Systems and methods for an X-ray tube
AssigneeGE Precision Healthcare LLC
InventorsAntonio Caiafa, Alexander Ryan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for preventing hot landings of a motor of an X-ray imaging system in the event of a power loss. In an example, a method for an X-ray tube of an imaging system includes, during a scan of a subject with the imaging system, supplying energy from a main power supply to the X-ray tube in order to rotate a target of the X-ray tube, selectively recovering energy from the X-ray tube and storing the recovered energy in an energy storage circuit of the imaging system, and detecting a loss of the main power supply, and in response, supplying energy from the energy storage circuit to the X-ray tube in order to rotate the target at a threshold speed.
Claims20
A method for an X-ray tube of an imaging system, the method comprising:
- during a scan of a subject with the imaging system, supplying energy from a main power supply to the X-ray tube in order to rotate a target of the X-ray tube;
- selectively recovering energy from the X-ray tube and storing the recovered energy in an energy storage circuit of the imaging system;
- and
- detecting a loss of the main power supply, and in response, supplying energy from the energy storage circuit to the X-ray tube in order to rotate the target at a threshold speed.
A computed tomography (CT) imaging system, comprising:
- an X-ray tube including a rotatable assembly, the rotatable assembly including a target and a rotor of a motor;
- an energy storage circuit coupled to the motor;
- memory storing instructions;
- and
- one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to:
- responsive to a loss of a main power supply to the motor, convert rotational energy of the rotatable assembly to electrical energy as the rotatable assembly spins following the loss of the main power supply, the electrical energy stored in the energy storage circuit;
- and
- supply the electrical energy stored in the energy storage circuit to the motor to continue to spin the rotatable assembly at a threshold speed for a duration.
A computed tomography (CT) imaging system, comprising:
- an X-ray tube including a target;
- a motor including a rotor coupled to the target and a liquid metal bearing (LMB), the target, the rotor, and a sleeve of the LMB forming a rotatable assembly;
- an energy storage circuit coupled to the motor;
- a coolant circuit coupled to the motor and including a pump;
- memory storing instructions;
- and
- one or more processors configured to execute the instructions to:
- during a first exposure, supply electrical energy from a main power supply to the motor in order to rotate the rotatable assembly at an operating speed, and supply electrical energy from the main power supply to the pump to cool the motor;
- responsive to termination of the first exposure, convert rotational energy of the rotatable assembly to electrical energy as the rotatable assembly continues to rotate following termination of the first exposure, the electrical energy stored in the energy storage circuit;
- and
- responsive to initiation of a second exposure, supply the electrical energy stored in the energy storage circuit to the motor to increase a rotational speed of the rotatable assembly to the operating speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.