Ring tube x-ray source with active vacuum pumping
US5438605A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 6, 1993 |
| Grant date | Aug 1, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 6, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05G1/025
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A toroidal x-ray tube housing (A) is composed of multiple sections which are clamped together and sealed by elastomeric gaskets (128). An annular anode (B) is mounted to the housing with coolant passages (12, 14) extending thereadjacent. A rotor (30) is rotated within the toroidal housing by a motor (60). At least one cathode assembly (C) is mounted to the rotor adjacent the anode. The rotor is supported by magnetic bearings (40) whose active coils are separated from the vacuum region by a magnetic window (48). Alternately, a series of vanes (136, 138) are provided to divide the vacuum chamber into a high vacuum region (132) adjacent the cathode and anode and a low vacuum region (134) adjacent the motor (60) and bearings (40, 150, 152) for rotatably supporting the rotor within the housing. An active vacuum pump, preferably a ion pump (112) and a getter (114) are hermetically sealed into the vacuum region for maintaining the vacuum.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.