X-ray system window with vapor deposited filter layer
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMichael John Danyluk, William John Schaefer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An x-ray system includes x-ray tube containing a cathode which supplies electrons and an anode which can be maintained at high positive electrical potential to the cathode and has a target area which is impacted by electrons from the cathode when the positive potential is maintained generating x-rays. The x-ray tube is enclosed in a radiation resistant casing. The radiation resistant casing has a window which allows some of the x-rays generated at the target area to exit the system. The window has a vapor deposited layer of a filtering metal of sufficient thickness to effectively condition the x-rays passing through the window and located to intercept the x-rays passing through the window.
Claims20
An x-ray system with one or more conditioning filters comprising:
- an x-ray tube containing:
- a cathode which supplies electrons;
- and
- an anode which can be maintained at high positive electrical potential to the cathode and has a target area which is impacted by electrons from the cathode when the positive potential is maintained generating x-rays;
- a radiation resistant casing which encloses the x-ray tube;
- and
- a window in the radiation resistant casing which allows some of the x-rays generated at the target area to exit the system, with the window having a vapor deposited layer of a filtering metal of sufficient thickness to effectively condition the x-rays passing through the window and located to intercept the x-rays passing through the window.
An x-ray system which generates conditioned x-rays suitable for the medical imaging of human patients comprising:
- an x-ray tube containing:
- a cathode which supplies electrons;
- and
- an anode which can be maintained at high negative electrical potential to the cathode and has a target area which is impacted by electrons from the cathode when the negative potential is maintained generating x-rays;
- a radiation resistant casing which encloses the x-ray tube;
- and
- a high purity aluminum window in the radiation resistant casing which allows some of the x-rays generated at the target area to exit the system, the window being of sufficient thickness to partially condition the exiting x-rays and having a vapor deposited layer of high purity copper of between about 50 and 150 microns in thickness to complete the conditioning of the x-rays passing through the window and located to intercept the x-rays passing through the window.
A process for the construction of an x-ray system with one or more conditioning filters having:
- an x-ray tube containing:
- a cathode which supplies electrons;
- and
- an anode which can be maintained at high positive electrical potential to the cathode and has a target area which is impacted by electrons from the cathode when the positive potential is maintained generating x-rays;
- a radiation resistant casing which encloses the x-ray tube;
- and
- a window in the radiation resistant casing which allows some of the x-rays generated at the target area to exit the system, with the window having a layer of a filtering metal of sufficient thickness to effectively condition the x-rays passing through the window and located to intercept the x-rays passing through the window, the process comprising vapor depositing the layer of filtering metal on a surface of the window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.