Stationary computed tomography system with compact x ray source assembly

A stationary CT system comprising:

• a plurality of x ray source assemblies, wherein each of said plurality of x ray source assemblies comprises a plurality of respective x ray sources spaced along each of respective annular x ray source assemblies,
• wherein each of said plurality of respective x ray sources comprises, a respective stationary x ray target;
• an electron beam focusing chamber;
• an x ray channel;
• and an electron beam source disposed in a spaced apart relationship with respect to said respective stationary x ray target, and wherein said electron beam focusing chamber comprises a top section and a bottom section disposed in a spaced relationship to one another so as to have a selected cross-sectional profile so as to focus a plurality of electrons emitted from said electron beam source to impinge on said respective stationary x ray target to produce x rays that pass into said x ray channel, the top section further being configured to receive back-scattered electrons generated by the electron beam impact at the respective stationary x ray target and predominantly redirect the back-scattered electrons away from said electron beam source,
• wherein said too section comprises a plurality of grooves to trap a plurality of back-scattered electrons and prevent said plurality of back-scattered electrons from hitting said respective stationary x ray target.

A stationary CT system comprising;

• at least one annular x ray source assembly comprising a plurality of respective x ray sources spaced along said annular x ray source assembly, wherein each of said x ray sources comprises,
• at respective stationary x ray target;
• an electron beam focusing chamber;
• an x ray channel;
• an electron beam source disposed in a spaced apart relationship with respect to said respective stationary x ray target, and wherein said electron beam focusing chamber has a selected cross-sectional profile so as to focus a plurality of electrons emitted from said electron beam source to impinge on said respective stationary x ray target to produce x rays that pass into said x ray channel;
• a vacuum chamber disposed in between said electron beam focusing chamber and an insulating chamber, wherein said insulating chamber houses said electron beam source;
• a radiation window at a pre-defined angular displacement from said respective stationary x ray target and said x ray channel;
• and
• a target substrate attached to said respective stationary x ray target, wherein said target substrate forms a bottom section of said electron beam focusing chamber,
• wherein said selected cross-sectional profile of said electron beam focusing chamber comprises a top section and a bottom section disposed in a spaced relationship to one another, wherein said top section and said bottom section comprise a high thermal conductivity material selected from a group of copper, aluminum, graphite, graphite foams and metal foams of aluminum and copper, wherein the top section further being configured to receive back-scattered electrons generated by the electron beam impact at the respective stationary x ray target and predominantly redirect the back-scattered electrons away from said electron beam source,
• wherein said top section comprises a plurality of grooves to trap a plurality of back-scattered electrons and prevent said plurality of back-scattered electrons from hitting said respective stationary x ray target.