Abstract: Passive heat transfer apparatus is provided for an X-ray imaging system used in connection with mammaography, to rapidly conduct heat away from the system X-ray tube. The apparatus comprises a thermally conductive support plate located in the tube housing, in spaced apart relationship with the X-ray tube, and further comprises an elongated device for transferring heat by convection, such as a heat pipe. The heat transfer device has a first end joined to the tube, and a second end joined to the support plate. A quantity of selected working fluid sealably contained in the heat transfer device is disposed to transfer heat along the length thereof, from the tube to the support plate, and cooling fins extending through the housing from the support plate dissipate the heat into the surrounding environment.

Abstract: An x-ray tube and x-ray system including an anode assembly having a shaft with a first end and a second end, a target connected to the first end of the shaft, and a rotor connected to the second end of the shaft. The anode assembly further having spaced-apart bearings rotatably supporting the shaft. The shaft, target, and rotor positioned relative to each other such that the center of gravity of the combination of the shaft, the target, and the rotor is positioned between the bearings. Additionally, the target and rotor may be flexibly interconnected allowing the beneficial use of gyroscopic effects.

Abstract: A computed tomography system comprises a gantry and an x-ray tube. The gantry rotates about a gantry axis of rotation. The x-ray tube is mounted to the gantry, and comprises a rotatable assembly having a tube axis of rotation. The tube axis of rotation is angularly displaced from the gantry axis of rotation by a tilt angle. Rotation of the x-ray tube about the gantry axis of rotation produces a first moment, and rotation of the rotatable assembly about the tube axis of rotation produces a second moment that opposes the first moment.

Abstract: An x-ray tube and x-ray system including an anode assembly having a shaft with a first end and a second end, a target connected to the first end of the shaft, and a rotor connected to the second end of the shaft. The anode assembly further having spaced-apart bearings rotatably supporting the shaft. The shaft, target, and rotor positioned relative to each other such that the center of gravity of the combination of the shaft, the target, and the rotor is positioned between the bearings. Additionally, the target and rotor may be flexibly interconnected allowing the beneficial use of gyroscopic effects.

Abstract: An x-ray generating device or system include an anode assembly including a target; a cathode assembly disposed at a distance from the anode assembly, the cathode assembly configured to emit electrons that strike the target of the anode assembly, producing x-rays and residual energy; a heat receptor, positioned between the anode assembly and a bearing assembly supporting the anode assembly, for absorbing an amount of the residual energy; and a heat exchanger, in thermal communication with the heat receptor, for carrying a cooling medium and conducting an amount of the residual energy absorbed by the heat receptor away from the heat receptor.

Abstract: A multiple row spiral grooved bearing assembly 26 for use in a rotating anode X ray tube device 10 has an intermediate race 32 having a spiral grooved inner 34 and outer 36 surface placed between an outer housing 28 and an inner bearing shaft 30. A layer of gallium 42, 44 is interposed between the spiral grooved inner surface 34 and the inner bearing shaft 30 and between the spiral grooved outer surface 36 and outer housing 28 to provide lubrication for the surfaces of the intermediate race 32. The intermediate race 32 reduces the relative velocity between moving parts, thereby reducing heat generation of the bearing assembly 26 for a given anode rotation speed. This enables higher target 14 velocities, and hence higher focal spot power, available to the x-ray tube device 10 as compared with traditional ball-type bearing designs.

Abstract: A brazed X-ray target includes a metallic cap and a graphite back including a nonlinear record groove attached thereto along a stepped surface. An upper corner joint of the stepped surface is distanced from a cap outer edge and a focal track where the maximum heat is generated during use of the target. The graphite back is extended outward toward the cap outer edge to increase a thermal storage of the graphite, and a recess is formed into the cap to maintain a selected moment of inertia of the target and thereby maintain the rotordynamics of a given X-ray tube.

Abstract: A multiple row spiral grooved bearing assembly 26 for use in a rotating anode X ray tube device 10 has an intermediate race 32 having a spiral grooved inner 34 and outer 36 surface placed between an outer housing 28 and an inner bearing shaft 30. A layer of gallium 42, 44 is interposed between the spiral grooved inner surface 34 and the inner bearing shaft 30 and between the spiral grooved outer surface 36 and outer housing 28 to provide lubrication for the surfaces of the intermediate race 32. The intermediate race 32 reduces the relative velocity between moving parts, thereby reducing heat generation of the bearing assembly 26 for a given anode rotation speed. This enables higher target 14 velocities, and hence higher focal spot power, available to the x-ray tube device 10 as compared with traditional ball-type bearing designs.

Abstract: An anode target for use within an x-ray generating device including a target frame having an inner surface and an outer surface and a thermal energy transfer device. The thermal energy transfer device including a heat exchanger having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface of the heat exchanger positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the inner surface of the target frame; a cooling medium circulating through the heat exchanger for convectively cooling the anode target; and a thermal coupling medium disposed between the inner surface of the target frame and the outer surface of the heat exchanger, the thermal coupling medium thermally coupling the target frame with the heat exchanger while permitting relative motion between the target frame and the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An anode target for use within an x-ray generating device including a target frame having an inner surface and an outer surface and a thermal energy transfer device. The thermal energy transfer device including a heat exchanger having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface of the heat exchanger positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the inner surface of the target frame; a cooling medium circulating through the heat exchanger for convectively cooling the anode target; and a thermal coupling medium disposed between the inner surface of the target frame and the outer surface of the heat exchanger, the thermal coupling medium thermally coupling the target frame with the heat exchanger while permitting relative motion between the target frame and the heat exchanger.

Abstract: An x-ray generating device or system includes an anode assembly including a target; a cathode assembly disposed at a distance from the anode assembly, the cathode assembly configured to emit electrons that strike the target of the anode assembly, producing x-rays and residual energy; a heat receptor, positioned between the anode assembly and a bearing assembly supporting the anode assembly, for absorbing an amount of the residual energy; and a heat exchanger, in thermal communication with the heat receptor, for carrying a cooling medium and conducting an amount of the residual energy absorbed by the heat receptor away from the heat receptor.

Abstract: A method for performing design trade-off. A plurality of critical to quality parameters corresponding to features of the design are obtained. A plurality of design specifications, each design specification corresponding to one of the critical to quality parameters, are also obtained. A plurality of designs are obtained where each design includes a plurality of design values and each design value corresponds to one of the critical to quality parameters. The design values are compared to the design specifications for each of the plurality of designs. A total score is generated for each design in response to the comparison.

Abstract: A thermal energy transfer device for use with an x-ray generating device or x-ray system including an anode assembly having a target, a cathode assembly positioned at a distance from the anode assembly configured to emit electrons that strike the target producing x-rays and residual energy in the form of heat, and a rotatable shaft supported by a bearing assembly. The thermal energy transfer device including a thermal gradient device positioned adjacent to and in thermal communication with one end of the shaft, the thermal gradient device operable for transferring heat away from that end of the shaft, and a fin structure positioned adjacent to and in thermal communication with the thermal gradient device, the fin structure operable for convectively cooling the thermal gradient device.

Abstract: A product design tradeoff method is provided. A transfer function, which generates an output in response to an input is obtained. A type of optimization to be performed is identified and the input to the transfer function is perturbed in order to achieve the type of optimization identified. Output information representing the output of the transfer function is then generated to provide the user with the result of the optimization. Generating the output information comprises generating a sensitivity matrix. The sensitivity matrix comprises a plurality of sensitivity values that indicates a relationship between a change in input versus a change in output, wherein each of the sensitivity values provides a corresponding numerical value for comparing an effect of the change in the input versus the change in the output.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting an HV cable to the cathode of an X-ray tube is provided with a housing disposed for attachment to the X-ray tube, and a quantity of epoxy or other electric insulating material contained within the housing. The epoxy serves to insulate the exposed end portions of the HV cable conductors, which extend beyond the cable insulation for insertion into the X-ray tube casing. The connector apparatus further includes a heat transfer device, such as a heat pipe, which extends long the cable within the connector housing. A quantity of working fluid contained in the heat transfer device is disposed for bi-directional movement along the device to transfer heat from a first location within the insulating material to a second location proximate to the housing.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for performing quality function deployment for a system having a plurality of levels. The method includes obtaining a plurality of first level critical to quality parameters and obtaining a plurality of first level key control parameters. A first level quality matrix is generated identifying an effect at least one first level key control parameter has on at least one first level critical to quality parameter. The first level key control parameters are arranged into a first group and a second group. A second level quality matrix is generated for the first group. The second level quality matrix includes second level critical to quality parameters corresponding to the first group of first level key control parameters and a second level key control parameter. The second level quality matrix identifies an effect said second level key control parameter has on at least one second level critical to quality parameter.

Abstract: An x-ray tube for emitting x-rays which includes an anode assembly and a cathode assembly is disclosed herein. The x-ray tube includes a vacuum vessel, an anode assembly disposed in the vacuum vessel and including a target, a cathode assembly disposed in the vacuum vessel at a distance from the anode assembly, and a heat pipe is supported relative to the anode assembly. The cathode assembly is configured to emit electrons which hit the target of the anode assembly and produce x-rays. The heat pipe transfers thermal energy away from the target through the vacuum vessel. The heat pipe provides for greater thermal transfer down the bearing shaft of the anode assembly, thereby providing greater cooling of the anode assembly.

Abstract: An x-ray tube for emitting x-rays includes a housing, an anode assembly disposed in the housing and including a target surface, a cathode assembly mounted in the housing at a distance from the anode assembly, and a target body extending from the target surface of the anode assembly. The cathode assembly includes an electron emitter which emits electrons. The electrons hit the target surface of the anode assembly and produce x-rays. The target body has a cavity containing a working fluid and is configured to transfer thermal energy away from the target surface.

Abstract: A thermal energy storage and transfer assembly is disclosed for use in electron beam generating devices that generate residual energy. The residual energy comprises radiant thermal energy and kinetic energy of back scattered electrons. The thermal energy storage and transfer assembly absorbs and stores an amount of the residual energy to reduce the heat load on other components in the electron beam generating device. The thermal energy storage and transfer device comprises a body portion of a sufficient thermal capacity to permit the rate of transfer of the amount of the residual energy absorbed into the assembly to substantially exceed the rate of transfer of the amount of the residual energy out of the assembly. The assembly also comprises a heat exchange chamber filled with a circulating fluid that transfers the thermal energy out of the assembly.

Abstract: An x-ray tube for emitting x-rays which includes an anode and a cathode is disclosed herein. The x-ray tube includes a housing, an anode disposed in the housing and including a target, a cathode disposed in the housing at a distance from the anode, and a heat pipe thermally coupled to the cathode and extending away from the electron emitter. The cathode includes an electron emitter which is configured to emit electrons which hit the target of the anode and produce x-rays. The heat pipe provides transfer of thermal energy away from the electron emitter and into a heat sink.