X-ray target assembly and radiation therapy systems and methods
First Claim
1. A target assembly, comprising:
- a target having an exposed surface, a first region comprising a first x-ray generating characteristic, and a second region laterally displaced from the first region with respect to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface and comprising a second x-ray generating characteristic that is different from the first x-ray generating characteristic; and
a cooling mechanism coupled to the first and second regions of the target.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-region target that is configured to selectively generate two different energy distributions when exposed to an excitation electron beam is described. The multi-region target includes multiple regions with different x-ray generating characteristics. Thus, the interaction between an excitation electron beam and the target generates an x-ray beam with an energy distribution that depends upon which target region is exposed to the excitation electron beam. The different x-ray spectra may be used to produce an enhanced contrast x-ray image. A method of detecting the rotational position of the multi-region target based upon the contrast level of the resulting images also is described.
30 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A target assembly, comprising:
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a target having an exposed surface, a first region comprising a first x-ray generating characteristic, and a second region laterally displaced from the first region with respect to an excitation beam incident upon the exposed surface and comprising a second x-ray generating characteristic that is different from the first x-ray generating characteristic; and
a cooling mechanism coupled to the first and second regions of the target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A radiation therapy system, comprising:
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a source of an electron beam; and
a target positioned to intercept the electron beam and having an exposed surface, a first region comprising a first x-ray generating characteristic, and a second region laterally displaced from the first region with respect to an electron beam incident upon the exposed surface and comprising a second x-ray generating characteristic that is different from the first x-ray generating characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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18. A radiation therapy method, comprising:
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generating an electron beam; and
positioning to intercept the electron beam a target having an exposed surface, a first region comprising a first x-ray generating characteristic, and a second region laterally displaced from the first region with respect to an electron beam incident upon the exposed surface and comprising a second x-ray generating characteristic that is different from the first x-ray generating characteristic.
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Specification