X RAY TUBES NEW ADVANCES

SURG LT CDR TC BHATT

 HEAT - A LIMITING FACTOR
• In the use of small focal spots that are
desirable for good image detail, e.g.
magnification mammography.

• In CT, especially with spiral scanning of

relatively large anatomical regions.
Factors That Determine the Amount of Heat Produced and the 
Three Areas of an X-Ray Tube That Have Specific Heat Capacities
• Heat (HU) = 1.4 x heat (J).
• Heat (HU) = KVp x MAS (for single phase)

The Three Critical Heat Capacities in an X-Ray Tube

A Rotating Anode Damaged by Overheating
 Factors affecting heat ratings
• Focal Spot Size
• Anode Angle
• Anode Rotation Speed
– 60 Hz – 3000 rpm
– 180 Hz – 10,000 rpm
• KV Waveform
– constant potential operation increases the effective
focal spot track heat capacity
• Anode Body – CT, Fluoro.
• Tube Housing
 The capacity of a given
focal spot track is
specified by the
manufacturer in the form
of a graph - Tube rating
charts.

Rating Charts for an X-Ray Tube

Operated under Different Conditions
(Focal Spot Size, Rotation Speed, and
KV Waveform)
 HEAT - EFFECTS

FILAMENT TARGET GLASS

DEPOSIT DEPOSIT CRAZING
METAL X RAY TUBES
 METAL X RAY TUBES
• Higher target heat storage exposure ratings.
• More rugged construction offering greater focal spot
stability.
• Better flexibility in setting and maintaining inherent
filtration – Controlled thickness of metal window.
• Better imaging contrast by reducing off-focus
radiation - Rebound electrons are absorbed into metal envelope.
• Longer life tubes with high tube current applications
 GLASS Vs METALLIC TUBES
GLASS ENVELOPE
The material is brittle.
Heat conductivity of glass is very poor
Surface conductivity of glass makes long
creeping distances necessary
Glass can be machined to a very limited
extend only
Flashovers due to discharges in vacuum or
surface effects can damage the glass
Glass tubes must be used in special
housings to insulate the electrodes from
ground
Skilled craftsmanship (glass blower) is
necessary to produce the glass envelope
METAL – CERAMIC TUBES
Withstand great mechanical stresses
Heat conductivity of ceramic equals the
conductivity of stainless steel
Surface conductivity of ceramics can be low
Metal parts can be joined vacuum tight to
the ceramic insulator
Flashovers in most cases do not affect the
integrity of the tube
Application of ceramics allows using
stainless steel as vacuum envelope
The metal envelope of a metal-ceramic
tube can be adapted to the shape desired
 METAL CERAMIC TUBES
• Ceramic materials instead of glass for the high voltage insulator and the
vacuum envelope.
• Specific advantages of these new X-ray tubes are:
· Robustness
· Stability
· High state of integration of mechanical and electrical features
· Custom-made designs easily feasible.
METAL CERAMIC TUBES
 Rotating Envelope Tubes
• In an embodiment of the invention, the housing has an inner casing and
an outer casing permanently connected with the inner casing, and an
intermediate space for passage of cooling fluid is formed between the
inner casing and the outer casing. In this case the cooling fluid is thus
rotated with the same rotation speed as the housing. This enables an
exact restricted guidance of the cooling fluid and therewith a particularly
effective cooling. In comparison to rotating envelope tubes in which the
inner casing is not connected with the outer casing such that it rotates in
a fixed manner therewith, the occurrence an unwanted friction between
the cooling fluid and the inner casing is avoided. The inventive rotating
envelope tube can be rotated with a comparably low drive power.
 ROTATING ENVELOPE TUBES
• Cooling rate of 4.8 MHU/min (0.8–1.4 MHU/min)
• Electronic beam deflection system for focal
spot position and size control.
• Anode disk is part of the tube envelope. This
implies rotation of the entire tube with
respect to the anode axis.

Schardt et al.: Straton x-ray tube

 Rotating envelope Tube

Cooling surface of the anode is in direct contact with the cooling fluid.
Flat emitter technology.
FIELD EMISSION TUBES

-International Centre for Diffraction Data 2004, Advances in X-ray Analysis,

Volume 47.
-NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field CA 94035
 FIELD EMISSION TUBES
Extraction of electrons from a conducting solid by an electric field.
No heat is required for obtaining field emission.
The solid is shaped as a tip.
Material with a low workfunction that is shaped as sharp as possible.

Emission characteristics of such emitters are strongly dependent on the tip

radii, and preservation of the emission characteristics requires the tip
sharpness remain unaltered.
Scanning electron image of CNFs grown on the
conically shaped tip of a Pd wire.
THANK YOU