Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for identifying compounds using spectra generated by X-rays at two different voltage levels.

Abstract: A method of image-guided radiation treatment is described. The method may include acquiring a pre-treatment image of a patient and generating a first set of image data of part or all of the patient using imaging radiation at a first energy level and a second set of image data of part or all of the patient using imaging radiation at a second energy level. The method may also include processing the first and second sets of image data to generate an enhanced image, wherein the enhanced image comprises a combination of the first and second sets of image data, and wherein part or all of the image data comprises the target. The method may also include registering the enhanced image with the pre-treatment image to obtain a registration result and tracking movement and position of the target using the registration result to generate tracking information.

Abstract: A MBFEX tube (1) for an x-ray device comprises, in a vacuum tube (20), an anode (30) designed as a cooling finger and securely arranged in the vacuum tube, and a plurality of securely arranged cathodes (40, 41, 42), wherein the vacuum tube (20) comprises a plurality of cathode feed lines (50) and no more than two high-voltage bushings (51, 52), in a high-voltage bushing (52) a coolant pipe (31) is passed through by an internal coolant inner pipe (32), the coolant pipe (31) and the coolant inner pipe (32) are provided for cooling the anode (30) with a liquid coolant, the cathodes (40, 41, 42) are provided for field emission of electrons and are arranged on the anode (30) for generating x-ray sources (Q).

Abstract: Provided is a miniaturized X-ray tube including an extractor and provides a miniaturized X-ray tube including a filament that emit electrons if a voltage is applied, a base having two filament through-holes for fixing the filament and for connecting power to both electrodes of the filament, a cylindrical extractor in close contact with the base and surrounding the filament without being in contact with the filament, a cutoff voltage providing unit configured to apply a cutoff voltage between one electrode of the extractor and one electrode of the filament, a body that is formed of a ceramic material, surrounds the extractor, and includes one end in close contact with the base, and a target that is connected to the other end of the body, receives the electrons emitted from the filament, and emits X-rays.

Abstract: A method, in an embodiment, is for setting an X-ray intensity using a structured anode or a field emitter cathode or a finger-shaped cathode head. Other embodiments include an associated X-ray device, an associated single X-ray tube CT scanner, an associated dual X-ray tube CT scanner, and an associated computer program product.

Abstract: A distributed X-ray light source comprises: a plurality of arranged cathode assemblies used for emitting electron beams; an anode target used for receiving the electron beams emitted by the cathode assemblies; and compensation electrodes and focusing electrodes provided in sequence between the plurality of the cathode assemblies and the anode target, the compensation electrode being used for adjusting electric field strength at two ends of a grid structure in each cathode assembly, and the focusing electrode being used for focusing the electron beams emitted by the cathode assemblies, wherein the focusing electrode corresponding to at least one cathode assembly in the plurality of the cathode assemblies comprises a first electrode and a second electrode which are separately provided, and an electron beam channel is formed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A system for generating X-ray beams from a liquid target includes a vacuum chamber, a diamond window assembly, an electron source, a target material flow system, and an X-ray detector/imager. An electron beam from the electron source travels through the diamond window assembly and into a dynamic target material of the flow system. Preferably, the dynamic target material is lead bismuth eutectic in a liquid state. Upon colliding with the dynamic target material, X-rays are generated. The generated X-rays exit through an X-ray exit window to be captured by the X-ray detector/imager. Since the dynamic target material is constantly in fluid motion within a pipeline of the flow system, the electron beam always has a new target area which is at a controlled operational temperature and thus, prevents overheating issues. By providing a small focus area for the electron beams, the overall imaging resolution of the X-rays is also improved.

Abstract: An X-ray image diagnostic apparatus images a subject with X-rays without increasing the burden on a user, and includes an X-ray image diagnostic apparatus 1, a table 4 on which a subject is placed on the top-surface thereof; an X-ray tube 5 disposed beneath the back side of the table and which emits X-rays; a detector 6 disposed above the table 4 so as to face the X-ray tube 5 and detecting the X-rays emitted from the X-ray tube 5 and penetrating the subject on the table 4; an X-ray tube moving mechanism 12 that moves the X-ray tube 5 in a direction approaching the table 4 and moving away therefrom; a detector moving mechanism 13 that moves the detector 6 in a direction approaching the table 4 and moving away therefrom; and a control unit 14 that controls a distance between the X-ray tube 5 and the detector 6 by controlling action of the X-ray tube moving mechanism 12 and the detector moving mechanism 13.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for generating a diagnostic cardiac image using a CT system without ECG gating techniques. In one example, a method for an imaging system includes determining a scanning duration for scanning a heart of a patient with the imaging system based on a heart rate of the patient, scanning the patient with the imaging system for the scanning duration, the scanning commenced independent of a current phase of a cardiac cycle of the heart of the patient, and reconstructing an image from data acquired during the scanning.

Abstract: The invention proposes an insulator within an X-ray tube having a vacuum side and an ambient side and a feedthrough substantially coinciding with an axis of symmetry at the vacuum side and an axis of symmetry at the ambient side. The axis of symmetry at the vacuum side and the axis of symmetry at the ambient side have an angle of at least 5°, preferably 90°, with respect to each other. An X-ray source comprising such an insulator is presented as well and the present invention also extends to a medical imaging apparatus for generating X-ray images of a patient thereby using an X-ray source with such an insulator. In an embodiment, an X-ray source is provided wherein the insulator is plugged to an electrical connector at the ambient surface.

Abstract: An x-ray imaging apparatus and associated methods are provided to receive measured projection data in a primary region and measured scatter data in a shadow region and determine an estimated scatter in the primary region during a current rotation based on the measured scatter data in the shadow region from a neighboring rotation. Coverage of the shadow region during the neighboring rotation overlaps the primary region during the current rotation. A beamformer is configured to adjust a shape of the radiation beam to create the primary and shadow regions on the detector, including an embodiment to follow the Tam-Danielson window during a helical scan.

Abstract: An X-ray generator includes an X-ray tube configured to generate X-rays, an X-ray tube accommodation portion which accommodates at least a part of the X-ray tube and enclosing insulating oil, a second accommodation portion surrounding the X-ray tube accommodation portion when viewed in a tube axis direction of the X-ray tube, a blower fan configured to circulate gas inside a surrounding space defined between the X-ray tube accommodation portion and the second accommodation portion, and an X-ray shielding portion made of a material having a higher X-ray shielding ability than the X-ray tube accommodation portion and the second accommodation portion, and provided on an inner surface of the second accommodation portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a detector arrangement for an X-ray phase contrast system (5), the detector arrangement (1) comprising: a scintillator (11); an optical grating (12); and a detector (13); wherein the optical grating (12) is arranged between the scintillator (11) and the detector (13); wherein the scintillator (11) converts X-ray radiation (2) into optical radiation (3); wherein the optical grating (12) is configured to be an analyzer grating being adapted to a phase-grating (21) of an X-ray phase contrast system (5); wherein the optical path between the optical grating (12) and the scintillator (11) is free of focusing elements for optical radiation. The present invention further relates to a method (100) for performing X-ray phase contrast imaging with a detector arrangement (1) mentioned above. The invention avoids the use of an X-ray absorption grating as G2 grating in an X-ray phase contrast interferometer system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising: obtaining a third image from a first X-ray detector when the first X-ray detector and a second X-ray detector are misaligned; determining, based on a shift between a first image and the third image, a misalignment between the first X-ray detector and the second X-ray detector when the first and second detectors are misaligned; wherein the first image is an image the first X-ray detector should capture if the first and the second detectors are aligned.

Abstract: An x-ray source includes an anode assembly having at least one surface configured to rotate about an axis, the at least one surface in a first region. The x-ray source further includes an electron-beam source configured to emit at least one electron beam configured to bombard the at least one surface of the anode assembly. The electron-beam source includes a housing, a cathode assembly, and a window. The housing at least partially bounds a second region and comprises an aperture. The cathode assembly is configured to generate the at least one electron beam within the second region. The window is configured to hermetically seal the aperture, to maintain a pressure differential between the first region and the second region, and to allow the at least one electron beam to propagate from the second region to the first region.

Abstract: X-ray transparent insulation can be sandwiched between an x-ray window and a ground plate. The x-ray transparent insulation can include aluminum nitride, boron nitride, or polyetherimide. The x-ray transparent insulation can include a curved side. The x-ray transparent insulation can be transparent to x-rays and resistant to x-ray damage, and can have high thermal conductivity. An x-ray window can have high thermal conductivity, high electrical conductivity, high melting point, low cost, and matched coefficient of thermal conductivity with the anode. The x-ray window can be made of tungsten. For consistent x-ray spot size and location, a focusing plate and a filament can be attached to a cathode with an open channel of the focusing plate aligned with a longitudinal dimension of the filament. Tabs of the focusing plate bordering the open channel can be bent to align with a location of the filament.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an X-ray tube assembly includes a cathode emitting electrons, an anode target generating X-rays when the electrodes emitted from the cathode collide with the anode target, an anode block, a coolant pipe, and a protective film. The anode block includes a tube portion, and a bottom portion closing one end side of the tube portion and joined to the anode target. The coolant pipe is located on an inner side of the tube portion, includes an outlet from which a coolant is discharged toward the bottom portion, and forms a flow passage of the coolant between the coolant pipe and the anode block. The protective film covers an inner surface of the bottom portion and is formed of hard gold containing nickel.

Abstract: To achieve high quality x-ray imaging, it is important to be able to control the production of x-rays in an x-ray generator. This is achieved by an x-ray generator comprising an array of electron field emitters for producing paths of electrons, target material comprising x-ray photon producing material configured to emit x-ray photons in response to the incidence of produced electrons upon it, an array of magnetic-field generators for affecting the paths of the produced electrons from the array of electron field emitters such that one or more paths are divertable away from the x-ray photon producing material so as to reduce the production of x-ray photons by the said one or more paths of electrons, the generator further comprising a sensing circuit arranged to measure the amount of electrical charge emitted by one or more electron emitter, and a controller for controlling the array of magnetic-field generators in response to the amount of electrical charge measured.

Abstract: A target for a radiation source of invasive electromagnetic radiation has at least one target element, which is configured to generate invasive electromagnetic radiation when irradiated with particles and is coupled to a substrate arrangement for dissipating heat out of the target element, wherein: the target element has a peripheral surface which forms a first part of the outer surface of the target element; the outer surface of the target element is also formed by a side surface of the target element; an extension of the side surface defines a thickness (D) of the target element; a peripheral line of the side surface forms a borderline of the peripheral surface; the target has an end face, as part whereof the side surface of the target element is exposed for irradiation with particles; and the substrate arrangement is in contact with the peripheral surface.

Abstract: An X-ray generation apparatus includes an electron gun emitting an electron beam having a circular cross-sectional shape, a magnetic focusing lens located downstream of the electron gun and focusing the electron beam while rotating the electron beam around an axis along a first direction, a magnetic quadrupole lens located downstream of the magnetic focusing lens and deforming the cross-sectional shape of the electron beam into an elliptical shape having a major axis along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and a minor axis along a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, and a target located downstream of the magnetic quadrupole lens and emitting an X-ray in response to incidence of the electron beam.