An X-ray tube with an anode assembly and specially designed heat transfer element is described. The anode assembly includes an X-ray producing target and a substantially cylindrical electrode that stops or inhibits electrons that may back-scatter from the target. At least one heat transfer element is positioned proximate the anode assembly and in the region between a conducting enclosure and a non-conducting hollow housing or tube. The heat transfer element is positioned to thermally couple the hot anode assembly to an air-cooled conducting enclosure while maintaining an electric isolation.

The rotatable anode of a rotating anode X-ray source has demanding requirements placed upon it. For example, it may rotate at a frequency as high as 200 Hz. X-ray emission is stimulated by applying a large voltage to the cathode, causing electrons to collide with the focal track. The focal spot generated at the electron impact position may have a peak temperature between 2000° C. and 3000° C. The constant rotation of the rotating anode protects the focal track to some extent, however the average temperature of the focal track immediately following a CT acquisition protocol may still be around 1500° C. Therefore, demanding requirements are placed upon the design of the rotating anode. The present application proposes a multi-layer coating for the target region of a rotating X-ray anode which improves mechanical resilience and thermal resilience, whilst reducing the amount of expensive refractory metals required.

The present invention relates to an X-ray tube (30) with an anode (36) that conducts a high voltage, preferably greater than 120 kV, particularly preferably greater than 300 kV, and heats up during operation, wherein the anode is connected in a thermally conductive way to a heat sink (4), which has a base body (10.4) composed of a metal with a heat absorbing surface (12.4) for coupling to the anode (36) as a heat source (36) and a heat dissipating surface (14.4) that is enlarged by means of heat dissipating elements (16.4) that are connected to the base body (10.4), wherein the heat dissipating elements (16.4) are composed of an electrically insulating material having a thermal conductivity on the same order of magnitude as that of the metal of the base body (10.4), and wherein the heat dissipating elements (16.4) have a height (H) starting from the base body (10.4) of the heat sink (4) so that taking into account the high voltage and an insulating medium surrounding the heat dissipating elements (16.4), there is a sufficient insulation breakdown resistance relative to the surroundings of the X-ray tube (30).

According to one embodiment, a rotating anode X-ray tube including a rotating cylinder, a rotating shaft fixed to the inside of the rotating cylinder, an anode fixing body arranged between the rotating cylinder and the rotating shaft, extending in the axial direction, and constituted of one of a magnetic substance member formed of a magnetic substance and a heat-transfer enhancing member heat conductivity of which is higher than surrounding members, ball bearings, and an inner member, connected to the anode fixing body by a connecting member, and constituted of one of the magnetic substance member and the heat-transfer enhancing member, one being different from the member constituting the anode fixing body.

An X-ray tube with an anode assembly and specially designed heat transfer element is described. The anode assembly includes an X-ray producing target and a substantially cylindrical electrode that stops or inhibits electrons that may back-scatter from the target. At least one heat transfer element is positioned proximate the anode assembly and in the region between a conducting enclosure and a non-conducting hollow housing or tube. The heat transfer element is positioned to thermally couple the hot anode assembly to an air-cooled conducting enclosure while maintaining an electric isolation.

The present disclosure provides an x-ray device including a housing configured to provide a vacuum therein, a cathode arranged inside the housing and configured to emit electrons, an anode arranged inside the housing and configured to produce x-ray radiation when impacted by electrons emitted by the cathode, and a converter configured to convert the x-ray radiation produced by the anode into monochromatic x-ray radiation, wherein the anode is configured to produce x-ray radiation in transmission and is arranged between the cathode and the converter. The present disclosure may be used in medical imaging, therapy, spectroscopy, and the like. Geometries and configurations may be improved compared to previously known x-ray devices when it comes to requirements for space, materials used, complexity of electrical wiring, distance between cathode and anode, and providing supplementary functions.

An x-ray source can include an x-ray tube, and a heat sink for removal of heat from the x-ray tube. The heat sink can be thermally coupled to the anode and can extend away from the anode along a heat sink longitudinal axis. The heat sink can have a base and a fin extending from the base. The base can have a greater thickness nearer the anode, and a reduced thickness along the heat sink longitudinal axis to a smaller thickness farther from the anode.

An X-ray tube includes: a vacuum housing configured to include an internal space which is vacuum; a target unit configured to be disposed in the internal space, and include a target that generates an X-ray by using an electron beam incident therein, and a target support unit that supports the target, the X-ray generated by the target being transmitted through the target support unit; and an X-ray emission window configured to be so provided as to face the target support unit, and seal an opening of the vacuum housing, the X-rays transmitted through the target support unit being transmitted through the X-ray emission window. At least a part of the X-ray emission window is in contact with the target support unit.

The rotatable anode of a rotating anode X-ray source has demanding requirements placed upon it. For example, it may rotate at a frequency as high as 200 Hz. X-ray emission is stimulated by applying a large voltage to the cathode, causing electrons to collide with the focal track. The focal spot generated at the electron impact position may have a peak temperature between 2000 C. and 3000 C. The constant rotation of the rotating anode protects the focal track to some extent, however the average temperature of the focal track immediately following a CT acquisition protocol may still be around 1500 C. Therefore, demanding requirements are placed upon the design of the rotating anode. The present application proposes a multi-layer coating for the target region of a rotating X-ray anode which improves mechanical resilience and thermal resilience, whilst reducing the amount of expensive refractory metals required.

An analytical X-ray tube with an anode target material that emits characteristic X-rays in response to excitation by an electron beam may include any of several advantageous features. The target material is deposited on a diamond substrate layer, and a metal carbide intermediate layer may be provided between the target material and substrate that provides enhanced bonding therebetween. An interface layer may also be used that provides an acoustic impedance matching between the target material and the substrate. For a low thermal conductivity target material, a heat dissipation layer of a higher thermal conductivity material may also be included between the target material and substrate to enhance thermal transfer. The target material may have a thickness that corresponds to a maximum penetration depth of the electrons of the electron beam, and the structure may be such that a predetermined temperature range is maintained at the substrate interface.