Systems that can overcome the limitations of current blood flow measurement systems and systems that can track in 3D the explosively driven fragments traveling at 1,000 m/s or faster, will provide temporal resolution of 1 μs, spatial resolution of 50 μm to 1 mm (or finer based on geometry), and allow imaging over at least 122×122 cm.sup.2 area are disclosed hereinbelow. These systems use a double-pulsed X-ray generator.

Systems that can overcome the limitations of current blood flow measurement systems and systems that can track in 3D the explosively driven fragments traveling at 1,000 m/s or faster, will provide temporal resolution of 1 μs, spatial resolution of 50 μm to 1 mm (or finer based on geometry), and allow imaging over at least 122×122 cm.sup.2 area are disclosed hereinbelow. These systems use a double-pulsed X-ray generator.

A multi-pixel x-ray source is provided. The x-ray source includes a plurality of transmission target assemblies. The transmission target assembly includes a tungsten target and a diamond substrate. The substrate includes a first transmission surface and a second transmission surface opposite first transmission surface. The substrate further includes a first side surface and a second side surface disposed between the first and second transmission surfaces. The target covers the first transmission surface of the substrate. The transmission target assembly further includes a base. The base surrounds the first and second side surfaces of substrate, exposing a collimator surface of the second transmission surface and the target. The transmission target assembly is configured to transmit x-ray generated by the target through the target and the substrate.

An X-ray source arrangement (10) for generating X-ray radiation (102), a method for operating the X-ray source arrangement (10), and an X-ray imaging apparatus (100) are provided. The X-ray source arrangement (10) comprises an X-ray tube (22), a converter arrangement (16) with an inverter (18) and a resonant converter (20) for providing a source voltage to the X-ray tube (22), a pre-controller (12), and a modulator (14). The pre-controller (12) is configured for determining a reference duty ratio (r, 26) of the resonant converter (20) as a continuous function of time based on a mathematical model of the resonant converter (20), and for providing a control signal (13) correlating with the reference duty ratio (r, 26) to the modulator (14). The modulator (14) is configured for determining a switching signal (15) based on the control signal (13), and for providing the switching signal (15) to the inverter (18) of the converter arrangement (16) for actuating the inverter (18).

An X-ray source arrangement (10) for generating X-ray radiation (102), a method for operating the X-ray source arrangement (10), and an X-ray imaging apparatus (100) are provided. The X-ray source arrangement (10) comprises an X-ray tube (22), a converter arrangement (16) with an inverter (18) and a resonant converter (20) for providing a source voltage to the X-ray tube (22), a pre-controller (12), and a modulator (14). The pre-controller (12) is configured for determining a reference duty ratio (r, 26) of the resonant converter (20) as a continuous function of time based on a mathematical model of the resonant converter (20), and for providing a control signal (13) correlating with the reference duty ratio (r, 26) to the modulator (14). The modulator (14) is configured for determining a switching signal (15) based on the control signal (13), and for providing the switching signal (15) to the inverter (18) of the converter arrangement (16) for actuating the inverter (18).

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.

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.

The invention relates to a control device for an X-ray tube (2), comprising a housing (29) that is designed as a shield, in which an anode current regulating unit (1) is arranged and which is connected to a cathode power supply unit (18), a plurality of cathode voltage switches (20, 21, 22, 23, 24) which are to be connected to in each case a cathode (4), and a programmable assembly (25), in which the control of the cathodes (4) is determined. The cathode power supply unit (18), the cathode voltage switches (20, 21, 22, 23, 24) and the programmable assembly (18) are also arranged in the housing (29).

A rotary anode driving device includes a DC power supply, an inverter circuit which is connected to the DC power supply and includes a plurality of switching elements and, the inverter circuit generates an AC voltage from a DC voltage of the DC power supply, and outputs the AC voltage to a stator coil which generates a rotating magnetic field of an X-ray tube; a pulse width modulation (PWM) waveform generator configured to generate an AC voltage of two phases or three phases as the AC voltage from the DC voltage by performing PWM control of the switching elements of the inverter circuit; and a capacitor connected in series to an input side of a stator coil of at least one phase of the stator coil, the capacitor having an electrostatic capacitance constituting a series resonant circuit with the stator coil to which the capacitor is connected.

A system and a method for acquiring image data of a subject with an imaging system is provided. The system can include a gantry that completely annularly encompasses at least a portion of the subject, with a source positioned within and movable relative to the gantry. The source can be responsive to a signal to output at least one pulse. The system can include a detector positioned within and movable relative to the gantry to detect the pulse emitted by the source. The system can also include a detector control module that sets detector data based on the detected pulse, and an image acquisition control module that sets the signal for the source and receives the detector data. The image acquisition control module can reconstruct image data based on the detector data. The signal can include a signal for the source to output a single pulse or two pulses.