Patent ID: 7634047

Claim:
A computed tomography system comprising: a rotatably mounted support frame that is rotatable around a system axis; a stationary x-ray tube, comprising an anode ring and at least one cathode ring, extending through 360° in a system plane that is perpendicular to the system axis, and an evacuated volume between the anode ring and the at least one cathode ring, said evacuated volume being at least partially delimited by a window; a unitary system mounted on said support frame for co-rotation therewith, said unitary system comprising a laser that emits a laser beam that proceeds through said window to locally activate electron emission at successive locations along said at least one cathode ring as said support frame rotates, said electron emission proceeding through said window and causing x-ray emission from said anode ring at corresponding successive locations along said anode ring, and at least one x-ray emission-influencing component that interacts with and modifies said x-ray emission selected from the group consisting of an x-ray filter and a beam collimator; and a radiation detector mounted on said support frame for co-rotation therewith opposite said unitary system, that detects said x-ray emission after interacting with said at lest one x-ray emission-influencing component.