An X-ray CT apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a rotatable gantry base; a housing that is fixed to the gantry base and that has an opening; an insert that is removably located in the housing and that includes a cathode that generates a thermal electron and an anode that receives collision of the thermal electron to generate an X-ray; and a blower that is removably attached to the side of the opening to flow air into the housing.

An x-ray tube casing is provided which includes a housing having a heat exchanger integrally formed thereon in an additive manufacturing process. The additive manufacturing process allows for tight tolerances with regard to the structure for the casing and the internal passages of the heat exchanger to significantly reduce the size and weight of the casing. The casing additionally includes a fluid distribution manifold that effectively distributes the cooling fluid within the casing to more efficiently provide cooling to the x-ray tube insert disposed within the casing.

Compositions, devices, and methods for determining ionizing radiation are generally described.

A system and method for generating X-rays are disclosed. The method may include emitting an electron beam from a cathode to a focal track of a rotating target. The method may further include deflecting the electron beam onto a first region of the focal track at a first time, and deflecting the electron beam onto a second region of the focal track at a second time. The first region of the focal track may be separated from the second region of the focal track. The method may further include generating X-rays in response to the electron beam deflected onto the first region of the focal track or onto the second region of the focal track.

The present approach relates to generating one or both of a failure prediction indication for an X-ray tube or a remaining useful life estimate for the X-ray tube. In one implementation, a trained static tube model is used in estimating health (e.g., thickness) of the electron emitter of the X-ray tube, which in turn may be used in predicting remaining useful life of an electron emitter of the X-ray tube.

An X-ray generating tube includes an insulating tube having a first open end and a second open end, a cathode including an electron emission source and arranged to close the first open end of the insulating tube, an anode including a target that generates an X-ray upon collision with electron from the electron emission source and arranged to close the second open end of the insulating tube, and a tubular electrical conductive member extending from the anode in an inner space of the insulating tube. The insulating tube includes a tubular rib at a position spaced apart from the first open end and spaced apart from the second open end, and the tubular rib is arranged in a radial direction when viewed from an end of the tubular electrical conductive member on a side of the cathode.

A X-ray generating device includes a chamber, a rotating body in the chamber, a starting material storage vessel for storing a target starting material in liquid form, and a starting material supply mechanism for applying the target starting material onto a surface of the rotating body. The X-ray generating device also includes an energy beam inlet window disposed at an opening of the chamber and configured to transmit an energy beam, which will be directed onto the target starting material on the surface of the rotating body and introduce the energy beam from the exterior of the chamber to the interior of the chamber, and an X-ray outlet window disposed at the opening of the chamber and configured to transmit the X-rays, which are generated upon irradiating the target starting material with the energy beam, and allow the X-rays to proceed to the exterior of the chamber.

A X-ray generating device includes a chamber, a rotating body in the chamber, a starting material storage vessel for storing a target starting material in liquid form, and a starting material supply mechanism for applying the target starting material onto a surface of the rotating body. The X-ray generating device also includes an energy beam inlet window disposed at an opening of the chamber and configured to transmit an energy beam, which will be directed onto the target starting material on the surface of the rotating body and introduce the energy beam from the exterior of the chamber to the interior of the chamber, and an X-ray outlet window disposed at the opening of the chamber and configured to transmit the X-rays, which are generated upon irradiating the target starting material with the energy beam, and allow the X-rays to proceed to the exterior of the chamber.

Methods for generating a multiple-energy X-ray pulse. A beam of electrons is generated with an electron gun and modulated prior to injection into an accelerating structure to achieve at least a first and specified beam current amplitude over the course of respective beam current temporal profiles. A radio frequency field is applied to the accelerating structure with a specified RF field amplitude and a specified RF temporal profile. The first and second specified beam current amplitudes are injected serially, each after a specified delay, in such a manner as to achieve at least two distinct endpoint energies of electrons accelerated within the accelerating structure during a course of a single RF-pulse. The beam of electrons is accelerated by the radio frequency field within the accelerating structure to produce accelerated electrons which impinge upon a target for generating Bremsstrahlung X-rays.

An x-ray target, x-ray source, and x-ray system are provided. The x-ray target includes a thermally conductive substrate comprising a surface and at least one structure on or embedded in at least a portion of the surface. The at least one structure includes a thermally conductive first material in thermal communication with the substrate. The first material has a length along a first direction parallel to the portion of the surface in a range greater than 1 millimeter and a width along a second direction parallel to the portion of the surface and perpendicular to the first direction. The width is in a range of 0.2 millimeter to 3 millimeters. The at least one structure further includes at least one layer over the first material. The at least one layer includes at least one second material different from the first material. The at least one layer has a thickness in a range of 2 microns to 50 microns. The at least one second material is configured to generate x-rays upon irradiation by electrons having energies in an energy range of 0.5 keV to 160 keV.