Anode assembly for an x-ray tube
AssigneeXoft, Inc.
InventorsThomas W. Rusch, Peter C. Smith, Steven D. Hansen, Paul A. Lovoi, Donald G. Pellinen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A miniature x-ray tube has an anode assembly capable of transmitting x-rays through the anode and over a wide angular range. The anode is in the shape of a cone or truncated cone with an axis on the x-ray tube frame axis, formed of low-Z material with high thermal conductivity for heat dissipation. A target material on the anode body is in a thin layer, which may be approximately 0.5 to 5 microns thick. In one embodiment a tube evacuation exhaust port at the tail end of the anode assembly forms a cavity for a getter, with a pinched-off tubulation at the end of the cavity.
Claims67
An x-ray tube assembly, comprising:
- a tube frame having an internal cavity defining a portion of the x-ray tube,
- a cathode assembly at one end of the tube frame for emitting electrons,
- an anode assembly at an opposite end of the tube frame, the anode assembly including an anode body having an internal cavity, a first end of the anode body being sealed together with said opposite end of the tube frame to form a completed x-ray tube cavity, and a second end of the anode body being formed with a conical internal surface generally coaxial with the tube frame, and
- an x-ray generating target coated onto the conical internal surface.
An x-ray tube assembly, comprising:
- a tube frame having an internal cavity defining a portion of the x-ray tube,
- a cathode assembly at one end of the tube for emitting electrons,
- an anode assembly at an opposite end of the tube frame, the anode assembly being integrally formed in one piece with the tube frame as one integral body and having a conical internal surface generally coaxial with the tube frame, and
- an x-ray generating target coated onto the conical internal surface.
An x-ray tube assembly, comprising:
- a tube frame having an internal cavity defining a portion of the x-ray tube,
- a cathode assembly at one end of the tube frame for emitting electrons,
- a tubulation assembly being sealed together with an opposite end of the tube frame to provide exhaust,
- an anode assembly at an end of the tubulation assembly opposite the tube frame, the anode assembly including an anode body having an internal cavity, a first end of the anode body being sealed together with said opposite end of the tubulation assembly to from a completed x-ray tube cavity, and a second end of the anode body being formed with a conical internal surface generally coaxial with the tube frame, and
- an x-ray generating target coated onto the conical internal surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.