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:
Oct. 24, 2006
Filed:
Feb. 28, 2004
Paul A. Lovoi, Saratoga, CA (US);
John Rieke, Mercer Island, WA (US);
Alex Lim, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Peter C. Smith, Half Moon Bay, CA (US);
Thomas W. Rusch, Hopkins, MN (US);
Paul A. Lovoi, Saratoga, CA (US);
John Rieke, Mercer Island, WA (US);
Alex Lim, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Peter C. Smith, Half Moon Bay, CA (US);
Thomas W. Rusch, Hopkins, MN (US);
Xoft, Inc., Fremont, CA (US);
Abstract
A miniature x-ray tube is cooled using a catheter preferably having multiple small lumens for inflow and outflow of coolant. Inflow may be through an outer lumen(s) in a concentric-extrusion catheter, the liquid turning back at the distal end of the catheter to a proximal flow over the anode end of the x-ray tube and through an inner lumen within which the x-ray tube is positioned. A coolant distribution head may engage with the anode end of the x-ray tube, with small orifices so as to distribute coolant essentially evenly over the anode surface. Temperature and flow rate of the inflowing coolant liquid are balanced so as to optimize heat transfer while efficiently carrying coolant through small lumens without the need for high pressures. Some embodiments use the inflation liquid in an applicator balloon as the coolant, with the liquid actively flowing or, in a simplified system, with the liquid static.