General Electric Company

Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC

Eti Ganin

Mark O Derakhshan

David Michael Hoffman

Mark Ernest Vermilyea

Carey Shawn Rogers

Douglas J Snyder

Thomas Gerard Ebben

Gregory Reznikov

Robert J Riedner

Paul E Neitzke

Michael J Price

Stephen S Waite

Richard J Ruzga

To provide simpler, more efficient methods for making scintillator arrays, one embodiment of the present invention is a method for making a scintillator array. The method includes extruding a mixture of a scintillator powder and a binder into rods; laminating the extruded rods with a sinterable reflector material; and sintering the laminated rods and reflector material into a scintillator block. Scintillator array embodiments of the present invention are useful in many types of pixelated radiation detectors, such as those used in computed tomography systems.

Scintillator arrays for radiation detectors and methods for making same

A thermomechanical process for producing high strength and thermally stable alloys, comprising the steps of: pre-heating an alloy bar or rod stock of a pre-selected size at a temperature below that at which grain growth occurs; and thereafter rotoforging the heated alloy bar or rod stock at a sufficient deformation level and temperature to fragment the grain boundary phases of the alloy. The resulting alloy is characterized by an ultra-fine, very uniform grain size, high tensile strength at room and high temperatures, good ductility, and a stress-rupture rate that is about twice as long as conventional alloys that have not undergone the thermomechanical process.

Thermomechanical method for producing superalloys with increased strength and thermal stability

A system and method are proposed for cooling the anode of an X-ray tube. A bearing shaft associated with the anode has an associated single rotating seal there around, and contains a liquid metal. A primary liquid metal flow path is used to transfer heat from the anode, and a secondary liquid metal flow path is provided to seal the single rotating seal. Accordingly, the present invention provides an effective means for containing liquid metal in the bearing shaft of an anode assembly, and using the liquid metal to cool the anode of the X-ray tube.

Liquid metal cooled anode for an X-ray tube

A method for assembling a rotating X-ray tube structure ensures balance retention during the life of the tube. The X-ray tube structure has a cathode for emitting electrons, and a rotor and a bearing assembly for facilitating rotation of an anode. At least one joint is identified in the X-ray tube structure and interference fit assembly is used to eliminate shifts at the joint. The interference fit assembly is particularly advantageous for eliminating even the minutest shifts in the main joints of the anode assembly. Interference fit assembly can be applied between the rotor and the anode target to provide a first joint having balance retention; and interference fit assembly can be applied between the bearing assembly and the rotor to provide a second joint having balance retention.

Rotating anode for x-ray tube using interference fit

Growing community of inventors

Whitefish Bay, WI, United States of America

Eti Ganin