Integrated arc anode x-ray source for a computed tomography system
First Claim
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1. An imaging system comprising:
- a gantry adapted to rotate;
a cathode emitter coupled to said gantry and adapted to generate an electron beam;
said cathode emitter activating sequentially, thereby generating said beam from a sequence of points on said emitter;
an extended surface anode coupled to said gantry and stationary with respect to said cathode emitter, said extended surface anode comprising a curved planet said curved plane curved in only one direction, and adapted to generate an x-ray flux in response to said electron beam; and
a detector coupled to said gantry and adapted to receive said x-ray flux and generate therefrom a detector signal.
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Abstract
An imaging system includes a gantry rotating around an object on a table. A cathode emitter is coupled to the gantry and generates an electron beam. An anode, also coupled to the gantry, is stationary with respect to the cathode emitter and generates an x-ray flux in response to the electron beam. A detector is coupled to the gantry and is adapted to receive the x-ray flux and generate therefrom a detector signal.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An imaging system comprising:
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a gantry adapted to rotate; a cathode emitter coupled to said gantry and adapted to generate an electron beam;
said cathode emitter activating sequentially, thereby generating said beam from a sequence of points on said emitter;an extended surface anode coupled to said gantry and stationary with respect to said cathode emitter, said extended surface anode comprising a curved planet said curved plane curved in only one direction, and adapted to generate an x-ray flux in response to said electron beam; and a detector coupled to said gantry and adapted to receive said x-ray flux and generate therefrom a detector signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for scanning an object comprising:
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generating a first focal spot on an arc anode comprising a curved plane, said plane curved in only one direction, from a cathode emitter;
said cathode emitter activating sequentially, thereby generating only a beam from a sequence of points on said emitter;generating a first x-ray flux as a function of said focal spot; generating a second focal spot on a second location on said arc anode from said cathode emitter at any point in time; generating a second x-ray flux; and rotating said cathode emitter and said anode around said object while said arc anode remains stationary with respect to said cathode emitter. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computed tomography system comprising:
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a gantry adapted to rotate around an object in response to signals from an imaging computer; an x-ray source comprising an array cathode emitter, said array cathode emitter coupled to said gantry and adapted to focus on a plurality of focal spots at any point in time on an arc anode, said arc anode comprising a curved plane, said curved plane having an arc radius of curvature around a single axis, and coupled to said gantry and stationary with respect to said array cathode emitter, said arc anode adapted to generate a first x-ray flux in response to a first one of said focal spots, said arc anode adapted to generate a second x-ray flux in response to a second one of said focal spots; and a detector coupled to said gantry and adapted to receive said first x-ray flux and said second x-ray flux and generate therefrom a detector signals. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification