Wide-coverage x-ray source with dual-sided target
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMark E. Vermilyea, James E. Simpson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An x-ray source is disclosed comprising: an anode disk with first and second beveled annuli at a periphery of the anode disk, the anode disk rotatably coupled to a housing structure via a support shaft; first and second cathodes mounted to a yoke support structure, the yoke support structure configured to direct cathode emissions at x-ray generating material disposed on the beveled annuli; and a high-voltage insulator configured to electrically insulate the yoke support structure from the housing structure.
Claims20
An x-ray source comprising:
- an anode disk including a first beveled annulus and a second beveled annulus at a periphery of said anode disk, said anode disk secured to a housing structure via a support shaft;
- a first cathode mechanically coupled to a yoke support structure, said yoke support structure configured to project emissions from said first cathode onto a first x-ray generating material deposited on said first beveled annulus;
- a second cathode mechanically coupled to said yoke support structure, said yoke support structure further configured to project emissions from said second cathode onto a second x-ray generating material deposited on said second beveled annulus;
- and
- a high-voltage insulator configured to mechanically attach said yoke support structure to said housing structure, said high-voltage insulator further configured to electrically insulate said yoke support structure from said housing structure.
A computed tomography imaging system comprising:
- an x-ray source mounted to a gantry, said x-ray source having
- an anode disk with a first beveled annulus and a second beveled annulus;
- a first emissive cathode configured to project a first cathode emission onto a first x-ray generating material deposited on said first beveled annulus and thereby produce a first x-ray cone beam emission;
- a second emissive cathode configured to project a second cathode emission onto a second x-ray generating material deposited on said second beveled annulus and thereby produce a second x-ray cone beam emission;
- and
- a detector assembly disposed on said gantry to receive at least a portion of said first x-ray cone beam emission and at least a portion of said second x-ray cone beam emission.
A method of providing a source of x-rays, said method comprising the steps of:
- projecting emission from a first emissive cathode onto a first x-ray generating material deposited on a first beveled annulus on an anode disk, said anode disk rotating with respect to a housing structure;
- and
- projecting emission from a second emissive cathode onto a second x-ray generating material deposited on a second beveled annulus on said anode disk.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.