Vascular X-ray probe
US6319188A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 20, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J2235/164
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A vascular X-ray probe is formed of an optical fiber cable with a high voltage conductor embedded in the optical fiber and an external ground coating, feeding power to a small X-ray tube at the end of the cable. The optical fiber provides a conduit for optical radiation, preferably a laser beam, fed to a thermionic cathode mounted at the end of the light path, so that the laser beam heats the cathode causing it to emit electrons. An anode/X-ray target is opposite the cathode within the evacuated X-ray tube, and the ground lead is fed to the anode via an external ground coating over the tube. The X-ray tube is in preferred embodiments is less than 3 mm in diameter, and more preferably about 1.5 mm. In one embodiment the tube is formed directly in the end of the optical fiber cable, with the anode mounted on an exit window.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.