The X-ray tube disclosed herein includes an electron emission unit including an electron emission element using a cold cathode; an anode unit disposed opposite to the electron emission unit, with which electrons emitted from the electron emission unit collide; and a focus structure disposed between the electron emission unit and a target unit disposed on a surface of the anode unit that is opposed to the electron emission unit. The electron emission unit is divided into first and second regions which can independently be turned ON/OFF. The X-ray tube is focus-designed such that collision regions, at the anode unit, of electron beams emitted from the respective first and second regions substantially coincide with each other.

An X-ray generation tube including a magnetic deflection portion configured to deflect an electron beam to reduce lines of magnetic force extending to the outside of the tube, where a subject is arranged, by placement of a magnetic shielding portion including a portion that is closer to an anode than the magnetic deflection portion in a tube axial direction and that is closer to the tube center axis than the magnetic deflection portion in a tube radial direction.

A radiation generator may include an elongate generator housing having a proximal end and a distal end, a target electrode within the elongate generator housing at the distal end thereof, a charged particle source within the elongate generator housing at the proximal end thereof to direct charged particles at the target electrode. A plurality of accelerator electrodes may be spaced apart within the elongate generator housing between the target electrode and the charged particle source to define a charged particle accelerator section. Each accelerator electrode may include an annular portion having a first opening therein, and a frustoconical portion having a base coupled to the first opening of the annular portion and having a second opening so that charged particles from the charged particle source pass through the first and second openings to reach the target electrode.

An apparatus and method to generate distributed x-rays. A hot cathode of an electron gun is used in vacuum to generate electron beams having certain initial movement energy and speed. Periodic scanning is performed with the initial low-energy electron beams, which are thus caused to be reciprocally deflected. A current-limiting device is provided in the travel path of the electron beams along the direction of the reciprocal deflection. Through holes arranged in an array on the current-limiting device, only part of the electron beams targeting specific positions can pass to form sequential electron beam currents distributed in an array. These electron beam currents are accelerated by a high-voltage electric field to obtain high energy, bombard an anode target, and thus sequentially generate corresponding focus spots and x-rays distributed in an array at the anode target.

In order to provide an X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus which can detect anomalies caused by factors other than wearing of a bearing of an X-ray tube, according to the present invention, there is provided an X-ray diagnostic imaging apparatus including an X-ray tube that irradiates an object with X-rays, an X-ray detector that detects X-rays having been transmitted through the object, an image creation unit that creates a medical image of the object on the basis of the output of the X-ray detector, a change amount measurement unit that measures a change amount of an X-ray focal point which is an X-ray generation point of the X-ray tube, and an anomaly detection unit that detects an anomaly in the X-ray tube on the basis of whether or not the change amount falls within a predetermined normal change range.

A magnetic assembly for focusing an electron beam includes one or more quadrupole assemblies, each quadrupole assembly having at least a pair of separate opposing members with angular pole extensions of one opposing member facing angular pole extensions of another opposing member. An X-ray tube includes a magnetic assembly for focusing an electron beam extending from a cathode to an anode of the X-ray tube, the magnetic assembly comprising one or more quadrupole assemblies, each quadrupole assembly having at least a pair of opposing members with angular pole extensions of one opposing member facing angular pole extensions of another opposing member.

The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) as well as a method for generating X-ray radiation, in particular for generating an X-ray radiation field, comprising an electron source (11) for generating an electron beam (12) as well as a target (13) for generation of X-ray radiation, in particular of an X-ray radiation field by electrons of the electron beam (12) impinging on the target (13). The present invention is characterized in that, the apparatus (10) is designed for generating an adjustable and/or changeable X-ray radiation, in particular for generating an adjustable and/or changeable X-ray radiation field, and in that the apparatus (10) has a variation appliance (15) for varying of at least one parameter of the electron beam source (11) and/or the electron beam (12) for influencing the X-ray radiation, in particular the X-ray radiation field.

A cathode head can include: a first electron emitter filament having a first size; a first grid pair defining walls of a first filament slot having the first filament therein, each grid member of the first grid pair being electronically coupled to different voltage sources; a second electron emitter filament; and a second grid pair defining walls of a second filament slot having the first electron emitter therein, each grid member of the second grid pair being electronically coupled to different voltage sources. The first grid pair can have a first and second grid members; and the second grid pair can have the second grid member and a third grid member. The first grid member and third grid member are electronically coupled to the same voltage source and the second grid member being electronically coupled to a different voltage source.

Compact, dual energy radiation scanning systems are described comprising two particle beam accelerators, each configured to accelerate charged particles to different energies, positioned parallel to a direction of movement of an object to be inspected. The accelerator may be positioned perpendicular to a plane of the conveying system, instead. Bend magnet systems bend each charged particle beam toward a respective target. Alternatively, a single dual energy accelerator capable of accelerating charged particles to at least two different energies is positioned parallel to the direction of movement of the object, or perpendicular to a plane of the conveying system. A single bend magnet system is provided to bend each accelerated charged particle beam toward the same target. The particle beams may be bent through an orbit chamber. Two separate passages may be defined through at least part of the orbit chamber, one for charged particles having each energy.

A positioning apparatus is provided for an electron beam of an electron tube, the apparatus including a first DC voltage circuit having a high potential difference and a second DC voltage circuit having a smaller potential difference, having in each case a first potential level and a second potential level, and a deflection module, which has two inputs and at least one deflection coil, wherein the at least one deflection coil is connected between the two inputs of the deflection module.