The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 17, 2006
Filed:
Mar. 26, 2003
Paul A. Lovoi, Saratoga, CA (US);
Paul A. Lovoi, Saratoga, CA (US);
Xoft MicroTube, Inc., Fremont, CA (US);
Abstract
A miniature x-ray tube capable of intra vascular use, has a micro cathode preferably formed by MEMS techniques. The very fine wire of the cathode filament is formed on a semiconductor base and draws a current sufficiently low that lead wires in a cathode heater circuit, passing through a probe line connected to the x-ray tube, can be very small wires, which helps maintain sufficient dielectric spacing in the high voltage circuit handled by the same probe line. In a preferred embodiment the probe line comprises a glass fiber, held at a small diameter to allow flexibility for navigating small-radius turns within the vessels. In a preferred embodiment the fiber is overcoated with a high-dielectric polymer to significantly increase the dielectric strength of the overall cable, without adding significantly to stiffness. The high voltage ground conductor is a coaxial sheath on the outside of the polymer. Exterior to the ground conductor is a further flexible layer having paths for coolant.