Patent ID: 6181765
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: A61B,H05G

Abstract:
An X-ray tube assembly, comprising:(a) a hermetically-sealed frame having a substantially curved configuration and surrounding an exterior central passage through said frame for receiving a patient therethrough, said curved frame defining an interior chamber with a vacuum therein and having a X-ray transparent window ring surrounding and facing said central passage;(b) a cathode ring stationarily mounted to said curved frame and disposed within said interior chamber and having an electron emitting portion and a first electrical potential;(c) an anode ring stationarily mounted to said curved frame and disposed within said interior chamber and spaced apart from said cathode ring, said anode ring having a target portion and a second electrical potential more positive than said first electrical potential of said cathode ring; and(d) means for excitation of electrons from said electron emitting portion of said cathode ring and to flow in an e-beam therefrom to said target portion of said anode ring and thereby to produce an X-ray beam that exits said interior chamber of said curved frame and passes through said transparent window ring of said curved frame and across said central passage;(e) said electron emitting portion of said cathode ring including a series of filaments being arranged side-by-side one another circumferentially about said cathode ring, each of said filaments being separately and consecutively excitable by said electron excitation means such that said X-ray beam produced by such consecutive excitation is movable around the patient disposed within said central passage.