SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED FIELD OF VIEW X-RAY IMAGING USING A NON-STATIONARY ANODE

• US 20070269014A1
• Filed: 05/03/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Georgeson, Gary E., Safai, Morteza, Edwards, William T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,529,343 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/143
• CPC Class Codes: G21K 1/043 changing time structure of beams by mechanical means, e.g. choppers, spinning filter wheels
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 35/10 Rotary anodes; Arrangements for rotating anodes; Cooling rotary anodes

Abstract

An X-ray imaging system is provided which includes an X-ray tube including, a cathode for emitting electrons; and a dynamic anode. The dynamic anode receives the electrons from the cathode and generates an X-ray beam that is non-stationary. The dynamic anode rotates between a first position where the X-ray beam is directed at a first location on an object and a second position where the X-ray beam is directed at a second location on the object to generate the non-stationary beam.

Claims

1. An X-ray imaging system, comprising:

an X-ray tube including;

a cathode for emitting electrons; and

a dynamic anode which receives the electrons from the cathode and generates an X-ray beam that is non-stationary.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the dynamic anode rotates between a first position where the X-ray beam is directed at a first location on an object and a second position where the X-ray beam is directed at a second location on the object to generate the non-stationary beam.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the dynamic anode rotates between about 5 and 25 revs/sec.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the dynamic anode comprises an oscillating anode to generate the non-stationary beam.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the dynamic anode comprises a rotating multi-faceted anode to generate the non-stationary beam.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the rotating multi-faceted anodes causes the angle of incidence of the X-ray beam and a corresponding cone beam to change.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a rotating collimator, wherein the relative movement of the rotating collimator and dynamic anode are linked.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the X-ray beam generated by said dynamic anode is continuously directed toward an aperture defined on the rotating collimator as the rotating collimator moves from a first location to a second location.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the X-ray tube comprises a continuous circumferential window for allowing the non-stationary X-ray beam to generate a swath that substantially reaches 360°

.

10. A method for imaging, comprising:

providing an X-ray tube having a moveable anode; and

moving the moveable anode between a first position where the moveable anode directs an X-ray beam at a first location on an object to a second position where the moveable anode directs an X-ray beam at a second location on the object.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising rotating a collimator around the X-ray tube, the collimator having an aperture for allowing a portion of the moving X-ray beam to be emitted therethrough.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising moving a collimator around the X-ray tube, wherein the relative movement of the collimator and the moveable anode are linked.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the X-ray tube comprises a continuous circumferential window in which the moveable anode can be rotated 360°

.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the moveable anode comprises an oscillating anode.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the moveable anode comprises a multi-faceted anode.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the moveable anode comprises a rotating multi-faceted anode.