X-ray CT apparatus and X-ray tube

• US 7,187,756 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2004
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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: Hagiwara, Akira, Gohno, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Glick; Edward J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAO, CHIH CHENG G
• Application Number:
  US10/924,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20050053189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 378/4, 378/9, 378/16, 378/124, 378/144
• US Class Current: 378/124
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4028 resulting in acquisition of views from substantially different positions, e.g. EBCT
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4035 the source being combined with a filter or grating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/405 Source units specially adapted to modify characteristics of the beam during the data acquisition process A61B6/4021, A61B6/4035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/482 involving multiple energy imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/419 computed tomograph
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/046 using tomography, e.g. computed tomography [CT]
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 2235/086 Target geometry
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 35/10 Rotary anodes; Arrangements for rotating anodes; Cooling rotary anodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 35/153 Spot position control

Abstract

An X-ray CT apparatus capable of imaging a subject based on X-rays of multiple energy levels while using an ordinary X-ray detector includes an X-ray tube which generates X-rays from multiple focal points of different 3-dimensional positions sequentially on a time-division basis, a plurality of filters which implement the filtering individually for the X-rays generated individually from the focal points, a collimator which equalizes the irradiation range of the X-rays generated individually from the focal points, collection means which collects projection data of multiple views of a subject of imaging for the X-rays generated individually from the focal points, and reconstruction means which reconstructs an image based on the projection data. The anode of the X-ray tube has multiple impingement portions where electrons released by the cathode impinge at multiple positions on the trajectory of electrons sequentially on a time-division basis.

Claims

1. An X-ray CT apparatus comprising:

an X-ray tube which generates X-rays from multiple focal points of different 3-dimensional positions sequentially on a time-division basis, wherein said X-ray tube comprises an anode and a cathode which confront each other and generate X-rays from focal points on said anode where electrons from said cathode impinge, wherein said anode has multiple impingement portions where electrons released by said cathode impinge at multiple positions on a trajectory of electrons sequentially on a time-division basis, wherein said anode comprises a plurality of rotary plates which are parallel to each other and share a rotation shaft which is parallel to the trajectory of electrons, wherein said rotary plates are located from a position nearest to said cathode up to a position immediately before a position farthest from said cathode, each of said rotary plates having large-radius sections with a radius larger than a distance from a rotation center to the trajectory of electrons and small-radius sections with a radius smaller than the distance from the rotation center to the trajectory of electrons by being formed alternately along a rotational direction such that the large-radius sections of said rotary plates do not overlap in a direction parallel to the trajectory of electrons;

a plurality of filters which implement filtering individually for the X-rays generated individually from the focal points;

a collimator which equalizes an irradiation range of the X-rays generated individually from the focal points;

a collection device which collects projection data of multiple views of a subject of imaging for the X-rays generated individually from the focal points; and

a reconstruction device which reconstructs an image based on the projection data.

2. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of rotary plates includes two rotary plates.

3. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 1 including a plurality of pairs of said anode and cathode.

4. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 3 including two pairs of said anode and cathode.

5. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said focal points are all located on the same horizontal plane.

6. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said focal points are all located on a plane which is aslant against a horizontal plane.

7. An X-ray CT apparatus comprising:

an X-ray tube which generates X-rays from multiple focal points of different 3-dimensional positions sequentially on a time-division basis, wherein said X-ray tube comprises an anode and a cathode which confront each other and generate X-rays from focal points on said anode where electrons from said cathode impinge, wherein said anode has multiple impingement portions where electrons released by said cathode impinge at multiple positions on a trajectory of electrons sequentially on a time-division basis, wherein said anode comprises two rotary plates which are parallel to each other and share a rotation shaft which is parallel to the trajectory of electrons released by said cathode, said rotary plates having X-ray generation sections and X-ray non-generation sections which are laid out on surfaces of opposite sides alternately along a rotational direction such that the X-ray generation sections on the surfaces of opposite sides do not overlap in a direction parallel to the rotation shaft, and wherein said cathode generates electrons which impinge on the surfaces of opposite sides of said two rotary plates;

a plurality of filters which implement filtering individually for the X-rays generated individually from the focal points;

a collimator which equalizes an irradiation range of the X-rays generated individually from the focal points;

a collection device which collects projection data of multiple views of a subject of imaging for the X-rays generated individually from the focal points; and

a reconstruction device which reconstructs an image based on the projection data.

8. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 7 including a plurality of pairs of said anode and cathode.

9. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 8 including two pairs of said anode and cathode.

10. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said focal points are all located on the same horizontal plane.

11. An X-ray CT apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said focal points are all located on a plane which is aslant against a horizontal plane.

12. An X-ray tube including an anode and a cathode which confront each other and generating X-rays from focal points on said anode where electrons from said cathode impinge,

said anode having multiple impingement portions where electrons released by said cathode impinge at multiple positions on the trajectory of electrons sequentially on a time-division basis, wherein said anode comprises a plurality of rotary plates which are parallel to each other and share a rotation shaft which is parallel to a trajectory of electrons, wherein said rotary plates are located from a position nearest to said cathode up to a position immediately before a position farthest from said cathode, wherein each of said rotary plates have large-radius sections with a radius larger than a distance from a rotation center to the trajectory of electrons and small-radius sections with a radius smaller than the distance from the rotation center to the trajectory of electrons by being formed alternately along a rotational direction such that the large-radius sections of said rotary plates do not overlap in a direction parallel to the trajectory of electrons.

13. An X-ray tube according to claim 12, wherein said plurality of rotary plates includes two rotary plates.

14. An X-ray tube according to claim 12 including a plurality of pairs of said anode and cathode.

15. An X-ray tube according to claim 14 including two pairs of said anode and cathode.

16. An X-ray tube according to claim 14, wherein said focal points are all located on the same horizontal plane.

17. An X-ray tube according to claim 14, wherein said focal points are all located on a plane which is aslant against a horizontal plane.