Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Paul Xu

Qing Kelvin Lu

Gerald James Carlson

Salvatore G Perno

Kevin Charles Kraft

Todd Russell Bittner

Allan D Kautz

Norman Wandke

Thomas R Miller

Andrew R Kaczmarek

Patrick P McNally

Jose A Buan

George Awad

The present invention relates to X-ray generating technology in general, in particular, it relates to an anode disk element () for an X-ray generating device (). The generation of electromagnetic radiation may be considered to be quite inefficient, since a substantial part of energy applied to a focal track is converted to heat rather than X-radiation. Thus, a limiting factor in the operation of X-ray tubes is the cooling of the anode element and more specifically the focal track. In the present invention, an anode disk element is provided, with an improved dissipation of heat from the focal track. Thus, the anode disk element may sustain increased heat while maintaining structural integrity. The anode disk element () comprises at least a first surface () and a second surface (), with the first surface () comprising a focal track () and the second surface () comprising a conductive coating (). The anode disk element () is rotatable about a rotational axis () with the focal track () being rotationally symmetrical to the rotational axis (). The first surface () comprising the focal track () and the second surface () comprising the conductive coating () are adjacently arranged.

Anode disk element comprising a conductive coating

An anode disk element for the generation of X-rays that provides improved dissipation of heat from a focal track includes an anisotropic thermal conductivity. The anode disk element includes a focal track and at least one heat dissipating element. The anode disk element is rotatable about a rotational axis with the focal track being rotationally symmetrical to the rotational axis. The at least one heat dissipating element is configured for heat dissipation from the focal track in the direction of reduced thermal conductivity of the anode disk element.

Anode disk element comprising a heat dissipating element

An x-ray tube cathode assembly () includes a support arm () comprising a first metal. A ceramic insulator () has a first metalized surface () wherein the metalized surfaces comprise a desired amount of the first metal. A first member of filler material () is in contact with the support arm () and the first metalized surface () of the ceramic insulator (), the first member of filler material comprising at least a second metal () wherein a first alloy system (FIG.) comprising the first and second metals includes an alloy minimum point percentage composition (P) of the first and second metals having a first alloy system minimum melting point (M) for the alloy minimum point percentage composition that is lower than both of the melting point of the first metal and second metal. A bonding region resulting from heating the cathode assembly causing diffusion bonding to proceed, the bonding region has a layer of alloy comprising the minimum point percentage composition (P) and the heating of the cathode assembly continues to a bonding temperature of at least the first alloy system minimum melting point (M) and holding at that temperature for a desired period of time.

X-ray tube cathode assembly and interface reaction joining process

An x-ray tube ( ) includes an evacuated envelope ( ), a cathode assembly ( ) located in the evacuated envelope and a disk shaped anode assembly ( ) located in the evacuated envelope in operative relationship with the cathode assembly for generating x-rays ( ). The anode assembly includes an axis of rotation ( ) and a target substrate ( ) facing the cathode assembly. A heat pipe ( ) is located within the anode assembly ( ). The heat pipe is comprised of an evacuated shell ( ) and is vacuum sealed at a first end ( ) of the shell and at a second end ( ). A material ( ) within the shell is a working fluid for the heat pipe at x-ray tube operating conditions. A porous wick ( ) is located within the shell and the wick has a length extending from the first end ( ) of the shell to the second end ( ) of the shell. A shield ( ) is attached to the wick to reduce working fluid loss out of the wick during x-ray tube operation.

Liquid metal heat pipe structure for x-ray target

An x-ray tube ( ) includes a heat shield ( ) which intercepts heat radiating from an anode ( ), thereby reducing the temperature of a bearing assembly ( ). The heat shield includes outer and inner concentric cylinders ( ) spaced from each other by a vacuum gap ( ). The heat shield and a stationary portion ( ) of the bearing assembly are both connected to a cold plate ( ) so that heat is not conducted from the cylinders to the bearing assembly but is instead carried away by the cold plate to the surrounding cooling oil.

X-ray tube heat barrier

An x-ray tube assembly ( ) includes a housing ( ) and an insert frame ( ) supported within the housing ( ), such that the insert frame ( ) defines a substantially evacuated envelope in which a cathode assembly ( ) and a rotating anode assembly ( ) operate to produce x-rays. The rotating anode assembly ( ) includes an anode target plate ( ) coupled to a rotor ( ) and bearing shaft ( ), which is rotatably supported within a bearing housing ( ), by a plurality of ball bearings ( ). A heat barrier ( ) substantially surrounds the bearing housing ( ) and is coupled, along with the bearing housing ( ) to an anode cold plate ( ). The anode cold plate ( ) includes a grooved cover ( ), a basin ( ), and a plurality of corrugated fins ( ) disposed therein. Coupling both the bearing housing ( ) and the heat barrier ( ) to the anode cold plate ( ) provides an effective means for cooling the bearing assembly ( ).

X-ray tube anode cold plate

A CT scanner comprises an x-ray window mounted on an x-ray tube, a cooling fluid circulation line, and a cooling fluid return line. A cold-plate is operatively mounted on the x-ray tube around the x-ray window. The cold plate includes an elongated shell and corrugated fins for rapidly removing heat from the x-ray window. The circulation line is in fluid communication with an inlet of the cold-plate, a cooling fluid reservoir defined between the x-ray tube and a surrounding housing, and a heat exchanger. The return line is in fluid communication with an outlet of the cold-plate, the cooling fluid reservoir, and the heat exchanger. A pump circulates the cooling fluid through the heat exchanger, the suction and return lines, the cold-plate, and the x-ray tube housing.

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Oswego, IL, United States of America

Paul Xu