Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. An x-ray focusing device comprising:a slide pivotable about a pivot point defined at a forward end thereof;a rail unit fixed with respect to said slide;a forward crystal, for focusing x-rays, disposed at said forward end of said slide, said forward crystal defining a forward angle of incidence with respect to said pivot point; anda rearward crystals, for focusing x-rays, movably coupled to said slide and said rail unit at a distance rearward from said forward crystal, said rearward crystal defining a rearward angle of incidence with respect to said pivot point,wherein said slide extends in a straight line between said pivot point and said rearward crystal, and wherein pivoting of said slide about said pivot point changes said forward angle of incidence and said rearward angle of incidence of said forward and rearward crystals while simultaneously changing the distance between said forward and rearward crystals. 2. An x-ray focusing device as defined in claim 1, further comprising:a forward carriage fixed to said forward end of said slide for supporting said forward crystal; anda movable rearward carriage for supporting said rearward crystal, said movable rearward carriage being linearly translatable along said slide and along said rail unit and defining a fixed distance between said rearward crystal and said rail unit. 3. An x-ray focusing device as defined in claim 2, wherein said movable rearward carriage comprises a rotatable bearing to allow for varying angles between said slide and said rail unit. 4. An x-ray focusing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said rail unit comprises a linear translation device for linearly translating said rearward crystal along said slide. 5. An x-ray focusing device as defined in claim 4, wherein said linear translation device comprises:a lead screw coupled to said rearward crystal; anda motor for rotating said lead screw, wherein said rearward crystal is linearly translated along said slide. 6. An x-ray focusing device as defined in claim 5, wherein said linear translation device further comprises a translation arm threadably coupled to said lead screw, said translation arm defining a fixed distance between said rearward crystal and said lead screw. 7. An x-ray focusing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said forward and rearward crystals are sagittally bent Laue crystals having asymmetric lattice planes for focusing and diffracting x-rays. 8. An x-ray focusing device as defined in claim 7, further comprising forward and rearward bending units for respectively adjusting the sagittal bend of said forward and rearward crystals. 9. An x-ray focusing device as defined in claim 8, wherein at least one of said forward and rearward bending units comprises a pair of deflectable arms having said forward crystal or said rearward crystal attached therebetween, wherein deflection of at least one of said deflectable anus symmetrically bends said crystal about a centerline defined between said deflectable arms. 10. An x-ray focusing device comprising:a slide pivotable about a pivot point defined at a forward end thereof;a rail unit fixed with respect to said slide;a forward crystal, for focusing x-rays, disposed at said forward end of said slide, said forward crystal defining a forward angle of incidence with respect to said pivot point; anda rearward crystal, for focusing x-rays, movably coupled to said slide and said rail unit at a distance rearward from said forward crystal, said rearward crystal defining a rearward angle of incidence with respect to said pivot point,wherein pivoting of said slide about said pivot point changes said forward angle of incidence and said rearward angle of incidence of said forward and rearward crystals while simultaneously changing the distance between said forward and rearward crystals, andwherein said forward and rearward crystals are sagittally bent Laue crystals having asymmetric lattice planes for focusing and diffracting x-rays, andwherein said x-ray focusing device further comprises forward and rearward bending units for respectively adjusting the sagittal bend of said forward and rearward crystals, andwherein at least one of said forward and rearward bending units comprises a pair of deflectable arms having said forward crystal or said rearward crystal attached therebetween, wherein deflection of at least one of said deflectable arms symmetrically bends said crystal about a centerline defined between said deflectable arms, andwherein the at least one of said forward and rearward bending units further comprises:a base;a fixed support attached to said base and having one end of a first deflectable arm attached thereto;a movable support disposed on said base and having one end of a second deflectable arm attached thereto;a translation mechanism for moving said movable support with respect to said fixed support to deflect said second deflectable arm; anda pair of clamping members disposed on respective ends of said first and second deflectable arms opposite said fixed support and said movable support, said forward crystal or said rearward crystal being attached between said clamping members. 11. An x-ray focusing device as defined in claim 10, wherein said translation mechanism is a picomotor. 12. An x-ray focusing device as defined in claim 1, further comprising a base, said pivot point and said rail unit being fixed to said base. 13. An x-ray focusing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said forward angle of incidence and said rearward angle of incidence of said forward crystal and said rearward crystal are reciprocal angles, whereby an x-ray beam emerging from said rearward crystal is substantially parallel to an incident beam striking said forward crystal. 14. An x-ray focusing device comprising:a slide pivotable about a pivot point defined at a forward end thereof;a rail unit fixed with respect to said slide;a forward crystal, for focusing x-rays, disposed at said forward end of said slide, said forward crystal defining a forward angle of incidence with respect to said pivot point; anda rearward crystal, for focusing x-rays, movably coupled to said slide and said rail unit at a distance rearward from said forward crystal, said rearward crystal defining a rearward angle of incidence with respect to said pivot point,wherein pivoting of said slide about said pivot point changes said forward angle of incidence and said rearward angle of incidence of said forward and rearward crystals while simultaneously changing the distance between said forward and rearward crystals, andwherein said forward angle of incidence and said rearward angle of incidence of said forward crystal and said rearward crystal are reciprocal angles, whereby an x-ray beam emerging from said rearward crystal is substantially parallel to an incident beam striking said forward crystal, andwherein said pivot point is positioned about midway between said incident beam striking said forward crystal and said x-ray beam emerging from said rearward crystal. 15. A method for changing the energy of an x-ray beam focused in a device comprising:a slide pivotable about a pivot point defined at a forward end thereof;a rail unit fixed with respect to said slide;a forward crystals, for focusing x-rays, linearly fixed to said forward end of said slide, said forward crystal defining a forward angle of incidence with respect to said pivot point; anda rearward crystal, for focusing x-rays, movably coupled to said slide and said rail unit at a distance rearward from said forward crystal, said rearward crystal defining a rearward angle of incidence with respect to said pivot point, said slide extending in a straight line between said pivot point and said rearward crystal,the method comprising the step of translating said rearward crystal along said slide with respect to said forward crystal, while said forward crystal remains fixed with respect to said slide thereby changing the distance therebetween, wherein said step of translating simultaneously pivots said slide about said pivot point thereby changing the incidence angles of said forward and rearward crystals. 16. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said rail unit comprises a lead screw and a motor, said lead screw being coupled between said motor and said rearward crystal, and wherein said step of translating comprises the step of rotating said lead screw with said motor to translate said rearward crystal along said slide. 17. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein said translating step comprises the step of maintaining a fixed distance between said lead screw and said rearward crystal. 18. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said forward and rearward crystals are sagittally bent Laue crystals having asymmetric lattice planes for focusing and diffracting x-rays. 19. A method as defined in claim 18, further comprising the step of changing the bend of at least one crystal to adjust focusing of the x-rays. 20. A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said forward angle of incidence and said rearward angle of incidence of said forward crystal and said rearward crystal are reciprocal angles, whereby an x-ray beam emerging from said rearward crystal is substantially parallel to an incident beam striking said forward crystal. 21. A method for changing the energy of an x-ray beam focused in a device comprising:a slide pivotable about a pivot point defined at a forward end thereof;a rail unit fixed with respect to said slide;a forward crystal, for focusing x-rays, disposed at said forward end of said slide, said forward crystal defining a forward angle of incidence with respect to said pivot point; anda rearward crystal, for focusing x-rays, movably coupled to said slide and said unit at a distance rearward from said forward crystal, said rearward crystal defining a rearward angle of incidence with respect to said pivot point, wherein said forward angle of incidence and said rearward angle of incidence of said forward crystal and said rearward crystal are reciprocal angles, whereby an x-ray beam emerging from said rearward crystal is substantially parallel to an incident beam striking said forward crystal, and wherein said pivot point is positioned about midway between said incident beam striking said forward crystal and said x-ray beam emerging from said rearward crystal,the method comprising the step of translating said rearward crystal along said slide with respect to said forward crystal, thereby changing the distance therebetween, wherein said step of translating simultaneously pivots said slide about said pivot point thereby changing the incidence angles of said forward and rearward crystals.