System and methods for x-ray tube aging determination and compensation
AssigneeGE Global Research
InventorsHewei Gao, Floribertus P. Heukensfeldt Jansen, Uwe Wiedmann, Bruno De Man
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Exemplary embodiments are directed to a system and method for estimating and compensating for anode target filtration in an X-ray tube. Certain embodiments record changes in the photon flux over the life of the tube. By comparing the flux values, filtration resulting from a roughened target surface and target deposition on the tube window may be inferred. A plurality of systems and methods for comparing flux values are provided and the relative merits and complementary effects of each discussed.
Claims22
A method for estimating anode filtration in an X-ray tube, comprising:
- applying a current and a voltage to the X-ray tube;
- emitting a plurality of photons from the X-ray tube;
- determining a first flux at which at least some of the plurality of photons are detected at a detector;
- comparing the first flux with a second stored flux value, the second stored flux value based on a previous application of the current and the voltage to the X-ray tube;
- and
- determining a degree of anode filtration based on the comparison of the first flux with the second stored flux value.
A method for estimating anode filtration in an X-ray tube, comprising:
- applying a current and a voltage to the X-ray tube;
- emitting a plurality of photons from the X-ray tube;
- determining a first flux at which at least some of the plurality of photons are detected at a first row of a detector;
- determining a second flux at which at least some of the plurality of photons are detected at a second row of the detector;
- determining a relative change value between the first and second flux;
- comparing the relative change value with a stored relative change value, the stored relative change value based on a previous application of substantially the same current and substantially the same voltage to the X-ray tube;
- and
- determining a degree of anode filtration based on the comparison of the relative change value and the stored relative change value.
A method for estimating anode filtration in an X-ray tube, comprising:
- applying a first voltage to the X-ray tube;
- emitting a first plurality of photons from the X-ray tube;
- determining a first flux at which at least some of the first plurality of photons are detected at a detector;
- applying a second voltage to the X-ray tube;
- emitting a second plurality of photons from the X-ray tube;
- determining a second flux at which at least some of the second plurality of photons are detected at a detector;
- determining a first relation value between the first and second flux;
- comparing the first relation value with a second stored relation value, the second stored relation value based on a previous application of substantially the same first voltage and substantially the same second voltage to the X-ray tube;
- and
- determining a degree of anode filtration based on the comparison of the first relation value and the second stored relation value.
A method for estimating anode filtration in an X-ray tube, comprising:
- applying a first amount of spectral filtering to at least a portion of the X-ray tube using a spectral filter;
- emitting a first plurality of photons from the X-ray tube with the first amount of spectral filtering;
- determining a first flux at which at least some of the first plurality of photons are detected at a detector;
- emitting a second plurality of photons from the X-ray tube with a second amount of spectral filtering, the second amount of spectral filtering different from the first amount of spectral filtering;
- determining a second flux at which at least some of the second plurality of photons are detected at a detector;
- determining a first relation value between the first and second flux;
- comparing the first relation value with a second stored relation value, the second stored relation value based on a previous photon emission from the X-ray tube applying the first amount of spectral filtering and a photon emission from the X-ray tube applying the second amount of spectral filtering;
- and
- determining a degree of anode filtration based on the comparison of the first relation value and the second stored relation value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.