An X-ray tube has a cathode housing having a radiation exit window, a cooled anode, a hot cathode, an insulation body, a supply line for coolant to the anode and a discharge line for coolant from the anode. The supply and discharge lines have a plurality of turns in the insulation body. The potted body has an inner and outer mold. The anode, the cathode housing and the potted body are fastened on the ceramic body. At least one plastic directing body aligns the hoses separated from the outer and inner mold. The potting space is filled with a plastic potting compound in a cured state so that the intermediate spaces between the turns on the one hand and the outer mold and the inner mold on the other hand are occupied by the plastic of the at least one directing body and/or the plastic of the potting compound.

Various methods and systems are provided for an X-ray tube cathode focusing element. In one example, a focusing element is configured with three electron emission filaments, an integrated edge focusing, and a bias voltage. The integrated edge focusing may include a continuous single architecture with rounded edges, and a voltage of the focusing element may be negatively biased relative to a voltage of the electron emission filaments.

A high voltage vacuum feed through (23) for an electron tube (25) has an anode (28) and an insulating body (1) of ceramic material, the insulating body (1) having a continuous hollow space (10). The anode (28) has a rear part (2) and a front part (3) mounted thereto. The rear part (2) consists of a first metallic material, having a thermal expansion coefficient corresponding to a thermal expansion coefficient of the ceramic material. The rear part (2) is arranged in the hollow space (10) of the insulating body (1) and is soldered into the insulating body (1) in a vacuum-tight fashion. The front part (3) has a second metallic material whose heat conductivity is larger than that of the first metallic material. The high voltage vacuum feed through reliably remains vacuum-tight during operation and can be easily provided with different target materials.

According to one embodiment, an X-ray tube device includes a cathode which emits electrons, an anode target which generates X-rays when the electrons emitted from the cathode collide therewith, a first tube portion, a second tube portion which forms a flow path of a coolant together with the first tube portion, and a protective film. The protective film covers an inner surface of the first tube portion, and is formed of hard gold.

The invention proposes an insulator within an X-ray tube having a vacuum side and an ambient side and a feedthrough substantially coinciding with an axis of symmetry at the vacuum side and an axis of symmetry at the ambient side. The axis of symmetry at the vacuum side and the axis of symmetry at the ambient side have an angle of at least 5°, preferably 90°, with respect to each other. An X-ray source comprising such an insulator is presented as well and the present invention also extends to a medical imaging apparatus for generating X-ray images of a patient thereby using an X-ray source with such an insulator. In an embodiment, an X-ray source is provided wherein the insulator is plugged to an electrical connector at the ambient surface.

An X-ray tube has a cathode housing having a radiation exit window, a cooled anode, a hot cathode, an insulation body, a supply line for coolant to the anode and a discharge line for coolant from the anode. The supply and discharge lines have a plurality of turns in the insulation body. The potted body has an inner and outer mold. The anode, the cathode housing and the potted body are fastened on the ceramic body. At least one plastic directing body aligns the hoses separated from the outer and inner mold. The potting space is filled with a plastic potting compound in a cured state so that the intermediate spaces between the turns on the one hand and the outer mold and the inner mold on the other hand are occupied by the plastic of the at least one directing body and/or the plastic of the potting compound.

A thermal control and electrical connection means for an electronic radiation source that provides a cooling and electrical connection to an electronic radiation source in high-temperature environment is provided, including at least a means for physically dislocating a positive high-voltage generator from the anode/target of the x-ray source; a means for conveying coolant fluids to a target anode along a coaxially formed connector; and a means for removing heat from the target anode along a coaxially-formed connector. A method of removing thermal energy from the target of an electronic radiation source is also provided, including at least introducing coolant fluids onto the target; removing coolant fluids from the target; and relocating the coolant fluids to another part of the tool for disposal within the wellbore.

An X-ray generator includes an X-ray tube, an X-ray tube accommodation portion, and a power source unit having an internal substrate supplying a voltage to the X-ray tube sealed inside an insulating block. Insulating oil is enclosed in a space defined by an upper surface of the insulating block and an inner surface of the X-ray tube accommodation portion. A high-voltage power supply unit connected to a target support portion is disposed on the upper surface. At least one protrusion portion protruding to an insulating valve side beyond a boundary portion where the high-voltage power supply unit, the upper surface, and the insulating oil meet and surrounding the high-voltage power supply unit is provided on the upper surface. An apex portion of the protrusion portion is separated from an imaginary plane including an end portion of the insulating valve and extending in a direction orthogonal to a tube axis.

An X-ray source (10) for generating X-rays (11) is provided. The X-ray source (10) comprises an emitter arrangement (12) for generating electrons or for generating X-rays, at least one feedthrough (38) for supplying electrical power to the emitter arrangement (12), and an insulator (20) configured for isolating an electrical potential of the at least one feedthrough (38) from a ground potential. Therein, the at least one feedthrough (38) extends at least partly through the insulator (20), and at least a part of the insulator (20) is in thermal contact with at least a part of the emitter arrangement (12). Further, the insulator (20) comprises at least one cooling channel (28) formed completely in an interior volume (25) of the insulator (20) and configured to dissipate heat from the emitter arrangement (12), wherein a distance (29) between an outer surface (26) of the insulator (20) and the cooling channel (28) is at least as large as half of a thickness (27) of the cooling channel (20).

The invention proposes an insulator within an X-ray tube having a vacuum side and an ambient side and a feedthrough substantially coinciding with an axis of symmetry at the vacuum side and an axis of symmetry at the ambient side. The axis of symmetry at the vacuum side and the axis of symmetry at the ambient side have an angle of at least 5°, preferably 90°, with respect to each other. An X-ray source comprising such an insulator is presented as well and the present invention also extends to a medical imaging apparatus for generating X-ray images of a patient thereby using an X-ray source with such an insulator. In an embodiment, an X-ray source is provided wherein the insulator is plugged to an electrical connector at the ambient surface.