Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A positioning apparatus for aligning an X-ray lens, the apparatus comprising:a positioning component having at least one goniometer stage, the at least one goniometer stage having a centre of rotation that substantially coincides with an X-ray emitting portion of an X-ray source; anda lens mounting component. 2. The positioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first goniometer stage is arranged for tilting the X-ray lens about a first axis, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a second goniometer stage for tilting the X-ray lens about a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. 3. The positioning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first goniometer stage is arranged at a first distance from the X-ray emitting portion and the second goniometer stage is positioned at a second distance from the X-ray emitting portion that is different from the first distance. 4. The positioning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first goniometer stage can be actuated independently from the second goniometer stage. 5. The positioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one goniometer stage has an X-ray passage. 6. The positioning apparatus of claim 5, wherein the X-ray passage extends substantially through the centre of the at least one goniometer stage. 7. The positioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the positioning component further comprises at least one translation stage. 8. The positioning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the positioning component comprises a first translation stage having a first axis of translation and a second translation stage having a second axis of translation that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis of translation. 9. The positioning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one translation stage has an X-ray passage. 10. The positioning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the X-ray passage extends substantially through the centre of the at least one translation stage. 11. The positioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one interface member for coupling the positioning apparatus to at least one of a housing of the X-ray source and a sample housing. 12. The positioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises an X-ray shielding component, provided at an end of the apparatus to face the X-ray source. 13. The positioning apparatus of claim 12, wherein the positioning component is at least partially made from a material that is essentially transparent to X-rays. 14. The positioning apparatus of claim 13, wherein the material is aluminium. 15. The positioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises an X-ray lens extending substantially centrally through the positioning component. 16. An X-ray device, comprisingan X-ray source having an X-ray emitting portion;an X-ray lens for redirecting X-rays emitted from the X-ray source;a positioning apparatus for aligning the X-ray lens, the positioning apparatus comprising at least one goniometer stage having a centre of rotation that substantially coincides with the X-ray emitting portion. 17. The X-ray device of claim 16, wherein the X-ray lens comprises one or more bundles of capillaries. 18. The X-ray device of claim 16, wherein the X-ray device further comprises an X-ray shielding component arranged between the X-ray source and the at least are goniometer stage. 19. A method of positioning an X-ray lens in relation to an X-ray emitting portion of an X-ray source, the X-ray lens being maneuverable by means of at least one translation stage and at least one goniometer stage, the at least one goniometer stage having a centre of rotation that substantially coincides with the X-ray emitting portion, the positioning method comprising the steps ofa) manipulating the at least one translation stage to position an inlet focus of the X-ray lens to substantially coincide with the X-ray emitting portion; andb) manipulating the at least one goniometer stage after the manipulating step (a), wherein the at least one goniometer stage is manipulated to align an axis of the X-ray lens with a predetermined axis extending through the X-ray emitting portion.