Apparatus and method for improved transient response in an electromagnetically controlled x-ray tube

An x-ray tube assembly comprising:

• a housing having a vacuum formed therein, the housing comprising:
• a cathode portion;
• a target portion;
• and
• a throat portion coupling the cathode portion to the target portion, the throat portion comprising a metal wall having a pattern of slits formed therein;
• and
• a target positioned in the target portion of the housing;
• and
• a cathode positioned in the cathode portion of the housing to direct a stream of electrons toward the target through the throat portion.

An imaging system comprising:

• a rotatable gantry having an opening therein for receiving an object to be scanned;
• a table positioned within the opening of the rotatable gantry and moveable through the opening;
• an x-ray tube coupled to the rotatable gantry, the x-ray tube comprising:
• a vacuum chamber comprising:
• a target portion housing a target;
• a cathode portion housing a cathode;
• and
• a throat portion comprising a first magnetic field section susceptible to eddy current generation, wherein the first magnetic field section has a first plurality of recesses formed therein, and wherein the throat portion forms a passageway between the cathode portion and the target portion for a stream of electrons emitted from the cathode;
• and
• a first electron manipulation coil configured to generate a first magnetic field within the throat portion to manipulate the stream of electrons therein, the first electron manipulation coil mounted on the x-ray tube and aligned with the first magnetic field section of the throat portion such that the first plurality of recesses break up eddy currents generated by the first magnetic field.