Systems and methods for X-ray imaging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10455678-B2
Application number	US-201715636727-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2017
Priority date	May 23, 2017
Publication date	Oct 22, 2019
Grant date	Oct 22, 2019

Abstract

A system and method for generating X-rays are disclosed. The method may include emitting an electron beam from a cathode to a focal track of a rotating target. The method may further include deflecting the electron beam onto a first region of the focal track at a first time, and deflecting the electron beam onto a second region of the focal track at a second time. The first region of the focal track may be separated from the second region of the focal track. The method may further include generating X-rays in response to the electron beam deflected onto the first region of the focal track or onto the second region of the focal track.

First claim

We claim:

1. An imaging device, comprising:
a cathode configured to generate an electron beam;
an anode including a rotating target, the rotating target having a focal track and configured to rotate around an axis along a direction, the anode configured to generate X-rays in response to the electron beam impinging on the focal track of the rotating target; and
a deflection device configured to:
deflect the electron beam onto a first region of the focal track at a first time; and
deflect the electron beam onto a second region of the focal track at a second time, wherein the first region of the focal track is separated from the second region of the focal track, and a distance between the first region of the focal track and the second region of the focal track along the direction is a half integer multiple of a dimension of a detector cell that is configured to detect the X-rays.

2. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises a tungsten filament configured to produce the electron beam.

3. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the focal track is composed of tungsten-rhenium.

4. The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum enclosure between the anode and the cathode, and in the vacuum enclosure there is a potential voltage to accelerate the electron beam.

5. The imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the deflection device provides a magnetic field or an electric field configured to deflect the electron beam.

6. The imaging device of claim 5 , wherein the magnetic field is generated by a quadrupole or a dipole.

7. The imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising a cooling device configured to absorb heat generated by the anode.

8. A method, comprising:
emitting an electron beam from a cathode to a focal track of a rotating target, the rotating target configured to rotate around an axis along a direction;
deflecting the electron beam onto a first region of the focal track at a first time;
deflecting the electron beam onto a second region of the focal track at a second time, wherein the first region of the focal track is separated from the second region of the focal track; and
generating X-rays in response to the electron beam deflected onto the first region of the focal track or onto the second region of the focal track, wherein a distance between the first region of the focal track and the second region of the focal track along the direction is a half integer multiple of a dimension of a detector cell that is configured to detect the X-rays.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the deflecting the electron beam onto the first region or the second region of the focal track is realized by applying one or more magnetic field between the cathode and the rotating target.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
generating a dipole field between the cathode and the rotating target; and
deflecting the electron beam onto the first region or the second region of the focal track by changing the dipole field.

11. An imaging system, comprising:
a gantry having a scanning hole extending along a direction;
an X-ray tube located on the gantry, the X-ray tube including:
a cathode configured to generate an electron beam;
an anode including a rotating target, the rotating target having a focal track and configured to rotate around an axis along the direction, the anode configured to generate X-rays in response to the electron beam impinging on the focal track of the rotating target; and
a deflection device configured to deflect the electron beam onto one or more regions of the focal track along the direction, wherein the first region of the focal track is separated from the second region of the focal track, and a distance between two of the one or more regions of the focal track along the direction is a half integer multiple of a dimension of a detector cell that is configured to detect the X-rays.

12. The imaging system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more regions includes a first region and a second region of the focal track, wherein the electron beam is deflected onto the first region at a first time, and deflected onto the second region at a second time.

13. The imaging system of claim 11 , wherein the direction is along a rotational axis of the rotating target.

14. The imaging system of claim 11 , wherein the deflection device includes deflection electrodes or an electric device that includes two parts located apart from each other along a second direction perpendicular to the direction, and at least a portion of the X-ray tube passes through a channel between the two parts.

Assignees

• Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare Co Ltd

Inventors

• Zhang Xi
• Kling Patrick
• Zou Yun
• Zamyatin Alexander

Classifications

• H01J35/305

  by using a rotating X-ray tube in conjunction therewith · CPC title

• H01J35/105

  Cooling of rotating anodes, e.g. heat emitting layers or structures · CPC title

• H05G1/38

  Exposure time {(time switches in general H01H43/00 and subgroups)} · CPC title

• H01J35/08

  Anodes; Anti cathodes · CPC title

• H05G1/70

  Circuit arrangements for X-ray tubes with more than one anode; Circuit arrangements for apparatus comprising more than one X ray tube {or more than one cathode (H05G1/58 takes precedence)} · CPC title