Biased cathode assembly of an X-ray tube with improved thermal management and a method of manufacturing same

A method of manufacturing a cathode assembly of an X-ray tube, comprising:

• fabricating an emitter assembly, the emitter assembly including an emitter coupled to an emitter support structure;
• fabricating an electrode assembly including fabricating an electrode stack and coupling a plurality of bias electrodes to the electrode stack;
• and
• assembling the emitter assembly and the electrode assembly together;
• wherein fabricating the emitter assembly includes fabricating a plurality of independent components to form the emitter support structure and assembling the emitter to the emitter support structure;
• and
• wherein fabricating the electrode assembly includes fabricating a plurality of independent components to form the electrode stack, fabricating a plurality of independent components to form the plurality of bias electrodes, assembling the electrode stack, and assembling the plurality of bias electrodes to the electrode stack.