US 5,682,412 AGranted

X-ray source

AssigneeCardiac Mariners, Inc.

InventorsBrian Skillicorn, George H. Fellingham, Peter E. Loeffler

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Abstract

The x-ray source of the present invention comprises a charged particle beam generator and a vacuum enclosure assembly. The charged particle beam generator includes only a single electrical connection for providing high voltage to the electron gun. The power for the active circuits in the high voltage terminal of the charged particle beam generator is provided by a unique isolation transformer that has minimal losses and generates controlled magnetic flux. The generated charged particle beam is controlled through a series of dynamic and static focus coils and moved across the inner face of the target by a stepping coil assembly comprising x and y deflection coils as well as an x step and preferably a y step coil. Further, to minimize power usage, a control grid pinches off the charged particle beam during the stepping of the beam.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An x-ray source comprising a charged particle beam generator and a vacuum envelope assembly;

said charged particle beam generator comprising an outer casing, a high-voltage terminal and an electron gun;
said high-voltage terminal comprising electronic components to power said electron gun;
said vacuum envelope assembly comprising an outer casing, charged particle beam focussing means for focussing an electron beam generated by said charged particle beam generator, a target, and charged particle beam deflection means for deflecting said electron beam in a step pattern at said target;
said target operated at ground potential;
said charged particle beam deflection means comprising a beam controller, a fast deflection yoke and a slow deflection yoke, said beam controller having current outputs comprising an x-deflection current and an x-step current;
said x-deflection current having a triangular waveform with a non-zero substantially constant slope during the period of time it takes said electron beam to travel across the face of said target;
said x-step current comprising a waveform having a plurality of substantially sawtoothed shapes during the period of time it takes said electron beam to travel across the face of said target;
said slow deflection yoke comprising x-deflection coils and y-deflection coils, said x-deflection coils operably coupled to said beam controller and having an input electrically coupled to said x-deflection current;
said fast deflection yoke comprising x-step deflection coils operably coupled to said beam controller, said x-step deflection coils having lower inductance than said x-deflection coils and said y-deflection coils, said x-step deflection coils having an input electrically coupled to said x-step current.

6 more elements

An x-ray source comprising a charged particle beam generator and a vacuum envelope assembly;

said charged particle beam generator comprising an outer casing, a high-voltage terminal and an electron gun;
said high-voltage terminal comprising electronic components to power said electron gun;
said vacuum envelope assembly comprising an outer casing, a target, charged particle beam focussing means for focussing an electron beam generated by said charged particle beam generator, charged particle beam deflection means for deflecting said electron beam in a step pattern at said target, and a collimator, said target operated at ground potential;
said collimator comprising a plurality of rows and columns of x-ray transmissive apertures;
said charged particle beam deflection means comprising a beam controller, a fast deflection yoke and a slow deflection yoke, said beam controller having as its output control signals comprising an x-deflection signal and an x-step signal, said x-deflection signal comprising a waveform having a non-zero substantially constant slope when said electron beam is positioned along said target adjacent to a single row of said plurality of rows of apertures on said collimator, said x-step signal having a waveform with a plurality of periodic sawtooth shapes when said electron beam is positioned along said target adjacent to a single row of said plurality of rows of apertures on said collimator;
said slow deflection yoke comprising x-deflection coils and y-deflection coils, said x-deflection coils coupled to said x-deflection signal;
said fast deflection yoke comprising x-step deflection coils, said x-step deflection coils coupled to said x-step signal and having lower inductance than said x-deflection coils and said y-deflection coils.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/717,611Filed 20 Sep 1996 · continuation
Priority: 5 Apr 1993
Granted: 28 Oct 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

A61B 6/4488
Constructional features of apparatus for radiation diagnosis: means for cooling
A61B 6/06
Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment: diaphragms
A61B 6/12
Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment: arrangements…
A61B 6/4028
Involving movement of the focal spot: resulting in acquisition of views from substantially different positions, e.g. EBCT