Patent ID: 7058160

Claim:
An x-ray device, comprising: an vacuum enclosure including a cathode housing portion and an anode housing portion; an anode substantially disposed in the anode housing portion and a cathode substantially disposed in the cathode housing portion such that the anode and the cathode are positioned in a spaced apart arrangement so that a target surface of the anode is positioned to receive electrons emitted by the cathode; a shield structure interposed between the anode and the cathode, the shield structure including an interior surface that defines an aperture through which the electrons are passed from the cathode to the target surface of the anode, the aperture having an inlet and an outlet, an area of the inlet being relatively smaller than an area of the outlet, and the shield structure being situated such that the inlet of the aperture is positioned proximate the cathode and the outlet of the aperture is positioned proximate the target surface of the anode; and an adapter having a first end and a second end, wherein a region of the inlet includes a mating surface configured to mate with the first end of an adapter, and the second end is configured for attachment with an open end of the cathode housing.