US 8,265,227 B2Granted

Apparatus and method for calibrating an X-ray tube

AssigneeGeneral Electric Company

InventorsJohn Moore Boudry, Sergio Lemaitre, Naveen Chandra

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for calibrating an x-ray tube include a computer programmed to acquire a starter voltage/current value corresponding to a width, a length, or a position of a target focal spot capable of being generated by the x-ray tube. The computer is programmed to generate an electron beam and to steer the electron beam based on the starter voltage/current value. The computer is also programmed to steer the electron beam based on a value adjusted from the starter voltage/current value. The computer is programmed to calculate a final voltage/current value that is configured to generate the width, length, or position of the target focal spot based on the starter voltage/current value and the adjusted starter voltage/current value.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

an x-ray tube comprising:
an anode;
a cathode configured to emit electrons toward the anode;
and
a plurality of electrodes configured to steer the electrons;
a first generator coupled to the anode, to the cathode, and to the plurality of electrodes, the first generator configured to:
generate a voltage differential between the cathode and the anode such that a current flows from the cathode to the anode;
and
supply a respective voltage to each of the plurality of electrodes to control at least one of a size and a position of a focal spot of the electrons on the anode;
and
a computer programmed to:
determine a first starter voltage value for a first set of the plurality of electrodes, the first starter voltage value comprising a pre-determined voltage value for the first set of the plurality of electrodes and corresponding to one of a width, a length, and a position of a target focal spot determined using a second generator different from the first generator;
cause the first generator to generate the voltage differential between the cathode and the anode;
apply a first electrode voltage to the first set of the plurality of electrodes, the first electrode voltage based on the first starter voltage value;
adjust the first electrode voltage and apply the adjusted first electrode voltage to the first set of the plurality of electrodes;
and
calculate a first final electrode voltage configured to generate the one of a width, a length, and a position of the target focal spot using the first final electrode voltage applied to the first set of the plurality of electrodes and using the first generator, the calculation based on the first electrode voltage and the adjusted first electrode voltage.

14 more elements

A method comprising:

acquiring a first voltage value for a first set of electrodes of an x-ray tube, the first voltage value comprising a voltage value determined by a first generator to steer an electron beam emitting between a cathode of the x-ray tube and an anode of the x-ray tube to one of a pre-determined size and a pre-determined position such that a desired focal spot of the electron beam on the anode is created;
energizing the cathode and anode via a second generator to create a voltage differential therebetween, the second generator different from the first generator;
calculating a first electrode voltage based on the first voltage value;
applying the first electrode voltage to the first set of electrodes via the second generator;
calculating a second electrode voltage based on the first voltage value;
applying the second electrode voltage to the first set of electrodes via the second generator;
and
calculating a first final electrode voltage configured to generate a focal spot at the one of a pre-determined size and a pre-determined position using the first final electrode voltage applied to the first set of electrodes and using the second generator, wherein calculating comprises calculating the first final electrode voltage based on the first electrode voltage and the second electrode voltage.

5 more elements

A computer readable storage medium having stored thereon a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

acquire a first current value for a first set of coils of an x-ray tube, the first current value comprising a current value determined by a first generator to steer an electron beam generated via a cathode of the x-ray tube at a first voltage and at a first current to a first desired focal spot size on an anode of the x-ray tube;
cause a second generator to energize the cathode and anode such that the electron beam at the first voltage and at the first current is created, the second generator different from the first generator;
cause the second generator to apply a first coil current to the first set of coils via the second generator, the first coil current based on the first current value;
cause acquisition of a first set of x-ray data via a detector;
cause the second generator to apply a second coil current to the first set of coils via the second generator, the second coil current based on an iterative adjustment of one of the first current value, the first coil current, and a first previous iterative adjustment coil current;
cause acquisition of a second set of x-ray data via the detector;
and
determine a third coil current based on the first and second sets of x-ray data, the third coil current configured to cause the second generator to generate the first desired focal spot size.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.