A power supply apparatus for an X-ray imaging system. A capacitor unit including a plurality of capacitor cells is connected in series to a single cell battery, such that the capacitor unit is charged using the single cell battery. Only when respective capacitor cells of the capacitor unit are charged, respective balance circuits corresponding to the respective capacitor cells are controlled to be turned on. When the balancing of the respective capacitor cells is completed, the balance circuits are opened. Accordingly, the power consumption of the capacitor cells is minimized.

A medical image-processing apparatus according to embodiments includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to acquire image data including a blood vessel of a subject. The processing circuitry is configured to acquire an index value relating to blood flow at each position of the blood vessel by performing fluid analysis of a structure of the blood vessel included in the acquired image data. The processing circuitry is configured to acquire information indicating a display condition of the index value, as switching information to switch a display mode at displaying the index value. The processing circuitry is configured to generate a result image in which pixel values reflecting the index value are assigned in a display mode according to the switching information, for an image indicating a blood vessel of the subject. The processing circuitry is configured to cause a display to display the result image.

An X-ray source for emitting an X-ray beam is proposed. The X-ray source comprises an anode and an emitter arrangement comprising a cathode for emitting an electron beam towards the anode and an electron optics for focusing the electron beam at a focal spot on the anode. The X-ray source further comprises a controller configured to determine a switching action of the emitter arrangement and to actuate the emitter arrangement to perform the switching action, the switching action being associated with a change of at least one of a position of the focal spot on the anode, a size of the focal spot, and a shape of the focal spot. The controller is further configured to predict before the switching action is performed, based on the determined switching action, the size and the shape of the focal spot expected after the switching action. Further, the controller is configured to actuate the electron optics to compensate for a change of the size and the shape of the focal spot induced by the switching action.

An apparatus including an X-ray tube is provided. The X-ray tube can include a cathode and an input receptacle coupled to the cathode. The input receptacle can include a connector configured within the input receptacle. The connector can operatively couple the cathode and the input receptacle. The connector can include at least one circuit configured to receive an input signal via the input receptacle. The input signal can be between 20 kV and 400 kV. The input signal can be received as an auxiliary supply voltage. The at least one circuit can be configured to generate an output signal indicative of at least one operational characteristic of the X-ray tube. Related systems, and methods of use are also provided.

A method for controlling an X-ray source configured to emit, from an X-ray spot on a target, X-ray radiation generated by an interaction between an electron beam and the target, wherein the X-ray spot is determined by the field of view of an X-ray optical system of the X-ray source. The method includes providing the target, providing the electron beam forming an electron spot on the target and interacting with the target to generate X-ray radiation, and adjusting a width and total power of the electron beam such that a maximum of the power density profile in the electron spot is below a predetermined limit, and such that a total power delivered to the target in the X-ray spot is increased.

A method is provided for compensating the settings of a pulsed X-ray system. A current, voltage and intended pulse width settings are selected for the X-ray pulses to be provided. Then, the selected pulse width setting for the set voltage and tube current is compensated, in accordance with stored normalized value or values at a predetermined temperature, taking into account the environmental temperature of the electric circuitry of the X-ray tank. The normalized values are obtained in a calibration step from the actual or effective pulse width and the difference thereof with the intended width, normalizing said value with the temperature of the circuitry providing pulsed voltage and current to the source.

An apparatus including an X-ray tube is provided. The X-ray tube can include a cathode and an input receptacle coupled to the cathode. The input receptacle can include a connector configured within the input receptacle. The connector can operatively couple the cathode and the input receptacle. The connector can include at least one circuit configured to receive an input signal via the input receptacle. The input signal can be between 20 kV and 400 kV. The input signal can be received as an auxiliary supply voltage. The at least one circuit can be configured to generate an output signal indicative of at least one operational characteristic of the X-ray tube. Related systems, and methods of use are also provided.

An apparatus including an X-ray tube is provided. The X-ray tube can include a cathode and an input receptacle coupled to the cathode. The input receptacle can include a connector configured within the input receptacle. The connector can operatively couple the cathode and the input receptacle. The connector can include at least one circuit configured to receive an input signal via the input receptacle. The input signal can be between 20 kV and 400 kV. The input signal can be received as an auxiliary supply voltage. The at least one circuit can be configured to generate an output signal indicative of at least one operational characteristic of the X-ray tube. Related systems, and methods of use are also provided.

An X-ray tube is provided with: a cathode and an anode sealed inside a vacuum envelope; and an ion-collecting conductor attached to the vacuum envelop so as to be in contact with an internal space of the vacuum envelope. A first current sensor measures a value of a first current flowing between the ion-collecting conductor and a node for supplying potential for attracting positive ions in the vacuum envelope. A second current sensor measures a value of a second current flowing between the anode and the cathode. A control circuit generates diagnostic information on the degree of vacuum of the X-ray tube based on a current ratio file of the first current value measured by the first current sensor to the second current value measured by the second current sensor.

A bone density measuring apparatus and a bone density imaging method capable of improving the accuracy of a bone density analysis are provided. In a state in which no subject is present, a detector detects X-rays emitted from an X-ray tube under a high tube voltage X-ray condition/a low tube voltage X-ray condition and a first gain correction map/a second gain correction map is generated (S1, S2). A detector detects the X-rays emitted from an X-ray tube and transmitted through a subject under a high tube voltage X-ray condition/a low tube voltage X-ray condition, and a high voltage image/a low voltage image captured by the detector is generated (S3). By performing a gain correction of the high voltage image using the first gain correction map, performing a gain correction of the low voltage image using the second gain correction map (S4), and performing a subtraction of the high voltage image after the gain correction and the low voltage image after the gain correction (S5), the accuracy of the bone density analysis can be improved.