Radiation emission device and method

• US 20030043966A1
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company LLC (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dahan, Frederic, Le Pennec, Xavier, Blin, Philippe
• Granted Patent: US 6,879,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/138
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2235/08 Targets (anodes) and X-ray converters
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 35/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/00 X-ray apparatus involving X-ray tubes; Circuits therefor

Abstract

An X-ray emission device and method for a radiology apparatus comprises a cathode and a rotating anode, the anode being provided with a roughly cylindrical surface. The device forms a beam of electrons that bombards a portion of the roughly cylindrical surface of the anode that constitutes the focal point of emission of the X-rays. The position of the focal point of the anode relative to a reference position is dynamically controlled.

Claims

1. A radiation emission device comprising:

(a) a cathode;

(b) a rotating anode;

(c) the anode being provided with a surface;

(d) the device being capable of forming a beam of electrons that bombards a portion of surface of the anode which constitutes the focal point of emission of the radiation; and

(e) means for dynamically controlling the position of the focal point of the anode relative to a reference position.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for dynamically controlling comprises means for control of the position of the focal point in a radial plane.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for dynamically controlling include means for control of the distance between the focal point and the cathode.

4. The device according to claim 2 wherein the means for dynamically controlling include means for control of the distance between the focal point and the cathode.

5. The device according to claim 1 comprising:

means for detection of the position of the focal point of the anode.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for detection comprises a means for measurement of a radial distance between an organ of detection and the surface of the anode.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for detection of the position of the focal point is radially distant from the focal point of the anode.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein the means for detection of the position of the focal point is placed diametrically opposite the focal point of the anode.

9. The device according to claim 1 comprising means for controlling the position of the anode.

10. The device according to claim 9 wherein the means for controlling the position the anode along a first radial axis, while maintaining the position of the anode along a second radial axis perpendicular to the first radial axis.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein the anode is rotary-mounted on a support by means of a magnetic bearing.

12. The device according to claim 10 comprising means for control of the magnetic bearing.

13. The device according to claim 1 comprising means for angular indexing of the anode in relation to a support.

14. A method of radiation emission in a device comprising a cathode and a rotating anode, the anode being provided with a surface and the device forming a beam of electrons that bombards a portion of the surface of the anode which constitutes the focal point of emission of the radiation, in which the position of the focal point of the anode is controlled relative to a reference position.

15. An article of manufacture comprising:

(a) a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing dynamic control of the position of a focal point of an anode in a radiation emission device comprising;

(b) a computer readable program code means for causing a computer to detect the focal point;

(c) a computer readable program control means for causing a computer to elaborate a control signal for dynamically controlling the position of the focal point relative to a reference position as a function of a signal provided by the detection of the focal point.

16. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium according to claim 15.

17. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for dynamically controlling a position of a focal point of an anode in a radiation emission device, the method steps comprising:

(a) detecting a signal for the angular index of the anode relative to a support;

(b) detecting the position of the focal point of the anode;

(c) calculating the distance between the focal point and a reference position; and

(d) elaborating a control signal from the position of the support and from the position of the focal point of the anode relative to the reference position.