Siemens Healthcare Gmbh

Siemens Healthineers Ag

Peter Geithner

Anja Fritzler

Joerg Freudenberger

Christoph Jud

Peter Hackenschmied

Thomas Weber

Jörg Freudenberger

Petra Maurer

Marcus Radicke

Michael Wimmer

Brigitte Streller

Steffen Kappler

Josef Deuringer

One or more example embodiments relates to a cathode device and an X-ray source. The cathode device for an X-ray source has an electron emitter including a plurality of field effect emitter elements aligned in parallel to form an emission surface on the upper side of the plurality of field effect emitter elements aligned in parallel a gate electrode, arranged above the emission surface, a multiple first contact elements for at least two independently current-carrying current paths of the electron emitter, electrons from at least one of the current paths are emittable depending on an emission voltage between the gate electrode and the emission surface via the field effect emitter elements; and an emitter seat including multiple second contact elements, the multiple second contact elements connectable with the multiple first contact elements for closing the current paths.

Cathode device with improved electron emitter contacting

A method for reducing electron emission of an electron emitter comprises: emitting electrons from a first current path via at least one first field effect emitter element, subject to an emission voltage between a gate electrode and an emission surface; determining a property of the first current path; and activating a first current limiting unit subject to the properties of the first current path to reduce the electron emission of the electron emitter.

Reducing an electron emission of an electron emitter

One or more example embodiments relates to an extra-focal beam aperture device for an X-ray emitter and to the X-ray emitter. The extra-focal beam aperture device according to one or more example embodiments for an X-ray emitter has a planar beam-shaping element including an X-ray opaque material, the planar beam-shaping element being configured to form a useful X-ray beam and an X-ray measuring beam separate from the useful X-ray beam, from an X-ray beam bundle incident upon the extra-focal beam aperture device, the planar beam-shaping element including two side faces opposite each other, a radial lateral surface between the two side faces, a cross-section through the radial lateral surface having an approximately trapezoid shape, and at least one cut-out for shaping the X-ray measuring beam, the at least one cut-out having a tapering cross-section.

Extra-focal beam aperture device for an x-ray emitter

At least one example embodiment provides an electron emitter apparatus having a first ring of field-effect emitter needles, the field-effect emitter needles of the first ring forming a first emitter surface on an inner side of the first ring; and a second ring of field-effect emitter needles, the field-effect emitter needles of the second ring forming a second emitter surface on an inner side of the second ring, wherein the first ring and the second ring are arranged in such that the first emitter surface and the second emitter surface form a substantially contiguous three-dimensional overall emitter surface, the substantially contiguous three-dimensional overall emitter surface defining a hollow channel along a longitudinal axis of the electron emitter apparatus.

Electron emitter apparatus

Some example embodiments provide an x-ray tube for a stereoscopic imaging having an evacuated x-ray tube housing; an electron emitter apparatus in the x-ray tube housing, the electron emitter apparatus including a first field effect emitter with a first emitter surface and a second field effect emitter with a second emitter surface, at least one of the first emitter surface or the second emitter surface being segmented such that a portion of the at least one of the first emitter surface or the second emitter surface can be set relative to the respective overall emitter surface by selectively switching emitter segments of the at least one of the first emitter surface or the second emitter surface; an anode unit in the x-ray tube housing, the anode unit configured to generate x-ray radiation for the stereoscopic imaging as a function of electrons striking two focal points; and a control unit.

X-ray tube for a stereoscopic imaging

An x-ray anode for an x-ray emitter has a structured surface provided for impingement with electrons. According to an embodiment of the invention, the structured surface has a surface structure which alternates periodically at least in sections and which varies in the micrometer range with respect to its depth extension and periodicity.

X-ray anode, x-ray emitter and method for producing an x-ray anode

An x-ray tube includes an electron emitter to emit an electron beam; and a multilayer anode including a first anode layer facing the electron beam and a second anode layer facing away from the electron beam. The first anode layer includes a first anode material to generate a braking radiation via the electron beam and the second anode layer includes a second anode material to generate a further x-ray radiation via the braking radiation. The further x-ray radiation is relatively more monochromatic than the braking radiation and wherein the first anode layer and the second anode layer adjoin in a planar manner.

X-ray tube

An x-ray imaging system includes an x-ray source configured to emit x-ray radiation towards a sample, and a primary detector configured to detect x-ray radiation from the x-ray source passing through the sample. The x-ray imaging system also includes a secondary detector configured to detect x-ray radiation from the x-ray source scattered in the sample, and imaging optics configured to guide x-ray radiation scattered in the sample onto the secondary detector.

X-ray imaging system and method of x-ray imaging

The present disclosure provides an x-ray device including a housing configured to provide a vacuum therein, a cathode arranged inside the housing and configured to emit electrons, an anode arranged inside the housing and configured to produce x-ray radiation when impacted by electrons emitted by the cathode, and a converter configured to convert the x-ray radiation produced by the anode into monochromatic x-ray radiation, wherein the anode is configured to produce x-ray radiation in transmission and is arranged between the cathode and the converter. The present disclosure may be used in medical imaging, therapy, spectroscopy, and the like. Geometries and configurations may be improved compared to previously known x-ray devices when it comes to requirements for space, materials used, complexity of electrical wiring, distance between cathode and anode, and providing supplementary functions.

X-ray device and method of applying x-ray radiation

A thermionic emission device includes an indirectly heatable main emitter, which is constructed as a flat emitter with a main emission surface, and at least one connectible heat emitter with a heat emission surface. The heat emission surface is disposed at a predefinable distance from the main emission surface. The main emission surface can be asymmetrically heated by the heat emission surface. In the operating state, the main emitter is at a main potential and the heat emitter is at a heating potential which differs from the main potential. An x-ray tube with the thermionic emission device has a longer service life with a consistent image quality.

Growing community of inventors

Erlangen, Germany

Peter Geithner