# US 9,517,041 B2 · X-ray tube > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,041 B2 - Document ID: US9517041B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/489,538 - Filed: 2014-09-18 - Published: 2015-03-19 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-05 - Assignees: ControlRad Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Controlrad Systems Inc. - Inventors: Haim Zvi Melman; Allon Guez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517041B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/469: {for selecting a region of interest [ROI]} - A61B 6/06: Diaphragms - A61B 6/107: {Protection against radiation, e.g. shielding} - A61B 6/4007: {characterised by using a plurality of source units} - A61B 6/4028: {resulting in acquisition of views from substantially different positions, e.g. EBCT} - A61B 6/467: {characterised by special input means} - A61B 6/542: {involving control of exposure} - G21K 1/02: using diaphragms, collimators - A61B 2017/00216: {with eye tracking or head position tracking control} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G21K: HANDLING OF PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES ## Abstract An x-ray system comprising: at least one x-ray tube assembly; a collimator; an image detector; a monitor; means for determining the location of a Region of Interest (ROI) of a patient on said displayed image; a first controller; an image processing unit configured to modify the detected image for display on said monitor according to the image parts in said ROI; each x-ray tube assembly comprising a plurality of cathodes; and at least one anode; a second controller configured to control operating parameters of each one of said at least one x-ray tube assembly, said parameters comprising at least one collision location of electrons emitted from said plurality of cathodes on said at least one anode in reference to said collimator aperture; and means for controlling the directions of emitted x-ray beams. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An x-ray system comprising: at least one x-ray tube assembly; a collimator forming an aperture; an image detector; a monitor configured to display detected images; means for determining the location of at least one Region of Interest (ROI) comprising image parts of a patient on said displayed image; a first controller connected with said means for determining the location of said at least one ROI; an image processing unit connected with said image detector, said monitor and said first controller, said image processing unit configured to modify the detected image for display on said monitor according to the image parts in said at least one ROI; each x-ray tube assembly comprising a plurality of cathodes; and at least one anode; a second controller connected with said first controller and with said at least one x-ray tube assembly, said second controller configured to control operating parameters of each one of said at least one x-ray tube assembly, said parameters comprising at least one collision location of electrons emitted from said plurality of cathodes on said at least one anode in reference to said collimator aperture; and means for controlling the directions of emitted x-ray beams. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The x-ray system of claim 1, wherein said means for controlling the directions of emitted x-ray beams are selected from the group consisting of at least one electromagnetic device and at least one mechanical actuator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The x-ray system of claim 2, wherein said at least one mechanical actuator is selected from the group consisting of: electric motors, pneumatic actuators and piezoelectric actuators. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The x-ray system of claim 2, wherein said second controller is configured to selectively deploy at least one of: said at least one electromagnetic device, said at least one mechanical actuator and each one of said plurality of cathodes' current for determining said at least one collision location. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The x-ray system of claim 4, wherein each one of said plurality of cathodes' current equals to a total current divided by the number of said plurality of cathodes and wherein said electron beams are directed to the same collision location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The x-ray system of claim 4, wherein said selectively deploying comprises deploying at least one of said at least one electromagnetic device and said at least one mechanical actuator according to movement angles required by said at least one ROI. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The x-ray system of claim 2, wherein said collimator is configured to form an aperture limiting a solid angle of an x-ray beam emitted from each of said at least one anode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The x-ray system of claim 7, wherein a current in each of the electromagnetic devices is set to control a direction of said solid angle of each of said x-ray beams. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The x-ray system of claim 7, wherein said aperture is movable in a plane generally parallel to a surface of the collimator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The x-ray system of claim 9, wherein said first controller is further configured to calculate a location and size of said collimator aperture according to said determined locations of the at least one ROI. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The x-ray system of claim 7, wherein said collimator is movable in a plane generally perpendicular to a surface of the collimator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The x-ray system of claim 1, wherein said means for determining the location of said at least one ROI comprise at least one eye tracker. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The x-ray system of claim 1, wherein said first controller is further configured to calculate collision locations of electrons emitted from the plurality of cathodes on the at least one anode according to said determined locations of said at least one ROI. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The x-ray system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of cathodes and at least one anode are encapsulated in a single x-ray tube assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The x-ray system of claim 1, wherein said at least one anode comprises a plurality of anodes. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The x-ray system of claim 15, wherein said at least one x-ray tube assembly comprises a plurality of x-ray tube assemblies. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The x-ray system of claim 16, wherein said plurality of cathodes and said plurality of anodes are encapsulated in said plurality of x-ray tube assemblies wherein each x-ray tube assembly comprises at least one anode and at least one cathode.