57results about "X-ray tube cooling method" patented technology

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.

A system and method for reducing or eliminating pump cavitation in a closed system having at least one or a plurality of fluid phase changes. The system comprises a venturi having a throat which is coupled to a reservoir tank.

A system for cooling an X-ray tube in a CT machine comprising a heat sink for drawing heat away from the X-ray tube and a collimator connected to the heat sink and adapted to collimate the X-rays emitted by the X-ray tube and “focus” those X-rays on an X-ray detector, the heat sink body being formed out of the same material as the emitter of the X-ray tube, such that the emitter opening of the X-ray tube will remain aligned with both the heat sink window and the collimator opening even when the emitter of the X-ray tube undergoes thermal expansion.

An x-ray tube target and method of repairing a damaged x-ray tube target. The x-ray tube target includes an original substrate and a portion of the original substrate that includes a new portion of a substrate and a new target track that is attached to a void in the original substrate. The method includes removal and replacement of damaged materials on used anode targets of x-ray tubes, thereby enabling recovery of used anode targets without the use of expensive and time consuming layer deposition methods. The method also avoids the high costs and long development cycles associated with known repair and refabrication methods for anode targets of x-ray tubes.

A system and method for reducing or eliminating pump cavitation in a closed system having at least one or a plurality of fluid phase changes. The system comprises a venturi having a throat which is coupled to a reservoir tank.

A focal track region of an x-ray anode in an example is electrochemically etched. In a further example, an x-ray anode comprises a thermally-compliant focal track region for impingement of electrons from an x-ray cathode to create an x-ray source. The thermally-compliant focal track region comprises a pattern of discrete relative expanses and gaps.

A cooling system of a computed tomography (CT) system provides for a more efficient operation than known heretofore. The cooling system of the CT system includes a gantry and a table that moves an object into a bore of the gantry. The gantry includes part boxes mounted therein, and blade elements are formed in regions of the part boxes. The cooling system of the CT system includes a cooling method that includes a multiple cooling method including a stand-by mode and an operating mode.

A target assembly for generating x-rays includes a target substrate, and an emissive coating applied to a portion of the target substrate, the emissive coating comprising one or more of a carbide and a carbonitride.

A structure for collecting scattered electrons within a substantially evacuated vessel containing both an electron-emitting cathode and an electron-attracting anode is disclosed herein. The electron-collecting structure includes a two-sided first plate, a two-sided second plate, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet. The first plate is both electrically conductive and thermally emissive and is mountable within the vessel so that its first side at least partially faces the anode. The second plate is also thermally emissive and has a first side that is substantially conterminous with the second side of the first plate. Furthermore, the second plate additionally has an internal conduit for conveying a heat-absorbing fluid within. Both the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are in fluid communication with the conduit in the second plate. During operation, the structure is able to attract scattered electrons and transfer thermal energy attributable to the electrons away from the structure.

A structure for collecting scattered electrons within a substantially evacuated vessel containing both an electron-emitting cathode and an electron-attracting anode is disclosed herein. The electron-collecting structure includes a two-sided first plate, a two-sided second plate, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet. The first plate is both electrically conductive and thermally emissive and is mountable within the vessel so that its first side at least partially faces the anode. The second plate is also thermally emissive and has a first side that is substantially conterminous with the second side of the first plate. Furthermore, the second plate additionally has an internal conduit for conveying a heat-absorbing fluid within. Both the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet are in fluid communication with the conduit in the second plate. During operation, the structure is able to attract scattered electrons and transfer thermal energy attributable to the electrons away from the structure.

An x-ray tube having a coated x-ray tube frame inner surface and a coated anode assembly is provided. The x-ray tube includes an x-ray tube frame in which an anode assembly is disposed therein. A cathode assembly is also disposed within the x-ray tube frame that emits an electron beam to strike a target surface of the anode assembly and form x-rays. A plasma-sprayed tungsten oxide coating is formed on an inner surface of the x-ray tube frame and on the anode assembly to dissipate heat created by the electron beam.

The invention relates to a miniature X-ray source device connected to a distal end of a guiding wire for insertion towards a desired location within an animal body for effecting radiation therapy, said X-ray source device at least comprising a vacuum tube accommodated in said housing containing a cathode and an anode spaced apart at some distance from each other; electron freeing means for freeing electrons from the cathode; electric field means for applying during use a high-voltage electric field between said cathode and said anode for accelerating said free electrons; said vacuum tube being at least partly transparent to X-ray radiation emitted by said anode, as well as cooling means for cooling at least said anode.It is an object to provide a miniature X-ray source device having further limited constructional dimensions and an improved control of the working temperature of at least the anode and hence the working conditions of the miniature X-ray source device.According to the invention the miniature X-ray source device is hereto characterised in that said cooling means are cryogenic cooling means. More in particular in a specific embodiment of said miniature X-ray source device said cooling means comprise at least one supply passageway for supplying pressurized gas towards said anode and at least one exhaust passageway for exhausting said pressurized gas from said anode, said supply passageway and said exhaust passageway being interconnected by means of an expansion chamber surrounding at least partly said anode.

A focal track region of an x-ray anode in an example is electrochemically etched. In a further example, an x-ray anode comprises a thermally-compliant focal track region for impingement of electrons from an x-ray cathode to create an x-ray source. The thermally-compliant focal track region comprises a pattern of discrete relative expanses and gaps.

A system for cooling an X-ray tube in a CT machine, wherein the X-ray tube is of the type comprising a rear cylindrical portion, a front cylindrical portion, an annular face formed at the intersection of the rear cylindrical portion and the front cylindrical portion, and an emitter opening formed in the front cylindrical portion for emitting X-rays from the X-ray tube, the system comprising: a heat sink for drawing heat away from the X-ray tube, the heat sink comprising an annular body having an axial opening, and a window extending radially through the annular body, the heat sink being configured to receive the front cylindrical portion of the X-ray tube within the axial opening of the heat sink, with the emitter opening of the X-ray tube being aligned with the heat sink window; and a collimator connected to the heat sink and adapted to collimate the X-rays emitted by the X-ray tube and “focus” those X-rays on an X-ray detector, the collimator comprising a collimator opening, with the collimator being connected to the heat sink such that the collimator opening is aligned with the heat sink window and the emitter opening of the X-ray tube; the heat sink body being formed out of the same material as the emitter of the X-ray tube, such that the emitter opening of the X-ray tube will remain aligned with both the heat sink window and the collimator opening even when the emitter of the X-ray tube undergoes thermal expansion.

According to an exemplary embodiment an x-ray tube comprises a cathode, rotable disc anode, and a focal spot modulating unit, wherein the cathode is adapted to emit an electron beam, and wherein the focal spot modulating unit is adapted to modulate the electron beam in such a way that an intensity distribution of the electron beam on a focal spot on the anode is asymmetric such that the intensity of the electron beam on the focal spot is higher at the front of the focal spot with respect to the rotation direction.

A system and method for collecting backscattered electrons within a substantially evacuated vessel containing both an electron-emitting cathode assembly and an electron-attracting anode assembly. The system and method comprises an electron collector assembly including a first plate, a second plate, an internal member, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet. The first plate is mounted within the vessel closest to the anode assembly. The second plate is mounted within the vessel closest to the cathode assembly. The internal member is positioned between the first plate and the second plate, and includes an internal conduit for conveying a heat absorbing cooling fluid therethrough.

A target for generating x-rays includes a target substrate, a target shaft attached to the target substrate, and a radiation emissive coating applied to at least one of the target substrate and the target shaft, wherein a center-of-gravity of the target is positioned between a front bearing assembly and a rear bearing assembly of an x-ray tube.

An imaging module includes a plurality of cathodes and respective gates, each cathode configured to generate a separate beam of electrons directed across a vacuum chamber and each gate matched to at least one respective cathode to enable and disable each separate beam of electrons from being directed across the vacuum chamber. A target anode is fixed within the vacuum chamber and arranged to receive the separate beam of electrons from each of the plurality of cathodes and, therefrom, generate a beam of x-rays. A deflection system is arranged between the plurality of cathodes and the target anode to generate a variable magnetic field to control a path followed by each of the separate beams of electrons to the target anode.

A mechanism for cooling the anode of an x-ray tube using a phase change material to transfer heat away from the anode. The x-ray tube is joined to a sealed heat exchange chamber which contains a liquid metal as a liquid to vapor phase change material (L-V PCM). The back side of the anode is exposed to an interior of the heat exchange chamber, and a jet sprayer inside the heat exchange chamber sprays a liquid of the metal onto the back side of the heated anode. The L-C PCM evaporates on that surface to carry away the heat, and the vapor then condenses back into the liquid on the cool surfaces of the heat exchange chamber. The surfaces of the heat exchange chamber may be cooled by convection cooling. Optionally, pipes containing a circulating cooling fluid may be provide inside the heat exchange chamber.

The invention discloses a combined head and a ray imaging device. The combined head comprises a casing, a ray tube, a pump and a tube, wherein the casing is provided with a sealed cavity, the ray tubeis arranged in the sealed cavity, the pump and the tube are arranged in the sealed cavity, the pump is arranged at one side away from the positive pole of the ray tube, one end of the tube is connected with an outlet of the pump while the other end thereof extends to the position near the positive pole of the ray tube, or, the pump is arranged near the positive pole of the ray tube, one end of the tube is connected with an inlet of the pump while the other end thereof extends to the side way from the positive pole of the ray tube. An insulating medium at the position away from the positive pole can be pumped to the position near the positive pole, the insulating medium in the sealed cavity can be driven to form a cycle, and thus, temperature difference between the position of the positivepole and other positions can be reduced greatly, and temperature graded distribution of the insulating medium in the sealed cavity can be more uniform.

A system and method for collecting backscattered electrons within a substantially evacuated vessel containing both an electron-emitting cathode assembly and an electron-attracting anode assembly. The system and method comprises an electron collector assembly including a first plate, a second plate, an internal member, a fluid inlet, and a fluid outlet. The first plate is mounted within the vessel closest to the anode assembly. The second plate is mounted within the vessel closest to the cathode assembly. The internal member is positioned between the first plate and the second plate, and includes an internal conduit for conveying a heat absorbing cooling fluid therethrough.

An x-ray tube target and method of repairing a damaged x-ray tube target. The x-ray tube target includes an original substrate and a portion of the original substrate that includes a new portion of a substrate and a new target track that is attached to a void in the original substrate. The method includes removal and replacement of damaged materials on used anode targets of x-ray tubes, thereby enabling recovery of used anode targets without the use of expensive and time consuming layer deposition methods. The method also avoids the high costs and long development cycles associated with known repair and refabrication methods for anode targets of x-ray tubes.

A liquid metal or spiral groove bearing structure for an x-ray tube and associated process for manufacturing the bearing structure is provided that includes a bearing shaft rotatably disposed in a bearing housing or shell. The shell includes a thrust seal engaged with a sleeve to maintain co-axiality for the rotating liquid metal seal formed in the shell about the shaft. The shaft has a bore for the introduction of a cooling fluid into the bearing assembly in which is disposed a cooling tube. The cooling tube includes turbulence-inducing features to increase the turbulence of the cooling fluid flowing through the cooling tube, consequently enhancing the heat exchange between the cooling fluid and the shaft. This maximizes the heat transfer from the shaft to the oil, allowing materials with lower thermal conductivities, such as non-refractory materials, to be used to form the bearing shaft and shell.

The embodiments relate to a CT system with a stationary part and a rotatable part, which is supported rotatably in the stationary part. At least one x-ray tube unit cooled by a cooling fluid, an x-ray detector lying opposite the x-ray tube unit, and a cooling device coupled in terms of fluid technology to the x-ray tube unit via a coolant circuit are disposed in the rotatable part. A cooling air channel, through which cooling air is able to be fed into the rotatable part, and an exhaust air channel, through which heated exhaust air is able to be taken away from the rotatable part, are disposed in the stationary part. In accordance with the embodiments, at least one overpressure relief valve is disposed in the coolant circuit, through which the cooling fluid is able to be conveyed away in the exhaust air channel.