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US 2003/0198318 A1Published application
X-ray source and method having cathode with curved emission surface
AssigneeGE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC
InventorsJ. Scott Price, Bruce M. Dunham, Colin R. Wilson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An X-ray source comprises a cold cathode and an anode. The cold cathode has a curved emission surface capable of emitting electrons. The anode is spaced apart from the cathode. The anode is capable of emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface of the cathode.
Claims31
An X-ray source comprising:
- a cold cathode, the cold cathode having a curved emission surface capable of emitting electrons;
- and
- an anode, the anode being spaced apart from the cathode, the anode being capable of emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface.
An imaging system for imaging an object of interest, the imaging system comprising:
- (A) an X-ray source, the X-ray source including
- (1) a cold cathode disposed within a housing, the cold cathode having a curved emission surface, the cold cathode comprising a plurality of emitters disposed on a substrate, and
- (2) an anode, the anode being disposed within the housing and spaced apart from the cathode, the anode emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface;
- (B) a detector array, the detector array comprising a plurality of detector elements, the plurality of detector elements receiving the X-rays after the X-rays pass through the object of interest and generating signals in response thereto;
- (C) an image reconstructor, the image reconstructor being coupled to receive the signals from the detector elements, and the image reconstructor constructing an image of the object of interest based on the signals from the detector elements;
- and
- (D) a display, the display being coupled to the image reconstructor, and the display displaying the image of the object of interest.
4 more elements
A medical imaging method comprising:
- generating an X-ray beam at an X-ray source comprising a cathode having a curved emission surface, the cathode comprising a plurality of emitter cones and a thin film gate, the electron beam being emitted towards an anode so as to cause the anode to be bombarded with electrons, wherein the X-ray beam is produced in response to being bombarded by the electrons, wherein the electrons bombard the anode at a focal spot of the anode, wherein a size and shape of the focal spot is defined at least in part by a curvature of the curved emission surface, the generating step including emitting an electron beam from the cathode, wherein the X-ray source directs the X-ray beam through a patient, and wherein the emitting step further includes
- applying a first electric field between the thin film gate and the plurality of emitter cones, the first electric field causing the electrons to be emitted from the plurality of emitter cones, and
- applying a second electric field between the anode and the cathode, the second electric field causing the electrons to accelerate towards the anode;
- detecting the X-ray beam after the X-ray beam passes through at least a portion of the patient;
- constructing an image of a portion of the patient based on data collected during the detecting step;
- and
- displaying the image of the portion of the patient.
4 more elements
A medical imaging system comprising:
- means for emitting electrons in the form of a focused electron beam;
- means for generating an X-ray beam in response to the focused electron beam;
- means for detecting the X-ray beam after the X-ray beam passes through at least a portion of a patient;
- means for constructing an image of a portion of the patient based on data collected by the means for detecting;
- and
- means for displaying the image of the portion of the patient.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.