Patent ID: 7127033

Claim:
A cooling system for a miniature x-ray tube capable of being delivered in a catheter to a desired location in a lumen of the human body, comprising: a catheter having multiple lumens for carrying a liquid coolant, with the x-ray tube contained in a distal end of the catheter, the x-ray tube having an anode end near the distal end of the catheter, the catheter including a coolant delivery head distal relative to the anode, for receiving coolant from at least one inflow lumen of the catheter and for delivering a distributed flow of coolant liquid over the anode end of the x-ray tube, the delivery head having a coolant entry end fluidly connected to said inflow lumen and having a wall with a series of orifices for delivery of the coolant liquid toward a proximal direction of the catheter, toward and over said anode end, the orifices being spaced apart and distributed in position so as to spread the coolant liquid over substantially the entire area of the anode end so as efficiently to cool the anode, and a coolant return space around the x-ray tube for collecting coolant liquid that has flowed over the anode, said return space being connected to an outflow lumen in the catheter for returning the coolant liquid through the catheter toward a proximal end of the catheter and out of a human body.