Integrated X-ray source module

• US 7,448,801 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2003
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Newton Scientific, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Inpho, Inc., Newton Scientific, Inc.
• Inventors: Shefer, Ruth E., Klinkowstein, Robert E., Feda, Francis M., Oettinger, Peter E.
• Primary Examiner(s): KAO, CHIH CHENG G
• Application Number:
  US10/370,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20060098778A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,091 Days
• Field of Search: 378/101, 378/102, 378/109, 378/111, 378/112, 378/113, 378/203
• 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 and the high voltage power supply are encapsulated in a solid, electrically-insulating encapsulant containing a radio-opaque material distributed within the encapsulant, the encapsulant being in direct contact with substantially the entire X-ray tube and the high voltage power supply, the encapsulant being substantially free from entrained air.

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

a resonant converter that drives said high voltage power supply via an amplitude modulated waveform drive at a substantially resonant frequency.

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 said radio-opaque material includes at least one of:

tungsten oxide, lead oxide, calcium carbonate, a lead compound, a tungsten compound, and alumina.

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

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

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

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

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

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

copper and aluminum.

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

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

11. 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.

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

13. 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 encapsulant containing a radio-opaque material distributed within the encapsulant, the encapsulant being in direct contact with substantially the entire X-ray tube, the encapsulant being substantially free of entrained air.

14. The radiation shielded X-ray module of claim 13, wherein the radiation-shielded X-ray module is included in a portable X-ray instrument.

15. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 13, further comprising:

a resonant converter that drives said high voltage power supply via an amplitude modulated waveform drive at a substantially resonant frequency.

16. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 15, further comprising:

a step up transformer connected to said resonant converter; and

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

17. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 13, wherein said radio-opaque material includes at least one of:

tungsten oxide, lead oxide, calcium carbonate, a lead compound, a tungsten compound, lead, tungsten, alumina, and any combination of the foregoing materials.

18. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 13, wherein an amount of said radio-opaque material is in accordance with a predetermined degree of radiation attenuation.

19. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 13 comprising:

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

20. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 19, wherein said thin conductive layer is formed from one of:

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

21. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 20, wherein said thin conductive layer is formed from a thin metal foil made from at least one of:

copper and aluminum.

22. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 21, wherein said thin metal foil is adhered directly to said solid, electrically insulating encapsulant using an adhesive.

23. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 13, wherein the solid, electrically insulating encapsulant is molded into a complex shape.

24. The radiation-shielded X-ray module of claim 13, wherein the X-ray tube and the high-voltage power supply are connected by a coaxial cable.

25. 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 substantially entirely encapsulated in a solid, electrically-insulating encapsulant containing a radio-opaque material distributed within the encapsulant, the encapsulant being in direct contact with the X-ray tube and substantially free of entrained air and wherein the high voltage power supply is encapsulated in a solid, electrically insulating encapsulant not containing a radio-opaque material distributed therein.