Abstract: A portable neutron generator is provided that does not utilize liquid cooling. The portable neutron generator includes a vacuum chamber housing defining a vacuum chamber and an ion beam inlet. The portable neutron generator also includes a rotating target positioned within the vacuum chamber. The ion beam inlet is oriented to receive ions such that the ions impinge upon the rotating target to cause neutrons to be emitted. The rotating target comprises a copper alloy. The portable neutron generator also includes a motor core positioned within the vacuum chamber and coupled to the rotating target. A motor stator is electromagnetically coupled with the motor core. The motor core is configured to rotate the rotating target at greater than 200 Hz during operation.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a compact vacuum chamber housing defining a vacuum chamber and an ion beam inlet, a rotating target positioned within the vacuum chamber, the ion beam inlet oriented to receive ions such that the ions impinge upon the rotating target, a motor core positioned within the vacuum chamber and coupled to the rotating target, and a motor stator electromagnetically coupled with the motor core.

Abstract: A method for controlling emission of a beam of electrons in an X-ray imaging tube. The X-ray imaging tube has an anode and a cathode. The method comprises a step in which at least one emission device included in the cathode emits an accelerated incident beam of electrons onto an impact focal spot on the anode to generate X-rays. An emission device is associated firstly with an assembly of polarizing plates and secondly with a focusing cup. An electric generator simultaneously applies a beam focusing voltage to the assembly and/or to the cup to control a characteristic dimension of the focal spot, and a cut-off voltage to the cup to control the emission of the beam by the device. The invention also concerns a corresponding cathode, tube and imaging system.

Abstract: A medical imaging system including a support, an X-ray emitting tube, and, facing the latter, a detector, the X-ray emitting tube being intended to accept displacements relatively to at least one portion of the support, the system also including a remote piece of equipment providing circulation of an oil intended to provide cooling and electric insulation of the X-ray emitting tube on the one hand, pipes in which said oil circulates, connecting the remote piece of equipment and the X-ray emitting tube, and a device for dehydrating the oil on the other hand, wherein the dehydration device includes means positioned in the circuit through which the oil flows during normal use of said imaging system and which provide or maintain dehydration of said oil during this use.

Abstract: A method for controlling emission of a beam of electrons in an X-ray imaging tube. The X-ray imaging tube has an anode and a cathode. The method comprises a step in which at least one emission device included in the cathode emits an accelerated incident beam of electrons onto an impact focal spot on the anode to generate X-rays. An emission device is associated firstly with an assembly of polarizing plates and secondly with a focusing cup. An electric generator simultaneously applies a beam focusing voltage to the assembly and/or to the cup to control a characteristic dimension of the focal spot, and a cut-off voltage to the cup to control the emission of the beam by the device. The invention also concerns a corresponding cathode, tube and imaging system.

Abstract: An X-ray tube equipped with a rotating anode cartridge comprising a reinforced sealing system. This sealing system is achieved in three complementary manners. Firstly, when the anode rotates, in order to confine the liquid alloy within the cartridge, the invention provides to equip the two surfaces of a leak-tight joint with grooves thereby obtaining a double sided joint with an improved efficiency. Secondly, the double sided joint makes it possible to obtain, for the vacuum tightness, when the anode shaft is not rotating, two spaces limited by the surface tension of the alloy of liquid metal. The more symmetrical these two spaces, the more the sealing is reinforced. Thirdly, the invention provides to separate the ring from the axis of rotation. This enables a joint centering the two spaces in an automatic and natural manner to be obtained.

Abstract: A medical imaging system including a support, an X-ray emitting tube, and, facing the latter, a detector, the X-ray emitting tube being intended to accept displacements relatively to at least one portion of the support, the system also including a remote piece of equipment providing circulation of an oil intended to provide cooling and electric insulation of the X-ray emitting tube on the one hand, pipes in which said oil circulates, connecting the remote piece of equipment and the X-ray emitting tube, and a device for dehydrating the oil on the other hand, wherein the dehydration device includes means positioned in the circuit through which the oil flows during normal use of said imaging system and which provide or maintain dehydration of said oil during this use.

Abstract: An X-ray tube equipped with a rotating anode cartridge comprising a reinforced sealing system. This sealing system is achieved in three complementary manners. Firstly, when the anode rotates, in order to confine the liquid alloy within the cartridge, the invention provides to equip the two surfaces of a leak-tight joint with grooves thereby obtaining a double sided joint with an improved efficiency. Secondly, the double sided joint makes it possible to obtain, for the vacuum tightness, when the anode shaft is not rotating, two spaces limited by the surface tension of the alloy of liquid metal. The more symmetrical these two spaces, the more the sealing is reinforced. Thirdly, the invention provides to separate the ring from the axis of rotation. This enables a joint centering the two spaces in an automatic and natural manner to be obtained.

Abstract: A valve is provided to fill a chamber for holding a rotation shaft of a rotating anode in an X-ray tube. The valve has a needle supported on a seat. The needle maintains the vacuum in the tube. A sleeve can engage in the valve. The sleeve is hollow and has a cavity. This cavity can be connected to the vacuum or to a bottle under vacuum filled with a lubricant liquid. The sleeve is used to handle the needle. The sleeve furthermore bears on a rim of the valve by an O-ring joint. This joint maintains the vacuum when the needle is raised and when the tube under vacuum is connected to the cavity of the sleeve.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a sealing arrangement in an X-ray tube are provided. The X-ray tube includes a rotating portion having a plurality of ball bearings and a liquid metal within a housing having the ball bearings therein. The rotating portion is configured to rotate an anode. The X-ray tube further includes a sealing portion formed by a liquid metal vacuum interface configured in a radial direction to resist flow of liquid metal from the housing to a vacuum portion.

Abstract: A cooled radiation emission device has an enclosure in which X-rays are produced. In the enclosure, there is a cathode, an anode situated facing the cathode and rotating on a shaft, and a fixed anode shaft support. The support includes a holding chamber, the shaft of the anode being held in the chamber. The cooling of the tube uses a gallium-indium-tin liquid alloy flow through the anode shaft. This alloy is a conductor of heat and electricity. At the same time as the lubrication of the bearings and the electrical powering of the anode, it provides for cooling of the anode.

Abstract: A valve is provided to fill a chamber for holding a rotation shaft of a rotating anode in an X-ray tube. The valve has a needle supported on a seat. The needle maintains the vacuum in the tube. A sleeve can engage in the valve. The sleeve is hollow and has a cavity. This cavity can be connected to the vacuum or to a bottle under vacuum filled with a lubricant liquid. The sleeve is used to handle the needle. The sleeve furthermore bears on a rim of the valve by an O-ring joint. This joint maintains the vacuum when the needle is raised and when the tube under vacuum is connected to the cavity of the sleeve.

Abstract: A cooled radiation emission device has an enclosure in which X-rays are produced. In the enclosure, there is a cathode, an anode situated facing the cathode and rotating on a shaft, and a fixed anode shaft support. The support includes a holding chamber, the shaft of the anode being held in the chamber. The cooling of the tube uses a gallium-indium-tin liquid alloy flow through the anode shaft. This alloy is a conductor of heat and electricity. At the same time as the lubrication of the bearings and the electrical powering of the anode, it provides for cooling of the anode.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a sealing arrangement in an X-ray tube are provided. The X-ray tube includes a rotating portion having a plurality of ball bearings and a liquid metal within a housing having the ball bearings therein. The rotating portion is configured to rotate an anode. The X-ray tube further includes a sealing portion formed by a liquid metal vacuum interface configured in a radial direction to resist flow of liquid metal from the housing to a vacuum portion.

Abstract: Liquid metal gaskets for use in vacuum tubes are provided. Such liquid metal gaskets are ideal for use in x-ray tubes in x-ray imaging systems. These liquid metal gaskets comprise an internal plug incorporating a liquid metal filling, a first seal connected to a first end of the internal plug so as to isolate a bearing assembly from a vacuum vessel portion of the vacuum tube, and a second seal connected to a second end of the internal plug so as to prevent particles and vapors in a cavity of the bearing assembly from migrating into a vacuum area of the x-ray tube. The liquid metal gaskets incorporate any suitable liquid metal, such as mercury, gallium, or a gallium alloy. The liquid metal gaskets allow any suitable type of bearing assembly lubricant to be used, such as oils, powders, liquids, solids, wetting metals, and the like.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for the rotational mounting of a rotary anode of an X-ray emitting device on a support having at least one rolling bearing provided in order to be placed between the rotary anode and the support, the rolling bearing having a rotating ring, a non-rotating ring, and rolling elements placed between raceways of the first ring and of the second ring. At least one sleeve is intended to be mounted between an axially stressed ring of the rolling bearing and a cylindrical bearing surface of the anode or of the support, the sleeve being radially elastic in order to compensate for variations in radial dimensions between the ring and the cylindrical bearing surface, and in order to dampen the vibration, while at the same time being suitable for allowing the ring to slide axially with respect to the cylindrical bearing surface.

Abstract: An X-ray emission device and method for a radiology apparatus comprises a cathode and a rotating anode, the anode being provided with a roughly cylindrical surface. The device forms a beam of electrons that bombards a portion of the roughly cylindrical surface of the anode that constitutes the focal point of emission of the X-rays. The position of the focal point of the anode relative to a reference position is dynamically controlled.

Abstract: Liquid metal gaskets for use in vacuum tubes are described. Such liquid metal gaskets may be ideal for use in x-ray tubes in x-ray imaging systems. These liquid metal gaskets may comprise an internal plug comprising a liquid metal filling, a first seal operatively connected to a first end of the internal plug so as to isolate a bearing assembly from a vacuum vessel portion of the vacuum tube, and a second seal operatively connected to a second end of the internal plug so as to prevent particles and vapors in a cavity of the bearing assembly from migrating into a vacuum area of the x-ray tube. The first seal is preferably a contact seal, and the second seal is preferably a non-contact seal. These liquid metal gaskets may comprise any suitable liquid metal such as mercury, gallium, or a gallium alloy. These liquid metal gaskets allow any suitable type of bearing assembly lubricant to be used, such as, for example, oils, powders, liquids, solids, wetting metals, and the like.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for the rotational mounting of a rotary anode of an X-ray emitting device on a support having at least one rolling bearing provided in order to be placed between the rotary anode and the support, the rolling bearing having a rotating ring, a non-rotating ring, and rolling elements placed between raceways of the first ring and of the second ring. At least one sleeve is intended to be mounted between an axially stressed ring of the rolling bearing and a cylindrical bearing surface of the anode or of the support, the sleeve being radially elastic in order to compensate for variations in radial dimensions between the ring and the cylindrical bearing surface, and in order to dampen the vibration, while at the same time being suitable for allowing the ring to slide axially with respect to the cylindrical bearing surface.

Abstract: An X-ray emission device and method for a radiology apparatus comprises a cathode and a rotating anode, the anode being provided with a roughly cylindrical surface. The device forms a beam of electrons that bombards a portion of the roughly cylindrical surface of the anode that constitutes the focal point of emission of the X-rays. The position of the focal point of the anode relative to a reference position is dynamically controlled.