An x-ray tube source is disclosed that allows differential phase shift, attenuation, and x-ray scattering features of an object to be acquired in a single exposure. Such multiplexed x-ray tube source includes multiple x-ray spot origins controlled in such a way that each slightly separated spot is temporally modulated “ON and OFF” at differing frequencies. In an x-ray interferometer system, such x-ray tube source forms multiple illumination beams of a single angular view of an object's feature but each with different interference fringe locations. A composite image can be acquired with a high frame-rate digital detector as a component element in such x-ray interferometer system. Such composite image can be subsequently de-multipexed and separately presented according to each spot-source illumination beam. Such isolated images of an object's feature, each having different fringe locations, allows for post-acquisition “fringe-mapping” analysis of the feature's full interaction with x-rays, including refraction, scattering, and absorption.

An X-ray source device includes an anode and an electron beam cathode system arranged to emit a plurality of electron beams therefrom toward the anode. A deflector device is disposed adjacent to the electron beam cathode system to manipulate interaction of one or more of the electron beams emitted by the electron beam cathode system with the anode. An associated method of forming an X-ray source device is also provided.

The present disclosure relates to an X-ray source apparatus and a control method of the X-ray source apparatus in which a cathode electrode and a gate electrode are arranged in an array form to enable matrix control, and, thus, it is possible to irradiate X-rays at an optimum dose for each position on the subject. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the irradiation of more X-rays than are needed to the subject. Also, it is possible to obtain a high-resolution and high-quality X-ray image. As such, two-dimensional matrix control makes it easy to control the dose of X-rays and makes it possible to uniformly irradiate X-rays to the subject. Therefore, it is possible to manufacture a high-resolution surface X-ray source with less dependence on the size of the focus of electron beams.

A device and method for creating beam formed X-Ray radiation using radio frequency (RF) modulated field emission X-ray sources is described. A radio frequency RF source generates a RF control signal which is supplied to an array of phase delay elements to generate multiple individually controlled phase delayed RF signals. These are then directly provided to each of a plurality of field emission sources (via a matching circuit) to generate a plurality of RF modulated electron current, or beam, each at the same frequency and phase delay of the phase delayed RF signals. Each of the electron beams impacts a target anode to generate X-rays also at the same frequency and phase delay of the phase delayed RF signals. By controlling each of the phase delay elements a beamformed X-ray radiation pattern can be generated.

An x-ray source for a backscatter imager can include a first electron beam (e-beam) emitter for emitting a first e-beam and at least a second e-beam emitter for emitting at least a second e-beam. The first and second e-beam emitters can be powered by a at least one power supply, and can be configured to direct the first e-beam and the second e-beam toward an anode. An interaction of the anode with the first and second e-beams produces x-rays. The x-ray source is configured to output an amount of x-rays equivalent to a conventional x-ray source that includes a single e-beam emitter. However, because the x-ray source uses at least two e-beam emitters and a single anode, the power source required to power the e-beam emitters can operate at a lower wattage than a conventional power source powering the single e-beam emitter. The x-ray source is thus lighter in weight and outputs less radiation than conventional systems with a comparable x-ray output.

An x-ray imaging device (10) comprising at least two substantially planar panels (20, 21), each panel comprising a plurality of x-ray emitters housed in a vacuum enclosure, wherein the at least two panels each have a central panel axis (28) and are arranged such that their central panel axes are non-parallel to one another, the device further comprising a panel retaining means and arranged such that the panel retaining means retains the at least two panels stationary in relation to an object during x-raying of the object.

A computer tomograph (1) for X-ray imaging includes a rotationally fixed gantry (2) that is displaceable at most in the axial direction (z). A plurality of X-ray emitters (3) and X-ray detectors (4) is arranged in the gantry (2) in a fixed manner about a central geometrical axis (z), in each case opposite to one another and offset with respect to each other in the direction of the central axis (z). The X-ray emitters (3) have cathodes (5) as electron emitters, which are separately connected to emitter controls (25) and cooperate with a common extraction grid (26) connected upstream of at least one focusing electrode (27). In comparison to conventional computer tomographs having rotating or rigidly arranged technical X-ray components, the computer tomograph (1) has a light and compact design.

A tomosynthesis system has an x-ray source with an addressable array of electron emitting sections on the cathode. The x-ray source moves rotationally about an imaging target, such as a breast. During the rotation, x-rays are emitting from the x-ray source while the x-ray source continues to move. During the emission of x-rays, different subsets of electron-emitting sections of the addressable array are activated to compensate for movement of the x-ray source. By activating the different subsets of electron-emitting sections, an effective focal spot of the x-ray position appears to retain the same shape, size, and position from the perspective of the imaging target, despite movement of the x-ray source itself.

An emitter for a closed x-ray tube includes an emitter body formed of a low work function emitter material, the emitter body having a major surface and a secondary surface. The major surface is adapted for emission of electrons from the low work function material. The emitter assembly is adapted to reduce an emission current density emitted from the secondary surface of the emitter body, as compared to the major surface.

A computer tomograph (1) for mammographic x-ray imaging includes a MBFEX tube (20) and a flat-bed x-ray detector (30). Cathodes (40) are arranged in a fixed manner in rows in the MBFEX tube (20), the cathodes (40) being provided for the field emission of electrons. Geometry, radiation density and wavelength range of an x-ray beam (b) can be set. The MBFEX tube (20) is movable parallel (z) to the flat-bed x-ray detector (30). The flat bed x-ray detector (30) includes a moveable x-ray screen (31), the opening of which can be set. Using the x-ray screen (31), an imaging area (A) on the detector surface (D) of the flat-bed x-ray detector (30) can be selected and moved. Compared to conventional computer tomographs having rotating x-ray components, the computer tomograph (1) has a lighter and more compact design, with which a particularly small focal spot size is achieved.