Air cooled end-window metal-ceramic X-ray tube for lower power XRF applications
AssigneeVarian Medical Systems, Inc.
InventorRobert C. Treseder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An X-ray tube device and a method for construction thereof which provides the cathode assembly and the anode assembly in a nose of the X-ray tube, wherein an emitter face of each assembly is directed toward an X-ray emission end thereof. The electrons emitted from the cathode assembly travel along a path outward until striking the anode assembly which then generates the X-rays which are directed toward a beryllium window in the X-ray tube. This advantageous structure enables the anode-to-window distance to be small, resulting in a large X-ray flux towards a sample. Furthermore, the small nose of the X-ray tube enables a fluorescence detector to be positioned in an optimal location because the X-ray tube's shape does not displace the fluorescence detector.
Claims20
An X-ray tube which is configured so as to minimize a width thereof by providing a first cathode assembly and an anode assembly which are disposed therein so as to provide a structure which enables the emission of X-rays from the anode assembly which is disposed adjacent to an X-ray emissions end-window, said X-ray tube comprising:
- the X-ray emissions end-window which is disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the X-ray tube;
- the first cathode assembly having an electron emission face for generating a plurality of electrons therefrom and a cathode axis being perpendicular relative to the electron emission face and being disposed at about forty five degree angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the X-Ray tube, such that an exterior sidewall of the X-ray tube which is adjacent to the first cathode assembly circumscribes a truncated cone to thereby minimize the spatial dimensions of a nose of the X-ray tube, wherein the electron emission face is directed towards the X-ray emissions end-window;
- and
- the anode assembly for receiving the plurality of electrons, and generating as a result thereof a plurality of X-rays from an X-ray emission face which is directed towards the X-ray emissions end-window, and wherein the anode assembly is disposed adjacent to the X-ray emissions end-window.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.