Abstract: An x-ray tube assembly includes a vacuum enclosure that has a cathode portion, a target portion, and a throat portion. The throat portion includes a metal bellows. An upstream end of the throat portion is coupled to the cathode portion and a downstream end of the throat portion is coupled to the target portion. The x-ray tube assembly also includes a target positioned within the target portion of the vacuum enclosure, and a cathode positioned within the cathode portion of the vacuum enclosure. The cathode is configured to emit a stream of electrons through the throat portion toward the target.

Abstract: A method for operating an electron beam system is presented. Further, an electron beam system, an X-ray tube and a CT system that implement the presented method are also described. The method includes generating an electron beam in an X-ray tube in an imaging system. Additionally, a current configuration corresponding to a particular view of the imaging system is identified. If the identified current configuration is within a determined range, a duty cycle of the electron beam for the particular view of the imaging system is modulated using pulse width modulation. Further, the modulated electron beam is focused towards a target.

Abstract: An x-ray tube assembly includes a vacuum enclosure including a cathode portion, a target portion, and a throat portion. The throat portion includes a magnetic field section, upstream section, and downstream section. The magnetic field section has a first susceptibility to generate eddy currents in the presence of a magnetic field intensity. The upstream section is coupled to the cathode portion and the magnetic field section and has a second susceptibility to generate eddy currents in the presence of the magnetic field intensity. The downstream section is coupled to the magnetic field section and has a third susceptibility to generate eddy currents in the presence of the magnetic field intensity. The first susceptibility to generate eddy currents is less than the second and third susceptibilities to generate eddy currents. The assembly includes a target within the target portion, and a cathode within the cathode portion.

Abstract: An x-ray tube assembly includes a vacuum enclosure that includes a cathode portion, a target portion, and a throat portion having a plurality of recesses formed therein to break up eddy currents generated in the throat portion. The throat portion has an upstream end coupled to the cathode portion and a downstream end coupled to the target portion. The x-ray tube assembly also includes a target positioned within the target portion of the vacuum enclosure, and a cathode positioned within the cathode portion of the vacuum enclosure. The cathode is configured to emit a stream of electrons through the throat portion toward the target.

Abstract: An x-ray tube assembly includes a vacuum enclosure having a cathode portion, a target portion, and a throat portion comprising a non-electrically conductive tube. The throat portion has an upstream end coupled to the cathode portion and a downstream end coupled to the target portion. The x-ray tube assembly also includes a target positioned within the target portion of the vacuum enclosure, and a cathode positioned within the cathode portion of the vacuum enclosure. The cathode is configured to emit a stream of electrons through the throat portion toward the target.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate to efficient electron beam steering within X-ray tubes, for example X-ray tubes used in CT imaging. In one embodiment, and X-ray tube with enhanced electron beam steering is provided. The X-ray tube includes an electron beam source, a target configured to generate X-rays when impacted by an electron beam from the electron beam source, and a steering magnet assembly having a plurality of ferrite cores and a plurality of litz wire coils wound on the ferrite cores.

Abstract: An x-ray tube includes a casing having a cathode and an anode enclosed therein, and a separator attached to an inner wall of the casing and having a conductance limiter therein, the separator positioned to separate the anode from the cathode.

Abstract: An x-ray tube assembly includes a vacuum enclosure that includes a cathode portion, a target portion, and a throat portion having a plurality of recesses formed therein to break up eddy currents generated in the throat portion. The throat portion has an upstream end coupled to the cathode portion and a downstream end coupled to the target portion. The x-ray tube assembly also includes a target positioned within the target portion of the vacuum enclosure, and a cathode positioned within the cathode portion of the vacuum enclosure. The cathode is configured to emit a stream of electrons through the throat portion toward the target.

Abstract: An x-ray tube assembly includes a vacuum enclosure including a cathode portion, a target portion, and a throat portion. The throat portion includes a magnetic field section, upstream section, and downstream section. The magnetic field section has a first susceptibility to generate eddy currents in the presence of a magnetic field intensity. The upstream section is coupled to the cathode portion and the magnetic field section and has a second susceptibility to generate eddy currents in the presence of the magnetic field intensity. The downstream section is coupled to the magnetic field section and has a third susceptibility to generate eddy currents in the presence of the magnetic field intensity. The first susceptibility to generate eddy currents is less than the second and third susceptibilities to generate eddy currents. The assembly includes a target within the target portion, and a cathode within the cathode portion.

Abstract: An x-ray tube assembly includes a vacuum enclosure having a cathode portion, a target portion, and a throat portion comprising a non-electrically conductive tube. The throat portion has an upstream end coupled to the cathode portion and a downstream end coupled to the target portion. The x-ray tube assembly also includes a target positioned within the target portion of the vacuum enclosure, and a cathode positioned within the cathode portion of the vacuum enclosure. The cathode is configured to emit a stream of electrons through the throat portion toward the target.

Abstract: An x-ray tube assembly includes a vacuum enclosure that has a cathode portion, a target portion, and a throat portion. The throat portion includes a metal bellows. An upstream end of the throat portion is coupled to the cathode portion and a downstream end of the throat portion is coupled to the target portion. The x-ray tube assembly also includes a target positioned within the target portion of the vacuum enclosure, and a cathode positioned within the cathode portion of the vacuum enclosure. The cathode is configured to emit a stream of electrons through the throat portion toward the target.

Abstract: A method for operating an electron beam system is presented. Further, an electron beam system, an X-ray tube and a CT system that implement the presented method are also described. The method includes generating an electron beam in an X-ray tube in an imaging system. Additionally, a current configuration corresponding to a particular view of the imaging system is identified. If the identified current configuration is within a determined range, a duty cycle of the electron beam for the particular view of the imaging system is modulated using pulse width modulation. Further, the modulated electron beam is focused towards a target.

Abstract: An x-ray tube includes an anode, a first chamber enclosing the anode and having a first pressure therein, a cathode, and a second chamber enclosing the cathode and having a second pressure therein. A separator is positioned between the first and second chambers and has a conductance limiter therein.

Abstract: An X-ray tube includes a target and a cathode assembly. The cathode assembly includes a first filament configured to emit a first beam of electrons toward the target, a first gridding electrode coupled to the first filament, a second filament configured to emit a second beam of electrons toward the target, and a second gridding electrode coupled to the second filament.

Abstract: An x-ray imaging system includes a detector positioned to receive x-rays, and an x-ray tube coupled to a mount structure. The x-ray tube is configured to generate x-rays toward the detector and includes a target, a cathode cup, an emitter attached to the cathode cup and configured to emit a beam of electrons toward the target, the emitter having a length and a width, and a one-dimensional grid positioned between the emitter and the target and attached to the cathode cup at one or more attachment points. The one-dimensional grid includes a plurality of rungs that each extend in a direction of the width of the emitter, and the plurality of rungs are configured to expand and contract relative to the one or more attachment points without substantial distortion with respect to the emitter.

Abstract: A tube for generating x-rays includes a cathode adapted to emit electrons, a target positioned to receive the electrons from the cathode on a surface thereof, an anode adapted with an aperture and positioned between the cathode and the target and configured to accelerate the electrons toward the target, and a rotating system adapted to rotate the target about an axis, the rotating system located in a position facing the surface of the target.

Abstract: An injector for an X-ray tube is presented. The injector includes an emitter to emit an electron beam, at least one focusing electrode disposed around the emitter, wherein the at least one focusing electrode focuses the electron beam and at least one extraction electrode maintained at a positive bias voltage with respect to the emitter, wherein the at least one extraction electrode controls an intensity of the electron beam.

Abstract: An x-ray imaging system includes a detector positioned to receive x-rays, and an x-ray tube coupled to a mount structure. The x-ray tube is configured to generate x-rays toward the detector and includes a target, a cathode cup, an emitter attached to the cathode cup and configured to emit a beam of electrons toward the target, the emitter having a length and a width, and a one-dimensional grid positioned between the emitter and the target and attached to the cathode cup at one or more attachment points. The one-dimensional grid includes a plurality of rungs that each extend in a direction of the width of the emitter, and the plurality of rungs are configured to expand and contract relative to the one or more attachment points without substantial distortion with respect to the emitter.

Abstract: An x-ray tube includes an anode, a first chamber enclosing the anode and having a first pressure therein, a cathode, and a second chamber enclosing the cathode and having a second pressure therein. A separator is positioned between the first and second chambers and has a conductance limiter therein.

Abstract: An x-ray tube includes an anode, a first chamber enclosing the anode and having a first pressure therein, a cathode, and a second chamber enclosing the cathode and having a second pressure therein. A separator is positioned between the first and second chambers and has a conductance limiter therein.