US 5,668,850 A · Systems and methods of determining x-ray tube life

Abstract

A method and apparatus to facilitate avoiding failure of a computed tomography x-ray source while performing a patient scan permits detection of the onset of a potential x-ray source failure and estimation of the x-ray source life expectancy. The information obtained can be used in deciding whether to repair or replace an x-ray source prior to failure. In one embodiment, signals I(x,y) representative of the x-ray beam optical focal spot detected by a detector array are sampled, and a wavelet transform is applied to the sampled signals I(x,y) to generate at least one energy level F.sub.new for a wavelet band. The energy level P.sub.new is compared with stored energy levels P.sub.stored to identify one of the energy levels P.sub.stored which, when subtracted from energy level P.sub.new, results in a statistically non-significant value. The remaining life of the x-ray source is estimated as being equal to the life expectancy value corresponding to the identified energy level P.sub.stored.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method for estimating remaining life of an operating x-ray source, the x-ray source being at least partially optically aligned with a detector array so that an x-ray beam produced by the x-ray source at least partially impinges on the detector array at an optical focal spot, wherein focal spot spectral parameters P.sub.stored represent optical focal spot energy levels for different x-ray source life expectancy values stored in a look-up table, said method comprising the steps of:

sampling signals I(x,y) representative of the x-ray beam optical focal spot detected by the detector array, where I represents beam intensity and x and y represent beam spot locations in a Cartesian coordinate system;
applying a wavelet transform to the sampled signals I(x,y) to generate at least one energy level P.sub.new for a wavelet band;
comparing energy level P.sub.new with stored energy levels P.sub.stored to identify one of said energy levels P.sub.stored which, when subtracted from energy level P.sub.new, results in a statistically non-significant value;
and
estimating the remaining life of the x-ray source as being equal to the life expectancy value corresponding to the identified energy level P.sub.stored.

2 more elements

A system for estimating remaining life of an operating x-ray source, the x-ray source being at least partially optically aligned with a detector array so that an x-ray beam produced by the x-ray source at least partially impinges on the detector array at an optical focal spot, said system comprising:

a memory element having focal spot spectral parameters P.sub.stored representing optical focal spot energy levels for different life expectancy values stored therein;
and
processor means coupled to said memory element and adapted to perform the operations of:
sampling signals I(x,y) representative of the x-ray beam optical focal spot detected by the detector array, where I represents beam intensity and x and y represent beam spot locations in a Cartesian coordinate system;
applying a wavelet transform to the sampled signals I(x,y) to generate at least one energy level P.sub.new for a wavelet band;
comparing energy level P.sub.new with stored energy levels P.sub.stored to identify one of said energy levels P.sub.stored which, when subtracted from energy level P.sub.new, results in a statistically non-significant value;
and
estimating the remaining life of the x-ray source as being equal to the life expectancy value corresponding to the identified energy level P.sub.stored.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods of determining x-ray tube life

Life of this patent

Systems and methods of determining x-ray tube life

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14