Patent ID: 6208706
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: H05G

Abstract:
A CT scanner comprising:a stationary gantry portion defining an examination region;a rotating gantry portion for rotating about the examination region;a plurality of x-ray tubes mounted to the rotating gantry portion for producing a beam of radiation passing through the examination region;a plurality of x-ray detectors for receiving the radiation which has traversed the examination region and for generating signals indicative of the radiation received;a reconstruction processor for processing the received radiation signals into an image representation;a thermal calculator for estimating when a temperature of an anode in one of the x-ray tubes approaches a selected temperature; anda switch assembly electrically connected between the x-ray tubes and a power source and controlled by the thermal calculator for selectively switching power from the power source to one of the x-ray tubes in response to the thermal calculator estimating that the selected temperature has been approached in another of the x-ray tubes.