Patent ID: 7215739
Filing Date: 2007-05-08
Classification: A61B,H05G

Abstract:
1. An x-ray imaging system comprising: an x-ray tube which generates x-rays for x-ray imaging when a pre-selected voltage is supplied thereto; a power supply for supplying power to the x-ray tube at the pre-selected voltage; a cable set comprising an anode cable and a cathode cable for operatively connecting the power supply to the x-ray tube; a plurality of electronic cells, each cell having a first state which prevents flow of current upto a threshold voltage and a second state which permits flow of current, each cell comprising at least one overvoltage device having only two terminals, each cell comprising said cells operatively connected to at least one component of the x-ray imaging system, said component selected from the group comprising the x-ray tube, the power supply and the cable set, such that said plurality of cells prevent current flow to ground when in the first state and permit current flow from the at least one component when in the first state and permit current flow from the at least one component when in the second state; an overvoltage circuit to cause at least a first cell of the plurality of electronic cells to exceed the threshold voltage and change from the first state to the second state; and wherein while the power supply supplies power to the x-ray tube at the pre-selected voltage, the cells in the first state prevent current flow from the at least one component, and, upon terininanon of the power supply supplying power to the x-ray tube at the pre-selected voltage, the overvoltage circuit causes at least the first cell of the plurality of cells to change from the first state to the second state which causes successive cells to change from the first state to the second state to permit current to flow from the at least one component thereby reducing the x-rays generated by the x-ray tube.