Provided is an X-ray tube which includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, a target disposed in a lower portion of the second electrode, an emitter on the first electrode, a third electrode which is positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode and includes an opening at a position perpendicularly corresponding to the emitter, and a spacer provided on the third electrode and surrounding the second electrode. The spacer includes a first section located adjacent to the third electrode and a second section disposed on the first section. The spacer includes a ceramic insulator and conductive dopants dispersed within the ceramic insulator. A concentration of the conductive dopants in the first section of the spacer is greater than a concentration of the conductive dopants in the second section. The third electrode is in contact with the first section of the spacer.

A system can have an x-ray source that generates a series of individual x-ray pulses for multi-energy imaging. A first x-ray pulse can have a first energy level and a subsequent second x-ray pulse in the series can have a second energy level different from the first energy level. An x-ray imager can receive the x-rays from the x-ray source and can detect the received x-rays for image generation. A generator interface box (GIB) controls the x-ray source to provide the series of individual x-ray pulses and synchronizes detection by the x-ray imager with generation of the individual x-ray pulses. The GIB can control x-ray pulse generation and synchronization to optimize image generation while minimizing unnecessary x-ray irradiation.

An X-ray tube according to an embodiment of the inventive concept includes a cathode structure; an anode structure spaced vertically from the cathode structure, a gate electrode structure disposed between the cathode structure and the anode structure, an emitter array disposed between the cathode structure and the gate electrode structure, a tube sheath configured to connect the cathode structure and the anode structure, and a fixing unit connected with the gate electrode structure. The cathode structure includes a first rotation shaft and a cathode connected with the first rotation shaft as one body. The gate electrode structure includes a second rotation shaft and a gate electrode connected with the second rotation shaft through a bearing, and the second rotation shaft is connected with the first rotation shaft by a coupling unit. The gate electrode includes a gate electrode substrate and a protruding part that protrudes from the gate electrode substrate toward an emitter. The protruding part of the gate electrode includes a gate hole that vertically overlaps the emitter. The fixing unit includes a ferromagnetic structure attached to one surface of the gate electrode substrate and disposed on an outer portion of the substrate and a permanent magnet disposed adjacent to the ferromagnetic structure with the tube sheath therebetween.

A system can have an x-ray source that generates a series of individual x-ray pulses for multi-energy imaging. A first x-ray pulse can have a first energy level and a subsequent second x-ray pulse in the series can have a second energy level different from the first energy level. An x-ray imager can receive the x-rays from the x-ray source and can detect the received x-rays for image generation. A generator interface box (GIB) controls the x-ray source to provide the series of individual x-ray pulses and synchronizes detection by the x-ray imager with generation of the individual x-ray pulses. The GIB can control x-ray pulse generation and synchronization to optimize image generation while minimizing unnecessary x-ray irradiation.

A multisource volumetric spectral computed tomography imaging device includes an x-ray source array with multiple spatially distributed x-ray focal spots, an x-ray beam collimator with an array of apertures, each confining the radiation from a corresponding x-ray focal spot to illuminate a corresponding segment of an object, a digital area x-ray detector, and a gantry to rotate the x-ray source array and the detector around the object. An electronic control unit activates the radiations from the x-ray focal spots to scan the object multiple times as the gantry rotates around the object. The images are used to reconstruct a volumetric CT image of the object with reduced scattered radiation. For dual energy and multi energy imaging, radiation from each focal spot is filtered by a corresponding spectral filter to optimize its energy spectrum.

Provided is an X-ray tube. The X-ray tube includes a cathode electrode, an anode electrode vertically spaced apart from the cathode electrode, an emitter on the cathode electrode, a gate electrode disposed between the cathode electrode and the anode electrode, the gate electrode including an opening at a position corresponding to the emitter, and a spacer provided between the gate electrode and the anode electrode. The spacer includes an insulator and conductive dopants doped in the insulator.

An X-ray imaging apparatus and a consumption level estimation method for an X-ray source, which estimate the consumption level of an X-ray source without measuring grid voltage. An X-ray control part includes: a tube current value setting part setting a tube current value supplied to an X-ray source; a tube current value measurement part measuring a cathode current value as the tube current value by a cathode current detector; a time measurement part measuring the time when the tube current value is set by the tube current value setting part and the time when the tube current value measured by the tube current value measurement part reaches the set value; and a consumption level estimation part estimating the consumption level of a cathode in the X-ray source based one the time until the tube current value reaches the set value after the tube current value has been set.

Disclosed herein is an X-ray source, comprising: a cathode in a recess of a first substrate; a counter electrode on a sidewall of the recess, configured to cause field emission of electrons from the cathode; and a metal anode configured to receive the electrons emitted from the cathode and to emit X-ray from impact by the electrons on the metal anode.

A linear accelerator system according to an embodiment is for generating an MeV electron beam. The linear accelerator system includes a linear accelerator cavity having an enclosure, wherein the enclosure is open at one end to provide an exit port for the MeV electron beam; and a switchable magnet unit designed to, in a deflection mode, generate a magnetic field within the linear accelerator cavity to enable at least one electron, emitted within the linear accelerator cavity, to interact with the enclosure due to deflection away from the exit port caused by the magnetic field. Accordingly, in an embodiment, in the deflection mode, an intensity of the MeV electron beam passing through the exit port is relatively lower than an intensity of the MeV electron beam passing through the exit port in a beam generation mode of the switchable magnet unit.

A system can have an x-ray source that generates a series of individual x-ray pulses for multi-energy imaging. A first x-ray pulse can have a first energy level and a subsequent second x-ray pulse in the series can have a second energy level different from the first energy level. An x-ray imager can receive the x-rays from the x-ray source and can detect the received x-rays for image generation. A generator interface box (GIB) controls the x-ray source to provide the series of individual x-ray pulses and synchronizes detection by the x-ray imager with generation of the individual x-ray pulses. The GIB can control x-ray pulse generation and synchronization to optimize image generation while minimizing unnecessary x-ray irradiation.