Multi-point gas-discharge x-ray tube for stationary computed tomography systems
AssigneeCreighton Scientific, Inc.
InventorRichard Thomas Creighton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An X-ray source comprising a gas enclosure configured to retain a mixture of gasses at a pressure below atmospheric pressure, a plurality of spark gap assemblies mounted to the gas enclosure, each spark gap assembly of the plurality of spark gap assemblies comprising an electrical feedthrough configured to generate X-rays via gas discharge across a spark gap, and a plurality of X-ray window assemblies mounted to the gas enclosure, each X-ray window assembly of the plurality of X-ray window assemblies positioned adjacent a corresponding spark gap assembly of the plurality of spark gap assemblies such that X-rays generated by the corresponding spark gap assembly pass through the X-ray window assembly.
Claims20
An X-ray source, comprising:
- a gas enclosure configured to retain a mixture of gasses at a pressure below atmospheric pressure;
- a plurality of spark gap assemblies mounted to the gas enclosure, each spark gap assembly of the plurality of spark gap assemblies comprising an electrical feedthrough configured to generate X-rays via gas discharge across a spark gap;
- and
- a plurality of X-ray window assemblies mounted to the gas enclosure, each X-ray window assembly of the plurality of X-ray window assemblies positioned adjacent a corresponding spark gap assembly of the plurality of spark gap assemblies such that X-rays generated by the corresponding spark gap assembly pass through the X-ray window assembly.
A method for manufacturing a multi-point gas-discharge X-ray source, the method comprising:
- forming a gas enclosure by bending a tube into a circular shape;
- connecting a plurality of X-ray window assemblies to an inner surface of the gas enclosure;
- connecting a plurality of spark gap assemblies to an outer surface of the gas enclosure, each spark gap assembly of the plurality of spark gap assemblies positioned adjacent a corresponding X-ray window assembly of the plurality of X-ray window assemblies;
- and
- filling the gas enclosure with a mixture of gasses at a pressure below atmospheric pressure.
A stationary computed tomography system, comprising:
- a multi-point gas-discharge X-ray source comprising:
- a gas enclosure containing a mixture of gasses at a pressure below atmospheric pressure;
- a plurality of spark gap assemblies mounted to the gas enclosure, each spark gap assembly comprising an electrical feedthrough;
- and
- a plurality of X-ray window assemblies mounted to the gas enclosure;
- and
- a power supply connected to the plurality of spark gap assemblies and configured to sequentially activate the plurality of spark gap assemblies to generate X-rays.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.