Field emitter X-ray source and system and method thereof

A method of generating X-rays, comprising:

• creating a vacuum in a vacuum chamber;
• applying an electric current to a field emitter array disposed in the vacuum chamber to emit electrons;
• receiving the emitted electrons on an anode to produce X-ray radiation that is emitted from the vacuum chamber, operation of the field emitter array and anode resulting in deposition of contaminants on the field emitter array;
• introducing a cleaning gas into the vacuum chamber to contact the field emitter array to remove the contaminants from the field emitter array;
• and
• evacuating the chamber to remove the cleaning gas from the chamber.

A method of generating X-rays, comprising:

• disposing a field emitter array having a plurality of field emitter in a vacuum chamber, wherein the field emitter array is configured to emit electrons;
• disposing an anode in the vacuum chamber for receiving the electrons emitted by the field emitter array, wherein the anode is configured to generate X-rays;
• coupling a vacuum system to the vacuum chamber, wherein the vacuum system is configured to create a vacuum inside the vacuum chamber;
• and
• coupling a clean gas source to the vacuum chamber, wherein the clean gas source provides cleaning gas to the vacuum chamber towards the field emitter array to reduce deposition of contaminants on or to clean contaminants from the field emitter array;
• wherein the vacuum system is configured to evacuate the chamber after introduction of cleaning gas to remove the cleaning gas from the chamber after cleaning.

An X-ray imaging system comprising:

• an X-ray source configured to emit X-rays, the X-ray source comprising:
• a field emitter array having a plurality of field emitter elements disposed in a vacuum chamber and configured to emit electrons in the vacuum chamber towards an anode assembly;
• an anode disposed in the vacuum chamber for receiving the electrons emitted by the field emitter array and configured to thereby generate X-ray radiation;
• and
• a source of cleaning gas coupled to the vacuum chamber, wherein the source of cleaning gas is configured to provide the cleaning gas to the vacuum chamber towards the field emitter array to reduce deposition of contaminants on or to clean contaminates from the field emitter array;
• and
• a vacuum pump configured to create a vacuum inside the vacuum chamber following introduction of the cleaning gas to evacuate the vacuum charger;
• and
• an X-ray detector configured to receive the X-rays and generate signals capable of processing to form an image of a subject of interest.