Anode assembly for an x-ray tube
AssigneeXoft, Inc.
InventorsThomas W. Rusch, Peter C. Smith, Steven D. Hansen, Paul A. Lovoi, Donald G. Pellinen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A miniature x-ray tube has an anode assembly capable of transmitting x-rays through the anode and over a wide angular range. The anode is in the shape of a cone or truncated cone with an axis on the x-ray tube frame axis, formed of low-Z material with high thermal conductivity for heat dissipation. A target material on the anode body is in a thin layer, which may be approximately 0.5 to 5 microns thick. In one embodiment a tube evacuation exhaust port at the tail end of the anode assembly forms a cavity for a getter, with a pinched-off tubulation at the end of the cavity.
Claims67
An x-ray tube assembly, comprising:
- a tube frame having an internal cavity defining a portion of the x-ray tube, assembly,
- a cathode assembly at one end of the tube frame for emitting electrons,
- an anode assembly at an opposite end of the tube frame, the anode assembly including an anode body having an internal cavity, a first end of the anode body being sealed together with said opposite end of the tube frame to form a completed x-ray tube cavity, and a second end of the anode body being formed with a conical internal surface generally coaxial with the tube frame,
- an x-ray generating target coated onto the conical internal surface, and
- the x-ray tube assembly having an external diameter not greater than 10 mm.
An x-ray tube assembly, comprising:
- a tube frame having an internal cavity defining a portion of the x-ray tube assembly,
- a cathode assembly at one end of the tube frame for emitting electrons,
- an anode assembly at an opposite end of the tube frame, the anode assembly being integrally formed in one piece with the tube frame as one integral body and having a conical internal surface generally coaxial with the tube frame,
- an x-ray generating target coated onto the conical internal surface, and
- the x-ray tube assembly having an external diameter not greater than 10 mm.
An x-ray tube assembly, comprising:
- a tube frame having an internal cavity defining a portion of the x-ray tube assembly,
- a cathode assembly at one end of the tube frame for emitting electrons,
- a tubulation assembly being sealed together with an opposite end of the tube frame to provide exhaust, the tubulation assembly having two ends, an end adjacent to the tube frame and an end opposite the tube frame,
- an anode assembly adjacent to the tubulation assembly at said end opposite the tube frame, the anode assembly including an anode body having an internal cavity, a first end of the anode body being sealed together with said end of the tubulation assembly opposite the tube frame to form a completed x-ray tube cavity, and a second end of the anode body being formed with a conical internal surface generally coaxial with the tube frame, and
- an x-ray generating target coated onto the conical internal surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.