X-ray tube having a unitary vacuum enclosure and housing

An x-ray device comprising:

• a cathode assembly including:
• a cathode housing:
• a cathode for emitting electrons, the cathode being substantially disposed within the cathode housing;
• and
• an anode assembly including:
• an anode housing;
• an anode supported on a mounting ring and shaft, the anode being substantially disposed within the anode housing and positioned to receive electrons emitted by the cathode;
• and
• an adapter plate having first and second sides and attached at least indirectly to the cathode housing and to the anode housing, the adapter plate defining a first hole hermetically sealed on the first side of the adapter plate by the cathode housing, and the adapter plate defining a second hole hermetically sealed on the first side of the adapter plate by the shaft and the mounting ring.

An x-ray device comprising:

• a cathode assembly including:
• a cathode housing:
• a cathode for emitting electrons, the cathode being substantially disposed within the cathode housing;
• a cathode aperture shield;
• and
• an anode assembly including:
• an anode housing;
• an anode substantially disposed within the anode housing and positioned to receive electrons emitted by the cathode and passing through the cathode aperture shield;
• an adapter plate hermetically sealed to the cathode and anode housings and to at least a portion of the anode assembly;
• a cooling system in fluid communication with at least one of:
• the cathode assembly;
• and, the anode assembly;
• and
• shielding disposed proximate a portion of the x-ray device.

An x-ray tube system comprising:

• a cathode housing having disposed therein a cathode assembly, the cathode assembly comprising:
• a filament for emitting electrons;
• an aperture shield disposed about the filament, the aperture shield having an opening defined therein through which electrons emitted by the filament are passed;
• a cathode sleeve having an inlet and an outlet port, the inlet port receiving a cooling fluid;
• at least one passageway formed within the shield, wherein the passageway receives the cooling fluid from the inlet port and discharges the cooling fluid at the outlet port, the cooling fluid thereby absorbing heat from the shield;
• and
• a plurality of adjacent extended cooling surfaces that are disposed about the outer periphery of the shield, and wherein the inlet port directs at least a portion of the cooling fluid passed through the passageway formed within the shield to flow across the surface of the fins, and thereby increase the rate of heat transferred from the shield to the cooling fluid;
• an anode housing having partially disposed therein an anode assembly, the anode assembly comprising:
• a rotary anode having a substrate upon which is disposed a target surface for receiving electrons emitted by the filament;
• a support shaft for supporting the rotary anode;
• a bearing assembly rotatably interconnecting the rotary anode and the support shaft;
• and
• at least one fluid passageway defined in the anode housing for allowing a cooling fluid to pass through and thereby absorb heat from at least a portion of the anode housing, wherein the fluid passageway defined in the anode housing receives the cooling fluid from the outlet port of the cathode sleeve;
• an adapter plate attached to both the cathode assembly and the anode housing to form a vacuum enclosure therewith, the adapter comprising:
• a first side, a second side, and a circumferential edge;
• a first hole defined through the adapter plate for receiving a portion of the cathode assembly, the aperture of the cathode assembly being aligned with the first hole such that electrons emitted by the filament may pass through the first hole;
• a second hole defined through the adapter plate, the second hole having disposed therein a sleeve for receiving a portion of the support shaft of the anode assembly;
• a circular cavity defined on the second side of the adapter plate that defines a volume in which a portion of the rotary anode is disposed;
• a tunnel defined from the circumferential edge of the adapter plate to the inner surface of the circular cavity;
• and
• a window disposed at the outer end of the tunnel;
• and
• a fluid circulation system for circulating a cooling fluid through the fluid passageways of the cathode assembly and the anode housing.

An x-ray device comprising:

• a cathode assembly including:
• a cathode housing:
• a cathode for emitting electrons, the cathode being substantially disposed within the cathode housing;
• and
• an anode assembly including:
• an anode housing:
• an anode supported on a mounting ring and shaft, the anode being substantially disposed within the anode housing and positioned to receive electrons emitted by the cathode;
• and
• an adapter plate having first and second sides and attached at least indirectly to the cathode housing and to the anode housing, the adapter plate defining a first hole hermetically sealed on the first side of the adapter plate by the cathode housing, and the adapter plate defining a second hole hermetically sealed on the first side of the adapter plate by the shaft and the mounting ring, the adapter plate further defining a tunnel having an outer end through which at least some x-rays, generated as a result of the impact on the anode of electrons emitted by the cathode, pass.