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US 6,185,277 B2Granted
X-ray source having a liquid metal target
AssigneeU.S. Philips Corporation
InventorGeoffrey Harding
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to an X-ray tube having a liquid metal target. The electrons emitted by the electron source (3) enter the liquid metal through a thin window (2) and produce X-rays therein. The liquid metal, having a high atomic number, circulates under the influence of a pump so that the heat produced by the interaction with the electrons in the window and the liquid metal can be dissipated. The heat generated at this area is dissipated by a turbulent flow, thus ensuring effective cooling.
Claims10
An X-ray source comprising:
- an electron source for the emission of electrons,
- a target which emits X-rays in response to the incidence of the electrons and consists of a liquid metal which circulates in the operating condition of the X-ray source, and
- a window which can be traversed by the electrons, is cooled by the liquid metal, and is arranged between the electron source and the target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.