Patent ID: 6987835
Filing Date: 2006-01-17
Classification: A61N,H01J

Abstract:
1. A miniature x-ray tube device for use in delivering an x-ray dosage from the end of an elongated probe line inserted within a space in living tissue, comprising: a vacuum enclosure at a distal end of the probe line, defining a vacuum chamber, and the vacuum chamber including a thermionic cathode connected via heater conductors in a cathode heating circuit, and including a target and an anode spaced from the cathode and connected to a high-voltage conductor and positioned to receive electrons from the cathode when the cathode is heated by current delivered through the heater conductors in said heating circuit and when a high voltage potential is applied via the high-voltage conductor and one of the heater conductors, and the cathode being a fine-wire cathode produced by MEMS technology and comprising a filament of thin, flat configuration suspended on an etchable semiconductor substrate, an area of the substrate between ends of the filament having been etched away such that the filament hangs in free space supported by filament ends which are secured to the substrate.