Claims
- 1. A method for generating an x-ray beam, said method comprising the steps of:
operating a cathode to generate an electron beam; directing the electron beam from the cathode through a selectable shaped aperture in an accelerating electrode; and impinging the electron beam at a low angle on an anode surface to form a focal spot on the anode surface.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the low angle is at most about twenty degrees.
- 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising forming the focal spot on an outer periphery of the anode surface.
- 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising housing the accelerating electrode in a central recess of the anode.
- 5. An x-ray source comprising:
a cathode for generating an electron beam; an accelerating electrode comprising a selectable shaped aperture through which the electron beam from said cathode passes; and an anode positioned so that the electron beam impinges thereon at a low angle.
- 6. The x-ray source of claim 5, wherein the low angle is at most about twenty degrees.
- 7. The x-ray source of claim 5, wherein the anode comprises a disk shape, the disk shape being defined by an outer periphery, an inner periphery and a central recess, and wherein the central recess houses the accelerating electrode.
- 8. An imaging system comprising a gantry, a detector and an x-ray source coupled to said gantry, said x-ray source configured for radiating an x-ray beam along an imaging plane toward said detector, said x-ray source comprising a cathode for generating an electron beam, an accelerating electrode comprising a selectable shaped aperture through which the electron beam from said cathode passes, and an anode positioned so that the electron beam impinges thereon at a low angle.
- 9. The imaging system of claim 8, wherein the low angle is at most about twenty degrees.
- 10. The imaging system of claim 8, wherein the anode comprises a disk shape, the disk shape being defined by an outer periphery, an inner periphery and a central recess, and wherein the central recess houses the accelerating electrode.
- 11. An x-ray source comprising:
means for generating an electron beam, means for accelerating electrons in said electron beam away from said generating means, and means for generating x-ray beams when said electron beam impinge thereon at a low angle.
- 12. The x-ray source of claim 11, wherein the low angle is at most about twenty degrees.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of patent application Ser. No. 09/682,494, filed Sep. 7, 2001, Attorney docket number RD-28081.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09682494 |
Sep 2001 |
US |
Child |
10732840 |
Dec 2003 |
US |