A radiographic imaging device including: a sensor portion that generates an output signal according to an irradiated amount of irradiated radiation; a detector that based on the output signal detects a radiation irradiation start of radiation irradiated from a radiation source during capture of a radiographic image; a noise data generation means that, based on an output signal from the sensor portion in a non-irradiation state of radiation from the radiation source, generates noise data relating to noise incorporated in the output signal; a controller that controls detection sensitivity to radiation irradiation start in the detector according to a degree of variation in noise level expressed by the noise data; and an imaging unit that captures the radiographic image after radiation irradiation start has been detected by the detector.

A radiation therapy system includes an X-ray imaging system that is configured with a combined and simplified filter and collimator positioning mechanism. In addition, an X-ray imager of the RT system is only positioned at a few discrete locations within a plane that is a fixed distance from the imaging X-ray source when generating X-ray images. As a result, for each of these discrete imaging positions, the simplified filter and collimator positioning mechanism positions a specific collimator-filter combination in a specific location between the X-ray source and the imager.

A radiation therapy system includes an X-ray imaging system that is configured with a combined and simplified filter and collimator positioning mechanism. In addition, an X-ray imager of the RT system is only positioned at a few discrete locations within a plane that is a fixed distance from the imaging X-ray source when generating X-ray images. As a result, for each of these discrete imaging positions, the simplified filter and collimator positioning mechanism positions a specific collimator-filter combination in a specific location between the X-ray source and the imager.

A radiation imaging apparatus that forms a part of a radiation imaging system is provided. The apparatus includes a sensor unit having a conversion element configured to convert radiation into charges and a switch element configured to transfer the charges. The sensor unit is configured to obtain a radiation image in accordance with radiation that enters the conversion element. The apparatus further includes a control unit configured to control the sensor unit so as to perform one of a plurality of operations. The plurality of operations includes an imaging waiting operation of repetitively switching ON/OFF the switch element, and a standby operation of controlling so as to make a change amount of voltage for controlling the switch element smaller than that of the imaging waiting operation. The control unit executes the standby operation based on a predetermined signal from outside.

An emitter that can be lighted even if a line of any part thereof is broken by ensuring an electric pathway. The X-ray tube device includes an electron emission surface P having an electric pathway; electric heating elements 21, 22 that are connected electrically to both ends of said electron emission surface; and two branched terminals that are branched in the middle of the electric pathway of the electron emission surface P between electric heating elements 21 and 22; second electric heating element, in order from the electric heating element 21 as the supporting element 23 and the supporting element 24; and further comprises: a relay 33A that switches the electric heating element 21 and the supporting element 24 to be in a short-circuit/open condition and a relay 33B switches the electric heating element 22 and the supporting element 23 to be in a short-circuit/open condition. A bypass electric pathway may be formed where the short-circuit condition is switched on and such bypass electric pathway can exist at all locations relative to the electric pathway between the electric heating elements 21 and 22.

An emitter that can be lighted even if a line of any part thereof is broken by ensuring an electric pathway. The X-ray tube device includes an electron emission surface P having an electric pathway; electric heating elements 21, 22 that are connected electrically to both ends of said electron emission surface; and two branched terminals that are branched in the middle of the electric pathway of the electron emission surface P between electric heating elements 21 and 22; second electric heating element, in order from the electric heating element 21 as the supporting element 23 and the supporting element 24; and further comprises: a relay 33A that switches the electric heating element 21 and the supporting element 24 to be in a short-circuit/open condition and a relay 33B switches the electric heating element 22 and the supporting element 23 to be in a short-circuit/open condition. A bypass electric pathway may be formed where the short-circuit condition is switched on and such bypass electric pathway can exist at all locations relative to the electric pathway between the electric heating elements 21 and 22.

An improved X-ray source is disclosed. The improved X-ray source has an enclosure, electron guns, a first set of address lines extending through the enclosure, a second set of address lines extending through the enclosure, and nodes defined by the intersection of the first and second set of address lines. Each of the electron guns is coupled to one of the nodes such that a state of each electron gun is uniquely controlled by modulating a state of one of the first set of address lines and one of the second set of address lines.

An improved X-ray source is disclosed. The improved X-ray source has an enclosure, electron guns, a first set of address lines extending through the enclosure, a second set of address lines extending through the enclosure, and nodes defined by the intersection of the first and second set of address lines. Each of the electron guns is coupled to one of the nodes such that a state of each electron gun is uniquely controlled by modulating a state of one of the first set of address lines and one of the second set of address lines.

A method is for spatially influencing a focal spot of an X-ray source that generates X-ray radiation, to an associated X-ray source, to an associated system and to an associated computer program product. The method according to at least one embodiment includes: producing a focal spot on an anode by way of an electron emitter including a plurality of emitter segments, individually controllable to emit electrons; determining at least one actual value of a spatial extent and/or of a position of the produced focal spot; comparing the at least one actual value with a specified reference value of the focal spot; and controlling the emitter segments based upon the comparison of the at least one actual value and the reference value such that the at least one actual value converges toward the reference value, thereby spatially influencing the focal spot of the X-ray source that generates X-ray radiation.

A method is for spatially influencing a focal spot of an X-ray source that generates X-ray radiation, to an associated X-ray source, to an associated system and to an associated computer program product. The method according to at least one embodiment includes: producing a focal spot on an anode by way of an electron emitter including a plurality of emitter segments, individually controllable to emit electrons; determining at least one actual value of a spatial extent and/or of a position of the produced focal spot; comparing the at least one actual value with a specified reference value of the focal spot; and controlling the emitter segments based upon the comparison of the at least one actual value and the reference value such that the at least one actual value converges toward the reference value, thereby spatially influencing the focal spot of the X-ray source that generates X-ray radiation.