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US 6,487,274 B2Granted
X-ray target assembly and radiation therapy systems and methods
AssigneeSiemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
InventorKirk Joseph Bertsche
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-region target that is configured to selectively generate two different energy distributions when exposed to an excitation electron beam is described. The multi-region target includes multiple regions with different x-ray generating characteristics. Thus, the interaction between an excitation electron beam and the target generates an x-ray beam with an energy distribution that depends upon which target region is exposed to the excitation electron beam. The different x-ray spectra may be used to produce an enhanced contrast x-ray image. A method of detecting the rotational position of the multi-region target based upon the contrast level of the resulting images also is described.
Claims22
A target assembly, comprising:
- a target having
- a surface exposed to receive an excitation beam along an expected beam path including at least first and second non-overlapping beam path portions,
- a first region operable to generate substantial x-radiation characterized by a first energy distribution in response to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface along the first beam path portion, and
- a second region operable to generate substantial x-radiation characterized by a second energy distribution different from the first energy distribution in response to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface along the second beam path portion;
- and
- a cooling mechanism coupled to the first and second regions of the target.
3 more elements
A target assembly, comprising:
- a target having
- an exposed surface,
- a first region comprising a first x-ray generating characteristic, and
- a second region laterally displaced from the first region with respect to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface and comprising a second x-ray generating characteristic that is different from the first x-ray generating characteristic;
- and
- a cooling mechanism coupled to the first and second regions of the target, wherein the cooling mechanism includes a target holder configured to support the target for rotation and to expose the target to a cooling fluid stream, whereby the target rotates about an axis of rotation upon exposure to the cooling fluid stream.
3 more elements
A radiation therapy system, comprising:
- a source of an electron beam;
- and
- a target positioned to intercept the electron beam and having
- a surface exposed to receive an excitation beam along an expected beam path including at least first and second non-overlapping beam path portions,
- a first region operable to generate substantial x-radiation characterized by a first energy distribution in response to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface along the first beam path portion, and
- a second region operable to generate substantial x-radiation characterized by a second energy distribution different from the first energy distribution in response to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface along the second beam path portion.
3 more elements
A radiation therapy system, comprising:
- a source of an electron beam;
- a target positioned to intercept the electron beam and having an exposed surface, a first region comprising a first x-ray generating characteristic, and a second region laterally displaced from the first region with respect to an electron beam incident upon the exposed surface and comprising a second x-ray generating characteristic that is different from the first x-ray generating characteristic;
- and
- a computer configured to identify images produced from x-rays generated by the first target region and to identify images produced from x-rays generated by the second target region, wherein the computer is configured to identify images based upon image contrast.
1 more element
A radiation therapy method, comprising:
- generating an electron beam;
- and
- positioning to intercept the electron beam a target having
- a surface exposed to receive an excitation beam along an expected beam path including at least first and second non-overlapping beam path portions,
- a first region operable to generate substantial x-radiation characterized by a first energy distribution in response to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface along the first beam path portion, and
- a second region operable to generate substantial x-radiation characterized by a second energy distribution different from the first energy distribution in response to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface along the second beam path portion.
3 more elements
A radiation therapy method, comprising:
- generating an electron beam;
- positioning to intercept the electron beam a target having an exposed surface, a first region comprising a first x-ray generating characteristic, and a second region laterally displaced from the first region with respect to an electron beam incident upon the exposed surface and comprising a second x-ray generating characteristic that is different from the first x-ray generating characteristic;
- generating images from x-rays generated by exposing the target to the electron beam;
- identifying images produced from x-rays generated by the first target region;
- and
- identifying images produced from x-rays generated by the second target region,
- wherein images are identified based upon image contrast.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.