Integrated X-ray source module

• US 20050018817A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Newton Scientific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Inpho, Inc.
• Inventors: Shefer, Ruth E., Klinkowstein, Robert E., Feda, Francis M., Oettinger, Peter E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,448,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/203
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/06 X-ray tube and at least part of the power supply apparatus being mounted within the same housing
• CPC Class Codes: H05G 1/10 Power supply arrangements for feeding the X-ray tube supply circuits with converters in general H02M; supply circuits for emitters and amplifiers H04B1/16 - H04B1/1623

Abstract

Described is a self-contained, small, lightweight, power-efficient and radiation-shielded module that includes a miniature vacuum X-ray tube emitting X-rays of a controlled intensity and defined spectrum. Feedback control circuits are used to monitor and maintain the beam current and voltage. The X-ray tube, high-voltage power supply, and the resonant converter are encapsulated in a solid high-voltage insulating material. The module can be configured into complex geometries and can be powered by commercially available small, compact, low-voltage batteries.

Claims

1. A radiation-shielded X-ray module comprising:

an X-ray tube that emits X-rays;

a high voltage power supply coupled to said X-ray tube that supplies a high voltage for use with said X-ray tube; and

electrical connection that connects the X-ray tube to the high voltage power supply, wherein the X-ray tube, the high voltage power supply and the electrical connection are encapsulated in a solid, electrically-insulating material containing a radio-opaque material, said radio-opaque material including a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, lead, calcium, tantalum, tin, molybdenum, copper, strontium, aluminum, bismuth, and compounds and mixtures containing any of the above materials.

2. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 1, further comprising:

a resonant converter that drives said high voltage power supply.

3. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 2, further comprising:

a step up transformer connected to said resonant converter; and

a high-voltage multiplier driven by said step up transformer.

4. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 1, wherein an amount of said radio-opaque material is selected in accordance with a predetermined degree of radiation attenuation.

5. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 1, further comprising:

a thin conductive layer over said solid, electrically insulating material to provide electric shielding.

6. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 5, wherein said thin conductive layer is formed from one of:

a conductive metallic paint, a thin metal foil, and a metallized polymer.

7. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 6, wherein said thin conductive layer is formed from a thin metal foil made from at least one of:

copper and aluminum.

8. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 7, wherein said thin metal foil is adhered directly to said solid, electrically insulating material using an adhesive.

9. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 1, wherein the solid, electrically-insulating material is molded into a complex shape.

10. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 1, wherein the X-ray tube and the high-voltage power supply are connected by a coaxial cable.

11. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 1, wherein the radiation-shielded X-ray module is included in a portable X-ray instrument.

41. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 1, wherein the radio-opaque material comprises an oxide of tungsten, lead, or bismuth.

12. An X-ray module comprising

an X-ray tube,

a resonant converter,

a high voltage power supply driven by the resonant converter,

electrical connection that connects the X-ray tube to the high voltage power supply and connects the high voltage power supply to the resonant converter, wherein the X-ray tube, high voltage power supply and electrical connection connecting the X-ray tube to the high voltage power supply are encapsulated in a solid, electrically-insulating material, said electrically-insulating material including a radio-opaque material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, lead, calcium, tantalum, tin, molybdenum, copper, strontium, aluminum, bismuth, and compounds and mixtures containing any of the above materials.

13. The X-ray module of claim 12, wherein said solid, electrically insulating material comprises at least one of:

epoxy, urethane, and silicon potting compound.

14. The X-ray module of claim 12, further comprising:

a thin conductive layer over said solid, electrically insulating material to provide electric shielding.

15. The X-ray module of claim 14, wherein said thin conductive layer is formed from one of:

a conductive metallic paint, a thin metal foil, and a metallized polymer.

16. The X-ray module of claim 15, wherein said thin conductive layer is formed from a thin metal foil made from at least one of:

copper and aluminum.

17. The X-ray module of claim 16, wherein said thin metal foil is adhered directly to said solid, electrically insulating material using an adhesive.

18. The X-ray module of claim 12, wherein the solid, electrically-insulating material is molded into a complex shape.

19. The X-ray module of claim 12, wherein the X-ray tube and the high-voltage power supply are connected by a coaxial cable.

20. The X-ray module of claim 12, wherein the X-ray module is included in a portable X-ray instrument.

21. A method of producing an X-ray module comprising:

encapsulating electronic components used in X-ray emission in a solid cast block including a radio-opaque material, said radio-opaque material including a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, lead, calcium, tantalum, tin, molybdenum, copper, strontium, aluminum, bismuth, and compounds and mixtures containing any of the above materials; and

surrounding said solid cast block by a conductive layer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said solid cast block comprises at least one of epoxy, urethane, and a silicon potting compound.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

encapsulating power and control circuit components in a solid cast block including a radio-opaque material.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

casting said solid cast block using a two-part epoxy-resin casting system.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein an amount of said radio-opaque material is in accordance with a predetermined degree of radiation attenuation.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein said conductive layer is formed from one of:

a conductive metallic paint, a thin metal foil, and a metallized polymer.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said conductive layer is formed from a thin metal foil made from at least one of:

copper and aluminum.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

adhering said thin metal foil directly to said solid, electrically insulating material using an adhesive.

29. The method of claim 21, wherein the X-ray module is included in a portable X-ray instrument.

30. A radiation-shielded X-ray module comprising:

an X-ray tube that emits X-rays;

a high voltage power supply coupled to said X-ray tube that supplies a high voltage for use with said X-ray tube; and

electrical connection that connects the X-ray tube to the high voltage power supply, wherein the X-ray tube is encapsulated in a solid, electrically-insulating material containing a radio-opaque material, said radio-opaque material including a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, lead, calcium, tantalum, tin, molybdenum, copper, strontium, aluminum, bismuth, and compounds and mixtures containing any of the above materials.

31. The radiation shielded X-ray module of claim 30, wherein the radiation-shielded X-ray module is included in a portable X-ray instrument.

32. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 30, further comprising:

a resonant converter that drives said high voltage power supply.

33. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 30, further comprising:

a step up transformer connected to said resonant converter; and

a high-voltage multiplier driven by said step up transformer.

34. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 30, wherein an amount of said radio-opaque material is in accordance with a predetermined degree of radiation attenuation.

35. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 30, further comprising:

a thin conductive layer over said solid, electrically insulating material to provide electrical shielding.

36. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 35, wherein said thin conductive layer is formed from one of:

a conductive metallic paint, a thin metal foil, and a metallized polymer.

37. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 36, wherein said thin conductive layer is formed from a thin metal foil made from at least one of:

copper and aluminum.

38. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 37, wherein said thin metal foil is adhered directly to said solid, electrically insulating material using an adhesive.

39. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 30, wherein the solid, electrically-insulating material is molded into a complex shape.

40. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 30, wherein the X-ray tube and the high-voltage power supply are connected by a coaxial cable.