Patent ID: 7970099

Claim:
A multi-beam x-ray device, comprising: a multi-beam x-ray tube having an interior polygonal shape consisting of a plurality of polygon sides, with a plurality of focal spots, from which x-rays are respectively emitted, located at each of said polygon sides; an x-ray tube control unit that controls emission of x-rays from said multi-beam x-ray tube by activating emission of x-rays from individual ones of said focal spots to cause an x-ray beam alternating from polygon side-to-polygon side in a specified sequence; and a plurality of x-ray beam diaphragms located relative to said multi-beam x-ray tube respectively at said polygon sides, each of said diaphragms comprising a diaphragm plate having a diaphragm aperture therein that limits the respective x-ray beams emitted from the respective focal spots at the polygon side at which the diaphragm is located, and a displacement unit also controlled by said x-ray tube control unit to displace the respective diaphragm plates to place one of the respective diaphragm apertures in a path of x-rays emitted by a currently-activated focal spot at the polygon side at which the diaphragm is located, to produce said x-ray beam.