With X-ray Window Or Secondary Radiation Screen Patents (Class 378/140)
  • Publication number: 20110038462
    Abstract: A liquid-cooled aperture body in an x-ray tube. In one example embodiment, an x-ray tube is configured to be at least partially submerged in a liquid coolant. The x-ray tube includes a cathode at least partially positioned within a cathode housing, an anode at least partially positioned within a can, and an aperture body coupling the cathode housing to the can. The can is formed from a first material and the aperture body is formed from a second material. The aperture body defines an aperture through which electrons may pass between the cathode and the anode. The aperture body further defines at least two exterior surfaces that are each configured to be exposed to the liquid coolant in which the x-ray tube is at least partially submerged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Jason W. Davies, Gregory C. Andrews, George Benjamin Naseath, Lincoln Curtis Jolley, Richard Alma Keyes, Ricky Burnett Smith
  • Patent number: 7889844
    Abstract: A compact apparatus can form multi X-ray beams with good controllability. Electron beams (e) emitted from electron emission elements (15) of a multi electron beam generating unit (12) receive the lens effect of a lens electrode (19). The resultant electron beams are accelerated to the final potential level by portions of a transmission-type target portion (13) of an anode electrode (20). The multi X-ray beams (x) generated by the transmission-type target portion (13) pass through an X-ray shielding plate (23) and X-ray extraction portions (24) in a vacuum chamber and are extracted from the X-ray extraction windows (27) of a wall portion (25) into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Okunuki, Osamu Tsujii, Takeo Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7869572
    Abstract: An x-ray tube includes a vacuum chamber, a cathode positioned within the vacuum chamber and configured to emit electrons, and an anode positioned within the vacuum chamber to receive the electrons emitted from the cathode and configured to generate a beam of x-rays from the electrons. The x-ray tube further includes a window positioned to pass the beam of x-rays therethrough, an electron collector structure having an aperture formed therein to allow passage of x-rays therethrough, and a layer attached to the electron collector structure and configured to at least partially absorb or reduce diffraction of x-rays that contact the layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Robert Allen, Brian Lounsberry, James J. VanBogart
  • Publication number: 20100290588
    Abstract: An X-ray generator having a housing and having components located inside the housing for generating one or more X-ray beams, wherein the housing is composed of a tube body that is made of ceramic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz KILIAN, Joerg Bermuth, Georg Geus
  • Patent number: 7831020
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an X-ray tube, having a structure for realizing improvement of a magnification factor of a magnified transmission image, and an X-ray source that includes the X-ray tube. The X-ray tube includes: a target housing unit, housing an X-ray target; and an electron gun housing unit, one end of which is mounted to a side wall portion of the target housing unit. The electron gun housing unit is disposed so that a tube axis thereof intersects a tube axis of the target housing unit. The electron gun housing unit holds an electron gun while a center of an electron emission exit of the electron gun is shifted more toward an X-ray emission window side, disposed at one end of the side wall portion of the target housing unit, than the tube axis of the electron gun housing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Tutomu Inazuru
  • Patent number: 7809113
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an X-ray source for emitting a characteristic X-ray and a fluorescent X-ray analyzing apparatus using the X-ray source. A secondary target is arranged in superposition on a primary target. An electron beam generated by an electron gun enters the primary target, which passes and emits a continuous X-ray. The secondary target transmits and emits a characteristic X-ray excited by the continuous X-ray emitted from the primary target. The primary target and the secondary target are superposed one on the other, so that the continuous X-ray emitted from the primary target efficiently excites the secondary target thereby to efficiently generate the characteristic X-ray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Toshiba Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobutada Aoki, Akiko Kakutani
  • Patent number: 7796737
    Abstract: An x-ray tube includes a cathode positioned within a vacuum chamber and configured to emit electrons. The x-ray tube includes an anode positioned within the vacuum chamber to receive electrons emitted from the cathode and configured to generate a beam of x-rays from the electrons, a window positioned to pass the beam of x-rays therethrough, and an electron collector structure attached to the x-ray tube having an aperture formed therethrough to allow passage of x-rays therethrough. The aperture is shaped to prevent diffracted x-rays from combining with the beam of x-rays passing through the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Donald Robert Allen, Brian Lounsberry, James J. VanBogart
  • Patent number: 7783011
    Abstract: A transmission type X-ray tube includes an electrode lead (4) holding a cathode filament (7) and a stem unit (1) to which a sealing member (5), an exhaust tube (2), and the like are attached by brazing, and an irradiation window frame (8) having an X-ray irradiation window (9) attached by brazing. The other end side (52) of the sealing member (5) is attached to an open end (83) of the irradiation window frame (8) by welding. Thus, it is possible to obtain a high-quality transmission type X-ray tube having a long service life at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Ito, Toru Moriike, Seiji Hosoya, Yoshihiko Dan, Makoto Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20100202590
    Abstract: An x-ray tube has a cathode and a anode, and a catching device that captures backscattered electrons from the anode in the operating state of the x-ray tube. The catching device minimizes unwanted energy generation by the backscattered electrons in the catching device and the anode while maintaining a high quality of the focus by the catching device being electrically insulated with respect to the anode and the cathode and being placed at an electrical potential having a value between the value of the electrical potential of the anode and the value of the electrical potential of the cathode, and the amount of the difference between the potential of the catching device and the potential of the anode is in the range from 1% to 40% of the amount of the difference between the potential of the cathode and the potential of the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Joerg Freudenberger, Ernst Neumeier
  • Publication number: 20100195801
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a novel, low-power X-ray tube and X-ray generating system. Embodiments of the invention use a multichannel electron generator as the electron source, thereby increasing reliability and decreasing power consumption of the X-ray tube. Unlike tubes using a conventional filament that must be heated by a current power source, embodiments of the invention require only a voltage power source, use very little current, and have no cooling requirements. The microchannel electron generator comprises one or more microchannel plates (MCPs), Each MCP comprises a honeycomb assembly of a plurality of annular components, which may be stacked to increase electron intensity. The multichannel electron generator used enables directional control of electron flow. In addition, the multichannel electron generator used is more robust than conventional filaments, making the resulting X-ray tube very shock and vibration resistant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: U.S.A. as represented by the Adminstrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Wm. Timothy Elam, Warren C. Kelliher, William Hershyn Trust, David P. DeLong
  • Publication number: 20100172476
    Abstract: An X-ray tube comprises an electron source in the form of a cathodE (12), and an anode (14) within a housing (10). The anode (14) is a thin film anode, so that most of the electrons which do not interact with it to produce X-rays pass directly through it. X-rays can be collected through a first window (16) directly behind the anode (14), or a second window (18) to one side of the anode. A retardation electrode 20 is located behind the anode 4 and is held at a potential which is negative with respect to the anode 14, and slightly positive with respect to the cathode (12). This retardation electrode (20) produces an electric field which slows down electrons passing through the anode (14) so that, when they interact with it, they are at relatively low energies. This reduces the heat load on the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: Edward James Morton, Russell David Luggar, Paul De Antonis
  • Patent number: 7737424
    Abstract: A high strength window for a radiation detection system includes a plurality of intersecting ribs defining a grid having openings therein with tops of the ribs terminate substantially in a common plane. The intersecting ribs are oriented non-perpendicularly with respect to each other and define non-rectangular openings. The window also includes a support frame around a perimeter of the plurality of intersecting ribs, and a film disposed over and spanning the plurality of intersecting ribs and openings. The film is configured to pass radiation therethrough. An associated radiation detection system includes a sensor disposed behind the window. The sensor is configured to detect radiation passing through the high strength window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Moxtek, Inc.
    Inventors: Degao Xu, Eric C. Anderson, Keith W. Decker, Raymond T. Perkins
  • Patent number: 7720199
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an X-ray tube, having a structure for effectively suppressing discharge at a tip of an anode, irradiated with electrons in order to generate X-rays, and an X-ray source including the X-ray tube. In the X-ray tube, electrons emitted from an electron gun are made to collide with an X-ray target, and X-rays generated at the X-ray target due to the collision are taken out to an exterior. The X-ray tube includes: a head, defining an internal space that houses a tip of an anode; an irradiation window, transmitting the generated X-rays to the exterior; an exhaust port, disposed at an inner wall surface of a casing and being for vacuum drawing of the internal space; and a shielding structure, hiding the exhaust port from the tip of the anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Tutomu Inazuru
  • Publication number: 20100098209
    Abstract: It is described a filter (300) for at least partially compensating for an X-ray tube (10) the target angle heel effect and preserving the tungsten spectrum of the X-rays. The filter (300) has an anode side (302) and a cathode side (304), wherein the cathode side (304) has a higher attenuation coefficient than the anode side (302). The attenuation coefficient is determined to at least partially compensate for the target angle heel effect. The filter (300) is from the same material as an anode plate (110) or the anode (108) of the X-raysource (10) which is usually tungsten or a tungsten alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N. V.
    Inventors: Peter Forthmann, Roland Proksa
  • Patent number: 7696488
    Abstract: An irradiating device and a method for controlling it are provided. The device comprises an electron accelerator and a scanning box connected to the electron accelerator, wherein the scanning box is provided with a target, an electron beam exit window positioned at left or right side of the target and a scanning magnet. The device integrates the functions of both the existing irradiating device outputting electron beams and those outputting X-rays. When the scanning magnet is in operation, the irradiating device outputs electron beams; and when the scanning magnet is not in operation, the irradiating device outputs X-rays. Therefore, the device is capable of outputting two radiation sources so as to meet requirements for radiation-processing articles with different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignees: Nuctech Company Limited, Tsinghua University
    Inventors: Yaohong Liu, Huaping Tang, Xinshui Yan, Jianjun Gao, Feng Gao, Dongsheng Zhang, Xiaotian Liang, De Wei, Jinsheng Liu, Wei Jia, Wei Yin, Dan Zhang, Chong Gu, Qinghui Zhang
  • Publication number: 20100080358
    Abstract: In one example, an x-ray target comprises a substrate, a target core, and a target track. The substrate and target core are attached together utilizing a carbide layer and a braze layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: David S.K. Lee, John E. Postman
  • Patent number: 7688949
    Abstract: X-ray tube cooling systems. In one example embodiment, an x-ray tube includes a housing, a window frame attached to the housing, and a window attached to the window frame. The housing defines an aperture through which electrons can pass from a cathode to an anode. The housing also defines an inlet port and an outlet port. The window frame defines an opening through which x-rays can pass. The window covers the opening defined by the window frame. The housing and the window frame are configured such that a liquid can flow from the inlet port to the outlet port through either a first liquid path at least partially defined by the housing or a second liquid path cooperatively defined by the housing and the window frame. The second liquid path is disposed about at least a portion of the opening in the window frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Don Lee Warburton, Jason W. Davies, Gregory C. Andrews, Mark S. Jonaitis
  • Publication number: 20100074410
    Abstract: A transmission type X-ray tube includes an electrode lead holding a cathode filament and a stem unit to which a sealing member, an exhaust tube, and the like are attached by brazing, and an irradiation window frame having an X-ray irradiation window attached by brazing. The other end side of the sealing member is attached to an open end of the irradiation window frame by welding. Thus, it is possible to obtain a high-quality transmission type X-ray tube having a long service life at a low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Yuichi ITO, Toru Moriike, Seiji Hosoya, Yoshihiko Dan, Makoto Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20100067664
    Abstract: According to the X-ray generating apparatus of this invention, a potential corresponding to that of a housing is applied to a first electrode, closest to a cathode, of at least two intermediate electrodes arranged between the cathode and a target. Therefore, even if the first electrode with an increased thermal capacity contacts the housing, the function of the X-ray generating apparatus will never be impaired. As a result, the first electrode is not easily restricted by structure, so that the first electrode may be enlarged as a measure for heat radiation, or that the first electrode may be placed in contact with the housing. The first electrode contacting the housing determines a positional relationship of the electron gun and housing to facilitate assembly of the X-ray generating apparatus. Further, all the potentials of the cathode, intermediate electrodes (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Tomomi Tamura, Takumi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7680248
    Abstract: To be able to achieve further small-sized formation and light-weighted formation and to promote a sensitivity by further efficiently detecting a fluorescent X-ray or the like in an X-ray tube and an X-ray analyzing apparatus, there are provided a vacuum cabinet 2 inside of which is brought into a vacuum state and which includes a window portion 1 formed by an X-ray transmitting film through which an X-ray can be transmitted, an electron beam source 3 installed at inside of the vacuum cabinet 2 for emitting an electron beam e, a target T generating a primary X-ray X1 by being irradiated with the electron beam e and installed at inside of the vacuum cabinet 2 to be able to emit the primary X-ray X1 to an outside sample S by way of the window portion 1, and an X-ray detecting element 4 arranged at inside of the vacuum cabinet 2 to be able to detect a fluorescent X-ray and a scattered X-ray X2 emitted from the sample S and incident from the window portion 1 for outputting a signal including energy information of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: SII NanoTechnology Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshiki Matoba
  • Publication number: 20100061518
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a miniaturized source (10; 20; 40; 80) of ionizing electromagnetic radiation, comprising a first electrode (11; 21; 41, 42; 81), which at least temporarily can function as a cathode, and a second electrode (12; 22; 43, 44, 45; 82), which at least temporarily can function as an anode, a first conductor (13; 23; 46, 47; 83) connected to the first electrode, and a second conductor (14; 24; 48, 49, 50; 84) connected to the second electrode. According to one embodiment, the first electrode and at least a portion of the first conductor are provided on a substrate (15; 10 25; 51; 85). According to another embodiment, also the second electrode and at least a portion of the second conductor are provided on the substrate. In all embodiments, the electrodes are arranged such that the electric field between the electrodes essentially is parallel to the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventor: Leif SMITH
  • Publication number: 20100046715
    Abstract: An x-ray radiator for a medical technology x-ray apparatus, has a vacuum chamber arranged in a protective housing, in which is arranged an anode that emits an x-ray beam. The vacuum chamber is surrounded by a protective chamber formed between the protective housing and the vacuum chamber and filled with an electrically insulating liquid. A beam passage chamber filled with a gas is arranged in the protective chamber. The beam passage chamber is traversed by the x-ray beam exiting from the vacuum chamber and propagating toward the protective housing. The amount of secondary radiation generated by the x-ray radiator upon operation is thereby reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventor: Joerg Freudenberger
  • Publication number: 20100046714
    Abstract: A window arrangement on a pressure pipe, with a casing in the train or at the end of the pressure pipe, said casing featuring flanges on diametrically opposing sides having radially directed passages, whose axes are standing perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pressure pipe and are located in a measurement plane for an x-ray measurement device, an x-ray source being associated to the one passage on the outer side and a receiver sensitive to X-rays to the other passage, and with window plates that are transmissive for X-rays which are sealingly arranged in the associated passage and are fixed in the passage with the aid of a fastening member and which consist of a material which is resistant against high temperatures and process-due etchings by chemically aggressive substances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: SIKORA AG
    Inventors: Harald Sikora, Ralf Seidel
  • Publication number: 20100046716
    Abstract: An x-ray tube has a vacuum housing containing an anode that generates usable x-ray radiation upon being struck by electrons generated by an electron source. The usable x-ray radiation escapes from the vacuum housing through an x-ray exit window. A backscatter electron barrier device arranged in the vacuum housing affects the backscatter electrons in the region of the usable x-ray radiation such that no backscatter electrons reach the x-ray exit window. Such an x-ray tube exhibits an invariably constant x-ray intensity and a high reliability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventor: Joerg Freudenberger
  • Patent number: 7668297
    Abstract: In an X-ray tube 1A that makes electrons emitted from an electron gun 17 into a target 9 of an anode 8 arranged in a tubular vacuum enclosure body 6, and extracts the X-rays through an X-ray exit window 18, the anode 8 is arranged on a tube axis C1 of the vacuum enclosure body 6, and in a sealing portion 5g provided at an end portion of the vacuum enclosure body 6, provided is the X-ray exit window 18 eccentric with respect to the tube axis C1 of the vacuum enclosure body 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Tutomu Inazuru, Tomoyuki Okada
  • Patent number: 7660393
    Abstract: A gas tight radiation window membrane comprises a layered diffusion barrier with a reactive metal layer (201) covered on both sides by cover layers (202, 203). An originally continuous carrier layer (101) can be made a mesh that has openings coincident with openings of a reinforcement grid (105), while the gas tight diffusion barrier (107, 507) spans as a continuous film over said openings in said mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Oxford Instruments Analytical Oy
    Inventors: Heikki Johannes Sipilä, Seppo Nenonen
  • Patent number: 7645994
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for outputting high and/or low energy X-rays, in which the electron gun power supply provides power to the electron linear accelerating tube under the control of the control system; the microwave power source accelerates electron beams generated by the electron linear accelerating tube under the control of the control system; the electron linear accelerating tube is connected to the electron gun power supply and the microwave power source respectively, to generate high energy electron beams; the high-voltage electron gun power supply provides power to the high-voltage electron gun under the control of the control system; the high-voltage electron gun is connected to the voltage electron gun power supply to generate low energy electron beams; the radiation target receives the high energy electron beams to generate high energy transmission X-rays, and/or receive the low energy electron beams to generate low energy reflection X-rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Nuctech Company Limited
    Inventors: Chuanxiang Tang, Huaibi Chen, Yinong Liu, Jianping Cheng, Yaohong Liu, Renkai Li
  • Patent number: 7634054
    Abstract: Provided are an X-ray tube and an X-ray analysis apparatus, which can be further reduced in size as well as in weight and more efficiently detect a fluorescent X-ray and the like to increase sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: SII NanoTechnology Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Matoba, Yutaka Ikku
  • Patent number: 7634052
    Abstract: A method for obtaining a concentrated, monochromatic x-ray beam from a standard x-ray tube or other source of polychromatic emission. X-rays from the anode of the x-ray tube fluoresce an adjoining, independent target that produces a monochromatic spectrum, a portion of which is focused by the x-ray optical system. This two-stage method gives the system considerably versatility without undue loss in signal. The two-stage concentrator makes practical the use of focusing optics in hand-held and portable instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Thermo Niton Analyzers LLC
    Inventors: Lee Grodzins, Hal Grodzins
  • Patent number: 7627088
    Abstract: A vacuumed enclosure has a window formed of an X-ray transmissive material. The vacuumed enclosure encloses an electron beam source for generating an electron beam and a target which, irradiated by the electron beam, generates a primary X-ray. The target is smaller in the outer dimension than the window and located on the center of the window such that it irradiates, through the window, the primary X-ray onto a sample located outside. The vacuumed enclosure further encloses an X-ray detector located such that it can detect a fluorescent X-ray and a scattered X-ray coming from the sample through the window. The X-ray detector generates a signal representative of energy information of the fluorescent X-ray and the scattered X-ray. The vacuumed enclosure further encloses a thermally and electrically conductive metal extending through the target across the widow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: SII NanoTechnology Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Matoba, Yutaka Ikku
  • Patent number: 7623629
    Abstract: A transmission type X-ray tube includes an electrode lead (4) holding a cathode filament (7) and a stem unit (1) to which a sealing member (5), an exhaust tube (2), and the like are attached by brazing, and an irradiation widow frame (8) having an X-ray irradiation window (9) attached by brazing. The other end side (52) of the sealing member (5) is attached to an open end (83) of the irradiation window frame (8) by welding. Thus, it is possible to obtain a high-quality transmission type X-ray tube having a long service life at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Ito, Toru Moriike, Seiji Hosoya, Yoshihiko Dan, Makoto Otsuka
  • Patent number: 7618906
    Abstract: A window membrane is permeable to electromagnetic radiation, especially soft X-rays. It comprises a film (201) and a metallic reinforcement mesh (202) attached to the film (201). A preferable way of attaching the metallic reinforcement mesh (202) to the film is to use a positive-working photosensitive glue (204) and allow the reinforcement mesh (202) to act as the exposure mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Oxford Instruments Analytical Oy
    Inventor: Tomi Meilahti
  • Publication number: 20090279669
    Abstract: An x-ray tube includes a vacuum chamber, a cathode positioned within the vacuum chamber and configured to emit electrons, and an anode positioned within the vacuum chamber to receive the electrons emitted from the cathode and configured to generate a beam of x-rays from the electrons. The x-ray tube further includes a window positioned to pass the beam of x-rays therethrough, an electron collector structure having an aperture formed therein to allow passage of x-rays therethrough, and a layer attached to the electron collector structure and configured to at least partially absorb or reduce diffraction of x-rays that contact the layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Donald Robert Allen, Brian Lounsberry, James J. VanBogart
  • Patent number: 7616736
    Abstract: Liquid cooled window assembly for an x-ray tube. In one example embodiment, an x-ray tube window assembly includes an x-ray tube window frame that defines an opening and an x-ray tube window configured to be attached to the x-ray tube window frame. When the x-ray tube window is attached to the x-ray tube window frame, the x-ray tube window substantially covers the opening defined by the x-ray tube window frame, and the x-ray tube window cooperates with the x-ray tube window frame to define a fluid passageway disposed about at least a portion of the opening. The fluid passageway includes an inlet and an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Don Lee Warburton
  • Publication number: 20090274276
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the density and other properties of a formation surrounding a borehole using a high voltage x-ray generator. One embodiment comprises a stable compact x-ray generator capable of providing radiation with energy of 250 keV and higher while operating at temperatures equal to or greater than 125° C. In another embodiment, radiation is passed from an x-ray generator into the formation; reflected radiation is detected by a short spaced radiation detector and a long spaced radiation detector. The output of these detectors is then used to determine the density of the formation. In one embodiment, a reference radiation detector monitors a filtered radiation signal. The output of this detector is used to control at least one of the acceleration voltage and beam current of the x-ray generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: Peter Wraight, Arthur J. Becker, Joel L. Groves, Christian Stoller
  • Publication number: 20090268873
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an X-ray tube, having a structure for effectively suppressing discharge at a tip of an anode, irradiated with electrons in order to generate X-rays, and an X-ray source including the X-ray tube. In the X-ray tube, electrons emitted from an electron gun are made to collide with an X-ray target, and X-rays generated at the X-ray target due to the collision are taken out to an exterior. The X-ray tube includes: a head, defining an internal space that houses a tip of an anode; an irradiation window, transmitting the generated X-rays to the exterior; an exhaust port, disposed at an inner wall surface of a casing and being for vacuum drawing of the internal space; and a shielding structure, hiding the exhaust port from the tip of the anode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventor: Tutomu Inazuru
  • Publication number: 20090238340
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an X-ray tube, having a structure enabling capturing of a clear magnified transmission image and enabling increase of a magnification factor of the magnified transmission image, and an X-ray source including the X-ray tube. In the X-ray tube, X-rays are generated by making electrons from an electron gun incident onto an X-ray target of an anode, disposed inside an anode housing unit, and the generated X-rays are taken out from an X-ray emission window. In particular, the anode has a straight main body and a protruding portion, extending along an axis line direction of the main body from a tip of the main body. An inclined surface, onto which the electrons emitted from the electron gun collide, and a pair of side surfaces, disposed in parallel while sandwiching the inclined surface, are formed on the protruding portion. A distance between the pair of side surfaces of the protruding portion is shorter than a width of the main body in the same direction as the distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Okada, Tutomu Inazuru
  • Publication number: 20090161831
    Abstract: A transmission type X-ray tube includes an electrode lead (4) holding a cathode filament (7) and a stem unit (1) to which a sealing member (5), an exhaust tube (2), and the like are attached by brazing, and an irradiation window frame (8) having an X-ray irradiation window (9) attached by brazing. The other end side (52) of the sealing member (5) is attached to an open end (83) of the irradiation window frame (8) by welding. Thus, it is possible to obtain a high-quality transmission type X-ray tube having a long service life at a low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Yuichi Ito, Toru Moriike, Seiji Hosoya, Yoshihiko Dan, Makoto Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20090147922
    Abstract: A multi-energy imaging system and method for selectively generating high-energy X-rays and low-energy X-ray beams are described. A pair of optic devices are used, one optic device being formed to emit high X-ray energies and the other optic device being formed to emit low X-ray energies. A selective filtering mechanism is used to filter the high X-ray energies from the low X-ray energies. The optic devices have at least a first solid phase layer having a first index of refraction with a first photon transmission property and a second solid phase layer having a second index of refraction with a second photon transmission property. The first and second layers are conformal to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Forrest Frank Hopkins, Susanne Madeline Lee, Peter Michael Edic
  • Patent number: 7526069
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an X-ray tube capable of efficiently extracting X-rays of low energy and provided with a structure having excellent durability. The X-ray tube is provided with a silicon foil having a thickness of 3 ?m or more but 30 ?m or less as a part of a vessel body. The silicon foil is directly or indirectly affixed on the closed vessel in a state that the silicon foil covers the opening provided in the closed vessel, and functions as a transmission window of the closed vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Matsumura, Tomoyuki Okada, Tooru Yamamoto, Hidetsugu Takaoka, Tetsuro Endo
  • Publication number: 20090086917
    Abstract: X-ray tube cooling systems. In one example embodiment, an x-ray tube includes a housing, a window frame attached to the housing, and a window attached to the window frame. The housing defines an aperture through which electrons can pass from a cathode to an anode. The housing also defines an inlet port and an outlet port. The window frame defines an opening through which x-rays can pass. The window covers the opening defined by the window frame. The housing and the window frame are configured such that a liquid can flow from the inlet port to the outlet port through either a first liquid path at least partially defined by the housing or a second liquid path cooperatively defined by the housing and the window frame. The second liquid path is disposed about at least a portion of the opening in the window frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Don Lee Warburton, Jason W. Davies, Gregory C. Andrews
  • Publication number: 20090086918
    Abstract: An x-ray tube has a cathode that generates free electrons; an anode on which the free and accelerated electrons strikes so that x-ray radiation is generated; a cooling channel with coolant flowing therethrough to cool the anode; a vacuum region between the cathode and the anode; and an exit window through which the x-ray radiation exits from the x-ray tube. The anode is fashioned as a transmission anode; with the transmission anode arranged between the vacuum region and the cooling channel, with the cooling channel arranged between the transmission anode and the exit window; so the useful x-ray radiation passes through the coolant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Stefan Popescu, Georg Wittmann
  • Publication number: 20090080617
    Abstract: An x-ray tube electron shield is disclosed for interposition between an electron emitter and an anode configured to receive the emitted electrons. The electron shield is configured to withstand the elevated levels of heat produced by electrons backscattered from the anode and incident on the electron shield. This in turn equates to a reduced incidence of failure in the electron shield. In one embodiment the electron shield includes a body that defines a bowl-shaped aperture having a narrowed throat segment. The body of the electron shield includes a first body portion, a second body portion, and a disk portion. These portions cooperate to define the bowl and the throat segment. The throat segment and the lower portion of the bowl are composed of a refractory material and correspond with the regions of the electron shield that are impacted by relatively more backscattered electrons from the anode surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: Varian Medical Systems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Andrews
  • Publication number: 20090052626
    Abstract: In an X-ray tube 1A that makes electrons emitted from an electron gun 17 into a target 9 of an anode 8 arranged in a tubular vacuum enclosure body 6, and extracts the X-rays through an X-ray exit window 18, the anode 8 is arranged on a tube axis C1 of the vacuum enclosure body 6, and in a sealing portion 5g provided at an end portion of the vacuum enclosure body 6, provided is the X-ray exit window 18 eccentric with respect to the tube axis C1 of the vacuum enclosure body 6.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Tutomu Inazuru, Tomoyuki Okada
  • Publication number: 20090041196
    Abstract: Provided are an X-ray tube and an X-ray analysis apparatus, which can be further reduced in size as well as in weight and more efficiently detect a fluorescent X-ray and the like to increase sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshiki Matoba, Yutaka Ikku
  • Publication number: 20090028297
    Abstract: There are disclosed an X-ray tube and an X-ray analysis apparatus which are made smaller and lighter in weight than heretofore and which detect fluorescent X-rays more efficiently with enhanced sensitivity. The X-ray tube has a vacuum enclosure, an electron beam source mounted in the enclosure and emitting an electron beam, a target irradiated with the beam and producing primary X-rays, an X-ray detector device, and a metallic thermal and electrical conductor portion mounted over a part of the window and extending from the target to the enclosure. The enclosure has a vacuum inside and a window made of an X-ray transmissive film through which X-rays are transmitted. The target is smaller in outside diameter than the window and mounted over the central portion of the window such that the primary X-rays can be ejected at an external sample through the window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Yoshiki Matoba, Yutaka Ikku
  • Publication number: 20090010393
    Abstract: An x-ray system is disclosed that includes a bipolar x-ray tube. The bipolar x-ray tube includes two insulators that are separated by an intermediate electrode in an embodiment, wherein each insulator forms a portion of an outer wall of a vacuum envelope of the bipolar x-ray tube surrounding at least a portion of a path of an electron beam within the vacuum envelope. In further embodiments, the bipolar x-ray tube includes a first electrode at a positive high voltage potential with respect to a reference potential, a second electrode at a negative high voltage potential with respect to the reference potential, and an x-ray transmissive window that is at the positive high voltage potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: NEWTON SCIENTIFIC, INC.
    Inventors: Robert E. Klinkowstein, Ruth E. Shefer
  • Publication number: 20080317209
    Abstract: A gas tight radiation window membrane comprises a layered diffusion barrier with a reactive metal layer (201) covered on both sides by cover layers (202, 203). An originally continuous carrier layer (101) can be made a mesh that has openings coincident with openings of a reinforcement grid (105), while the gas tight diffusion barrier (107, 507) spans as a continuous film over said openings in said mesh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Heikki Johannes Sipila, Seppo Nenonen
  • Publication number: 20080310594
    Abstract: X-ray radiation is generated at a target that emits x-ray radiation in response to being struck by accelerated electrons, the electrons being emitted by a cathode that emits electrons in response to being illuminated by electromagnetic radiation from a source, and the x-ray radiation is moved by orienting a surface that directs the electromagnetic radiation from the source toward the cathode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Vitaliy Ziskin, Boris Oreper, Andrew Dean Foland
  • Publication number: 20080310595
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating bremsstrahlung with enhanced photon flux in a narrow cone at forward angles utilize a thin target of a high-Z material such as gold as radiator, supported on a tube of a low-Z material such as titanium, which tube contains a circulating fluid such as water which acts as a coolant and also may absorb the incident electron beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: Passport Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Bertozzi, Michael Donovan, Alexei Klimenko, Stephen E. Korbly, William Park