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US 10,753,969 B2Granted
Methods and systems for predicting failures in X-ray tubes
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsRui Xu, Uwe Wiedmann, Jayakrishnan Unnikrishnan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present approach relates to generating one or both of a failure prediction indication for an X-ray tube or a remaining useful life estimate for the X-ray tube. In one implementation, a trained static tube model is used in estimating health (e.g., thickness) of the electron emitter of the X-ray tube, which in turn may be used in predicting remaining useful life of an electron emitter of the X-ray tube.
Claims18
A method for assessing health of an X-ray tube, comprising:
- acquiring data points for a respective X-ray tube installed in an imaging system over time;
- processing the data points using a trained X-ray tube model to calculate an estimated emitter drive current or estimated X-ray tube current over time;
- calculating a trending indicator over time based on the estimated emitter drive current or estimated X-ray tube current;
- calculating a slope of the trending indicator over time;
- calculating a combined indicator using the trending indicator, wherein the combined indicator is calculated using the trending indicator and the slope of the trending indicator;
- and
- providing an indication of X-ray tube health derived from the combined indicator.
4 more elements
A method for training an X-ray tube model, comprising:
- acquiring training data points for a respective X-ray tube after installation of the X-ray tube in an imaging system;
- calculating a regression model using the training data points to derive respective values for a plurality of coefficients;
- and
- constructing the X-ray tube model using the plurality of coefficients, wherein the X-ray tube model returns an estimate of electron emitter drive current or X-ray tube current in response to input data points.
1 more element
A processor-based system, comprising:
- a non-transitory memory configured to store executable routines;
- and
- a processing component configured to execute the routines stored in the non-transitory memory, wherein the routines, when executed, cause acts to be performed comprising:
- acquiring data points related to operation of an X-ray tube over time;
- processing the data points using a trained X-ray tube model to calculate an estimated emitter drive current or estimated X-ray tube current over time;
- calculating a trending indicator over time based on the estimated emitter drive current or estimated X-ray tube current;
- calculating a slope of the trending indicator over time;
- calculating a combined indicator based on the trending indicator, wherein the combined indicator is calculated using the trending indicator and the slope of the trending indicator;
- and
- providing an indication of X-ray tube health derived from the combined indicator.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.