General Electric Company

General Electric Corporation Gmbh

Quan N Lu

Stephen W Gravelle

Stephen S Waite

Jiang Hsieh

Thomas L Toth

Michael F Gard

John W Newman

Michael A Wu

A rotating x-ray tube comprises an anode assembly having an anode target for distributing heat generated at a focal spot. The x-ray tube further comprises a cathode assembly for producing X-rays upon impact with the anode. A target angle matching cathode cup structure is associated with the cathode assembly. The angled cathode cup structure creates a parallel surface between the cathode and the target to provide a focused electron beam.

Target angle matching cathode structure for an X-ray tube

Cathode cup assemblies for an x-ray tube are described. In one embodiment, the cathode cup assembly includes a cathode cup, and a cathode insulator assembly. The cathode insulator assembly includes a filament lead tube, an insulator, and a nickel eyelet. The filament lead tube is inserted within the ceramic insulator so that a portion of the tube extends from the insulator. The nickel eyelet is brazed at a first end to the insulator. An outer surface of the nickel eyelet is brazed to the cathode cup to secure the cathode insulator assembly to the cathode cup. The brazed nickel eyelet enables filament leads to be positioned at a filament set height with respect to the cathode cup.

Cathode cup assembly for an x-ray tube

Cathode cup assemblies for an x-ray tube are described. In one embodiment, the cathode cup assembly includes a cathode cup and a focus tab. The cathode cup includes filament receiving channels, and each channel is sized to receive a filament. The focus tab is a plate having a filament aligning aperture. The focus tab cooperates with the cathode cup so that a periphery of the filament aligning aperture limits the positioning of the filaments within the filament receiving channels.

Precise alignment of the focal spot position on an x-ray CT system is achieved using a deflection coil that produces a magnetic field which acts on the electron beam path in the x-ray tube. A variable current power supply drives the deflection coil and is controlled by input signals to align the focal spot at a static reference position, to correct for focal spot drift between scans, and to wobble the focal spot position during a scan or between scans.

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Milwaukee, WI, United States of America

Quan N Lu