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:
Jun. 13, 2006
Filed:
Aug. 15, 2000
Dennis H. Runnoe, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Dennis H. Runnoe, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
Varian Medical Syatems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
An integral cathode for use with x-ray devices. The integral cathode includes an emitter made of a refractory metal such as tungsten, preferably doped with rhenium to afford malleability during construction and assembly. The integral cathode also includes a support cartridge, preferably composed of an electrically non-conductive material such as ceramic, in which the emitter is received. The support cartridge electrically isolates the cathode from the other components and structures of the x-ray device. Additionally, the support cartridge serves to impose, and maintain, a parabolic curve in the emitter. The parabolic form of the emitter naturally shapes an electron beam by causing electrons discharged from the emitter to converge at a focal spot. In this way, both the emission and focusing functions of the cathode are integrated and performed by a single part.