A method for compensating the settings of a pulsed X-ray system. The method selects current, voltage, and intended pulse width settings for the X-ray pulses. The method then compensates the selected pulse width setting for the set voltage and tube current, in accordance with at least one stored normalized value at a predetermined temperature, taking into account the environmental temperature of the electric circuitry of an X-ray tank of the X-ray system. The at least one normalized value is obtained in a calibration step based on the actual pulse width and the difference thereof with the intended pulse width at a predetermined temperature, taking into account the internal temperature of the X-ray tank.

A method for compensating the settings of a pulsed X-ray system. The method selects current, voltage, and intended pulse width settings for the X-ray pulses. The method then compensates the selected pulse width setting for the set voltage and tube current, in accordance with at least one stored normalized value at a predetermined temperature, taking into account the environmental temperature of the electric circuitry of an X-ray tank of the X-ray system. The at least one normalized value is obtained in a calibration step based on the actual pulse width and the difference thereof with the intended pulse width at a predetermined temperature, taking into account the internal temperature of the X-ray tank.

Various methods and systems are provided for x-ray tube conditioning for a computed tomography imaging method. In one embodiment, x-ray may be generated in an x-ray tube of a radiation source prior to a diagnostic scan to warmup the x-ray tube to a desired temperature for the diagnostic scan. The power delivered to the x-ray tube during warmup may be adjusted in a closed loop system based on an initial temperature of the x-ray tube and the desired temperature for the diagnostic scan. During tube warmup, by placing a blocking plate coupled to a collimator blade in a path of the x-ray beam, the x-ray beam may be blocked from exiting a collimator.

Various methods and systems are provided for x-ray tube conditioning for a computed tomography imaging method. In one embodiment, a scout scan may be carried out prior to a diagnostic to warmup the x-ray tube to a desired temperature for the diagnostic scan. A scout scan parameter optimizing algorithm may be used to determine scout scan parameters based on a selected patient absorbed dose range and an amount of energy to be imparted to an x-ray tube during the scout scan preceding a diagnostic scan. By using a hardening filter in the path of the x-ray beam, radiation absorbed dose of the subject being scanned may be limited to the selected patient absorbed dose range.

The X-ray generator includes a booster for boosting a first DC voltage supplied from a voltage source to a second DC voltage higher than the first DC voltage, at least one capacitor for receiving the second DC voltage and generating a charging voltage on the basis of the second DC voltage, a converter for converting the charging voltage into a driving voltage, an X-ray source for receiving the driving voltage and emitting X-rays according to the driving voltage, and a controller for controlling the booster, the converter, and the X-ray source. The controller calculates a cooling time required for cooling the X-ray source to a predetermined temperature or lower, determines the magnitude of the second DC voltage according to the cooling time, and applies the second DC voltage to the capacitor for the cooling time.

A method for generating X-ray radiation, the method including providing a liquid target in a chamber, directing an electron beam towards the liquid target such that the electron beam interacts with the liquid target to generated X-ray radiation, estimating a number of particles produced from the interaction between the electron beam and the liquid target by measuring a number of positively charged particles in the chamber and eliminating a contribution from scattered electrons to the estimated number of particles, and controlling the electron beam, and/or a temperature in a region of the liquid target in which the electron beam interacts with the target, such that the estimated number of particles is below a predetermined limit. Also, a corresponding X-ray source.

A method for generating X-ray radiation, the method including providing a liquid target in a chamber, directing an electron beam towards the liquid target such that the electron beam interacts with the liquid target to generated X-ray radiation, estimating a number of particles produced from the interaction between the electron beam and the liquid target by measuring a number of positively charged particles in the chamber and eliminating a contribution from scattered electrons to the estimated number of particles, and controlling the electron beam, and/or a temperature in a region of the liquid target in which the electron beam interacts with the target, such that the estimated number of particles is below a predetermined limit. Also, a corresponding X-ray source.

Various methods and systems are provided for x-ray tube conditioning for a computed tomography imaging method. In one embodiment, x-ray may be generated in an x-ray tube of a radiation source prior to a diagnostic scan to warmup the x-ray tube to a desired temperature for the diagnostic scan. The power delivered to the x-ray tube during warmup may be adjusted in a closed loop system based on an initial temperature of the x-ray tube and the desired temperature for the diagnostic scan. During tube warmup, by placing a blocking plate coupled to a collimator blade in a path of the x-ray beam, the x-ray beam may be blocked from exiting a collimator.

Various methods and systems are provided for x-ray tube conditioning for a computed tomography imaging method. In one embodiment, a scout scan may be carried out prior to a diagnostic to warmup the x-ray tube to a desired temperature for the diagnostic scan. A scout scan parameter optimizing algorithm may be used to determine scout scan parameters based on a selected patient absorbed dose range and an amount of energy to be imparted to an x-ray tube during the scout scan preceding a diagnostic scan. By using a hardening filter in the path of the x-ray beam, radiation absorbed dose of the subject being scanned may be limited to the selected patient absorbed dose range.

When an irradiation range control member is reflected in a region of interest, a control unit of an X-ray fluoroscope is configured to perform at least one of a first control to update a region of interest to a new region of interest by excluding a portion where the irradiation range control member is reflected in the region of interest and a second control to assign a predetermined pixel value to a pixel of a portion where the irradiation range control member is reflected in the region of interest.