Method 2
an anode with which the electrons collide, and a container which accommodates the cathode and the anode. The anode is also called a target. In the anode, a position where the electrons collide is a focus at which radiation is emitted
Data Source
AI summary
A radiation tube attachment member includes: a common substrate that supports one end side of each of a plurality of radiation tubes and holds the plurality of radiation tubes in a state in which the plurality of radiation tubes are arranged; and a positioning portion that is provided in the common substrate and locates a focus of each of the plurality of radiation tubes at which radiation is emitted at a target position.