According to one embodiment, an X-ray tube device includes an anode target including a target surface and a cathode including a plurality of electron generation sources configured to emit the electrons, a vacuum envelope configured to house the cathode and the anode target and internally sealed in a vacuum airtight manner, and a quadrupole magnetic-field generator configured to form a magnetic field by being supplied with a current from a power source, the quadrupole magnetic-field generator being installed on an outer side of the vacuum envelope and constituted of a quadrupole surrounding a periphery of electron orbits of the electrons emitted simultaneously from each of the plurality of electron generation sources.

A cathode assembly design is provided that includes two flat emitters, a longer emitter filament and a shorter emitter filament. In one implementation the focal spot sizes produced by the long and short emitters overlap over a range. Thus, one emitter filament may be suitable for generating small and concentrated focal spot sizes while the other emitter filament is suitable for generating small and large focal spots sizes.

According to one embodiment, an X-ray tube assembly includes a cathode includes a first non-magnetic metal member having high electrical conductivity, an anode target includes a second non-magnetic metal member having high electrical conductivity, a vacuum envelope having depressed portion depressed, and a first magnetic deflector provided outside the vacuum envelope, includes first magnetic pole pair generating the alternating magnetic field, the first magnetic pole pair being provided in close vicinity to a wall surface of the depressed portion.

X-ray target element is comprised of a planar wafer. The planar wafer element includes a target layer and a substrate layer. The target layer is comprised of an element having a relatively high atomic number and the substrate layer is comprised of diamond. The substrate layer is configured to support the target layer and facilitate transfer of thermal energy away from the target layer.

A method for characterizing an electron beam in a liquid metal jet X-ray source. The method includes providing the electron beam and directing the electron beam to an interaction region; providing an electron beam dump connected to ground potential for receiving the electron beam after it has traversed the interaction region; scanning the electron beam over at least part of the interaction region; measuring X-ray radiation generated by interaction between the electron beam and the electron beam dump during the scanning to obtain an X-ray profile; and calculating an electron beam characteristic based on the X-ray profile. Also, a corresponding liquid metal jet X-ray source.

Technology is described for electronically aligning a central ray of an x-ray tube to a radiation detector. In an example, an x-ray system includes an x-ray tube and a tube control unit (TCU). The x-ray tube includes a cathode that includes an electron emitter configured to emit an electron beam, an anode configured to receive the electron beam and generate x-rays with a central ray from electrons of the electron beam colliding on a focal spot of the anode, and a steering magnetic multipole between the cathode and the anode that is configured to produce a steering magnetic field from a steering signal. At least two poles of the steering magnetic multipole are on opposite sides of the electron beam. The TCU includes at least one steering driver configured to generate the steering signal. The TCU is configured to convert an offset value to the steering signal.

Technology is described for calibrating a deflected position of a central ray of an x-ray tube to a radiation imager. An x-ray system includes an x-ray tube and a tube control unit (TCU). The x-ray tube includes a cathode that includes an electron emitter configured to emit an electron beam, an anode configured to receive the electron beam and generate x-rays with a central ray from electrons of the electron beam colliding on a focal spot of the anode, and a steering magnetic multipole between the cathode and the anode that is configured to produce a steering magnetic field from a steering signal. At least two poles of the steering magnetic multipole are on opposite sides of the electron beam. The TCU includes at least one steering driver configured to generate the steering signal. The TCU is configured to convert a position correction value to the steering signal.

A system for tracking tumors during radiotherapy by interleaving treatment pulses with imaging pulses is disclosed. The system includes a multisource scanning eBeam X-ray tube having a plurality of focal spots. The X-ray tube is configured to emit X-rays to a plurality of different locations on a target by sequentially emitting the X-rays to the focal spots in the plurality of focal spots. This is done such that the X-rays can be emitted to the plurality of different locations on the target without substantially moving the X-ray tube or the target. The system further includes an imager panel configured to act as the target and configured to receive the X-rays from the focal spots of the X-ray tube. The system further includes a tomosynthesis reconstruction module configured to process output from the imager panel to construct an image.

Electron beam spot characteristics can be tuned in each x-ray tube by moving a focusing-ring along a longitudinal-axis of the x-ray tube. The focusing-ring can then be immovably fastened to the x-ray tube.

An x-ray source can include an x-ray tube and a focusing-ring. The focusing-ring can at least partially encircle an electron-emitter, a cathode, an evacuated-enclosure, or combinations thereof. The focusing-ring can be located outside of a vacuum of the evacuated enclosure. The focusing-ring can adjust an electron-beam spot on a target material of the x-ray tube when moved along a longitudinal-axis extending linearly from the electron-emitter to the target material.

The invention relates to a modification arrangement for an X-ray generating device, a modification method, a computer program element for controlling such device and a computer readable medium having stored such computer program element. The modification arrangement comprises a cathode, an anode (2) and modification means, e.g. a modification device. The cathode is configured to provide an electron beam (15). The anode (2) is configured to rotate under impact of the electron beam (15) and is segmented by slits (21) arranged around the anode's circumference. The modification means are configured to modify the electron beam (15) when the electron beam (15) is hitting one of the anode's rotating slits (21).