Patent ID: 7483518

Claim:
An X-ray imaging apparatus, comprising: a radiator housing; an X-ray tube being rotatable about a longitudinal axis defined therethrough and being disposed at least partially within the radiator housing, the X-ray tube including a first portion and a second portion; a source of X-ray beams which emits at least one X-ray beam at least partially through the X-ray tube and exiting the X-ray tube at an annular X-ray window peripherally disposed on the X-ray tube adjacent the second portion; at least one filtration material disposed on the X-ray tube and at least partially covering a portion of the annular X-ray window, wherein the X-ray beam becomes filtered as it passes through the filtration material; and wherein rotation of the X-ray tube causes the X-ray beam to pass through a plurality of locations in the annular X-ray window and wherein at least a portion of the X-ray beam is filtered by the filtration material, wherein the X-ray imaging apparatus includes a first filtration material and a second filtration material, a plurality of the first filtration material and a plurality of the second filtration material being disposed in an alternating orientation at least partially covering the annular X-ray window.