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US 6,993,115 B2Granted
Forward X-ray generation
OwnerEdward L. McGuire, Mario A. Lecceinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
X-ray generator devices and methods for operating the same that utilizes anodes comprising thin cylinders to generate characteristic X-ray spectra, which emerges from the cylinders axially, as an intense beam.
Claims16
An apparatus for generating high intensity X-rays of a characteristic line spectra comprising:
- a source for generating a focused beam of electrons;
- and
- a plurality of X-ray anodes, each in the form of a capillary tube having a bore, an interior surface of the bore comprising a metallic tube layer with a thickness of 10–1000 atomic layers;
- wherein the plurality of X-ray anodes include at least a first linear row of anodes and a second linear row of anodes, the metallic tube layer of each anode of the first linear row comprising a first metallic material and the metallic tubular of each anode of the second linear row comprising a second metallic material, the first metallic material being different than the second metallic material.
1 more element
An apparatus for generating high intensity X-rays comprising:
- a source for generating a focused beam of electrons;
- at least one first X-ray anode and at least one second X-ray anode, each of the first and second X-ray anodes being in the form of an interior surface of a metallic tube, the metallic tube of the first X-ray anode comprising a first material, and the metallic tube of the second X-ray anode comprising a second material, the second material being different from the first material;
- and
- an electron beam deflector adapted to selectively deflect the focused beam of electrons to one of the first X-ray anode and the second X-ray anode;
- wherein the at least one first X-ray anode comprises a plurality of first X-ray anodes and the at least one second X-ray anode comprises a plurality of second X-ray anodes;
- and
- wherein the electron beam deflector is adapted to deflect the electron beam to (i) one of the plurality of first X-ray anodes and the plurality of second X-ray anodes exclusively and (ii) at least one first X-ray anode and at least one second X-ray anode simultaneously.
4 more elements
A method of generating a highly directional beam of X-ray radiation, the method comprising:
- directing a high energy electron beam from an electron beam generator into first ends of a first linear array of capillary tube anodes, each capillary tube anode of the first linear array of capillary tube anodes comprising a cylindrical metal tube having a thin wall thickness;
- creating X-ray radiation as a result of grazing collisions with the interior surface of the metal tubes of the first linear array of capillary tube anodes;
- directing a beam of X-ray radiation having essentially a characteristic line spectrum related to a specific metal utilized in the metal tubes of the first linear array of capillary tube anodes down the metal tubes and out of second ends of the capillary tube anodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.