General Electric Company

Ge Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC

Michael John Utschig

Donald E Castleberry

William Andrew Hennessy

Habib Vafi

Edward Emaci

Andrew Marconnet

Evan Michael Lampe

Kenneth Scott Kump

Gregory Alan Steinlage

Donald Robert Allen

Jason Robert Ertel

Virendra Vilas Gaikwad

Zhu Wu

Sandhya Abhivandana Dammu

Bruno Kristiaan Bernard De Man

James Zhengshe Liu

Sergio Lemaitre

Antonio Caiafa

Jiahua Fan

Uwe Wiedmann

Mark Alan Frontera

Michael Scott Hebert

Kevin Farrelly Nolan

Mahadevan Balasubramaniam

Matthew David Mersch

Joseph Duane Tobbe

Gregory Owen Miller

Shashishekara Sitharamarao Talya

Bruce Courtney Campbell Amm

Adam Budde

Jie Jiang

Ajit Achuthan

Richard Brogan

David Bateman

William J Scott

Le Yan

Jacob Robert Bauer

Fred Kleytman

Shailendra Pramod Joshi

Jessica Anne Galie

Bamidele H Ali

Srdjan Acimovic

A system for passive thermal control of an X-ray tube is provided. The system includes an X-ray tube having an electron beam target and including a rotary bearing assembly supporting the electron beam target in rotation. The rotary bearing assembly includes a stationary shaft and a bearing sleeve configured to rotate with respect to the stationary shaft during operation of the X-ray tube. The rotary bearing assembly also includes a first coolant flow path extending through a center of the stationary shaft and a second coolant flow path disposed through a radially inward portion of the stationary shaft disposed about the center of the stationary shaft. The rotary bearing assembly further includes a flow control valve configured to passively regulate flow of coolant through the second coolant flow path based on a pressure of the coolant.

Passive thermal control of x-ray tubes

A pair of straight or angularly oriented flat emitters formed of an electron emissive material are positioned on an emitter support structure and are electrically connected to one another regardless of the mounting structure on which the emitters are positioned. The electrical connections between the emitters are formed directly between the emitters using electrically conductive material members that are placed between and affixed to the emitters to provide the electrical pathway or connection therebetween the emitters after formation of the emitters. These electrical connection members form an electrical connection between the angled pair of emitters separately from an emitter support structure on the cathode, such that the electrical connection members and angled emitters including the connection members can separate the mechanical architecture of the cathode assembly from the electrical architecture, thereby creating a simplified construction for the cathode assembly and associated x-ray tubes.

Cathode emitter to emitter attachment system and method

At least one emitter formed of an electron emissive material is positioned on a cathode assembly and is readily and reliably connected to at least one mounting member of the cathode assembly. The connections between the at least one emitter and an emitter support structure are formed directly between the at least one emitter and the emitter support structure by utilizing the at one mounting member on the emitter support structure that are positioned adjacent the at least one emitter and heated to secure the at least one emitter to the emitter support structure by welding the at least one mounting member to the at least one emitter and emitter support structure.

X-ray tube cathode flat emitter support mounting structure and method

A flat emitter for uses within an x-ray tube is formed of an electron emissive material that includes one or more stress compensation features capable of reducing the total stress in the flat emitter due to thermal expansion and/or centrifugal acceleration force. The one or more stress compensation features of the flat emitter for reducing the total stress in the flat emitter are formed directly on the flat emitter, are formed on the support structure for the flat emitter and connected to the flat emitter, or a combination thereof.

Flat emitters with stress compensation features

An X-ray tube is provided. The X-ray tube includes an electron beam source including a cathode configured to emit an electron beam. The X-ray tube also includes an anode assembly including an anode configured to receive the electron beam and to emit X-rays when impacted by the electron beam. The X-ray tube further includes a gridding electrode disposed about a path of the electron beam between the electron beam source and the anode assembly. The gridding electrode, when powered at a specific level, is configured to grid the electron beam in synchronization with planned transitions during a dynamic focal spot mode.

X-ray tube with gridding electrode

A portable detector panel includes an X-ray detector assembly having an X-ray detecting surface on its surface, a box-like case that houses the X-ray detector assembly therein and whose upper part that is opposite to the X-ray detecting surface is X-ray transmissive, and a spacer that supports the X-ray detector assembly housed in the case so as to be apart from the inner bottom wall of the case, wherein the spacer is arranged between the X-ray detector assembly and the inner bottom wall of the case, is made of a hard material, and has a flexible shape with respect to the movement of the X-ray detector assembly in the direction substantially parallel to the X-ray detecting surface.

Detector panel and X-ray imaging apparatus

A portable detector panel includes an X-ray detector assembly having an X-ray detecting surface on its surface, a box-like case that houses the X-ray detector assembly therein and whose upper part that is opposite to the X-ray detecting surface is X-ray transmissive, and a buffer member that is arranged between the inner side wall of the case and the X-ray detector assembly, is made of a hard material, and has a flexible shape with respect to the movement of the X-ray detector assembly in the direction generally parallel to the X-ray detecting surface.

Various embodiments of the invention provide a shock absorber. The shock absorber comprising a frame having three sides, namely a first side, a second side and a third side. The first side is contiguous with the second side, which is contiguous with the third side. Further, the first side makes an angle greater than zero degrees with the second side and the second side makes an angle greater than zero degrees with the third side. The frame is different from a housing.

Shock absorber for medical imaging device

A method is provided for conducting electricity and thermal energy in an imaging system. The method includes providing a conductive path between a plurality of components and a support structure of the imaging system, in which the support structure comprises a material consisting essentially of conductive elements disposed in a non-conductive material matrix. An imaging system is provided, with a support structure of a conductive elements disposed in a non-conductive material matrix, a plurality of components coupled to the support structure, an imaging panel disposed in the housing, and a conductive path extending through the non-conductive exterior to engage the conductive elements, wherein the conductive path is configured to conduct heat, electricity, or a combination thereof, with one or more components of the imaging system. Another imaging system is provided, with a portable panel-shaped housing, a support structure including a compound plastic, a composite material, or a combination thereof, a conductive path penetrating a non-conductive exterior to a conductive interior of the compound plastic of composite material, and an imaging panel coupled to the support structure via the conductive path.

X-ray detector grounding and thermal transfer system and method

A power system and method for supplying power to a wireless X-ray detector utilizes a detachable handle for a wireless X-ray detector. The handle carries a battery which, when the detachable handle is coupled to a wireless X-ray detector, provides the wireless X-ray detector with a mobile supply of power. A detachable handle charging station may recharge a plurality of detachable handles, providing a swappable supply of power for a wireless X-ray detector. Charging stations for such handles, or for entire detectors are also disclosed.

Battery powered X-ray detector power system and method

An imaging system is provided having an EMI shield configured to shield one or more imaging components. The EMI shield includes a first material having a first plurality of conductive elements integrally formed within a first nonconductive material and also includes a generally nonconductive exterior. A method is provided for shielding EMI in an imaging system. The method includes providing an EMI shielding enclosure that includes a first material having a first plurality of conductive elements disposed in a first non-conductive material, and a second material having a second plurality of conductive elements disposed in a second non-conductive material, wherein the first plurality of conductive elements engages the second plurality of conductive elements to form a conduction path. Another method for shielding EMI in an imaging system is provided, that includes providing an EMI shielding enclosure having a first material that has a non-conductive surface and a second EMI shielding material disposed on the non-conductive surface of the first material.

EMI shielding of digital x-ray detectors with non-metallic enclosures

An x-ray detector is provided for use in imaging systems. The x-ray detector includes a detector subsystem configured to output electrical signals in response to reception of x-rays. The detector subsystem includes an imaging panel, a support layer and a low density core disposed between the imaging panel and the support layer.

Digital x-ray detectors

An x-ray detector is provided for use in imaging systems. The x-ray detector includes a detector subsystem configured to output electrical signals in response to reception of x-rays. The x-ray detector also includes a single-piece protective enclosure having at least one opening to receive the detector subsystem.

Apparatus includes a digital x-ray detector panel, a panel support, and a resilient sheet positioned between the panel and the support, the sheet having an area smaller than an area of the panel.

X-ray detector panel methods and apparatus

An x-ray system quick-connect connection is disclosed to allow an end-user to de-couple a portable x-ray detector from an x-ray scanner/host. The quick-connect connection is accessible by the end-user without removal of a service panel that exposes an interior service portion of the x-ray scanner or x-ray detector. The de-coupled x-ray detector may be stored independently from the x-ray scanner/host and may be shared among multiple x-ray scanner/host systems, when properly calibrated. De-coupling a single quick-connect connection de-couples all power and communication lines between the x-ray scanner/host and the x-ray detector.

Growing community of inventors

Wauwatosa, WI, United States of America

Michael John Utschig