CN117255468A - Distributed X-ray source and CT apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application relates to a distributed X-ray source and a CT apparatus having the same. A distributed X-ray source and an apparatus having the source comprising: the device comprises a shell, a plurality of electron guns, an anode, a high-voltage connector, an output window, a plurality of first control modules and at least one second control module. In the above CT apparatus, each first control module is controlled by the second control module to input emission signals to the electron gun, so that any one or more of the plurality of electron guns emits electrons to the anode, the high voltage connector provides high voltage to the anode, so that an accelerating electric field is formed in the vacuum chamber, so that electrons from the electron guns interact with the anode to generate rays and are emitted out of the housing through the strip-shaped emission holes and the output windows, and thus, by notifying any one or more of the plurality of electron guns, rays are generated outside the housing in different time and space, and different requirements of one apparatus for the rays are satisfied.

Description

Distributed X-ray source and CT apparatus having the same

Technical Field

The present application relates to the technical field of CT devices, and in particular to a distributed X-ray source and a CT device having the same.

Background

X-rays have wide application in the fields of industrial nondestructive testing, safety inspection, medical diagnosis, treatment, and the like. In particular, an X-ray fluoroscopic imaging apparatus made of high penetration ability of X-rays plays an important role in the aspect of people's daily life. Early on, such devices were plastic-type planar perspective imaging devices, and the current advanced technology was digital, multi-view, and high-resolution stereoscopic imaging devices, such as CT (computed tomography), capable of obtaining high-definition three-dimensional stereoscopic graphics or slice images, and advanced high-end applications.

The current X-ray source comprises a circular vacuum shell, the shell is divided into circular arc-shaped sections along the circumferential direction of the shell, and circular arc-shaped anodes and cathodes are arranged on each section of shell in pairs, so that X-rays can be generated at all angles, and full-angle perspective imaging is generated.

However, the above-mentioned X-ray source cannot realize the generation of X-rays in a specific time and space because the anode and the cathode on each section of the housing are simultaneously started due to the unique arrangement mode of the anode and the cathode.

Disclosure of Invention

Based on this, it is necessary to provide a distributed X-ray source and a CT apparatus having the same, which solve the problem that the current X-ray source cannot generate X-rays in a specific time and space due to the simultaneous start of the anode and the cathode on each section of the housing due to the unique arrangement of the anode and the cathode.

A distributed X-ray source, the distributed X-ray source comprising:

the device comprises a shell, a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor and a control unit, wherein the shell is provided with a vacuum cavity, a first side wall, a second side wall and a third side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall are opposite in a first direction and are parallel to each other, the third side wall is adjacent to the first side wall and the second side wall and extends in a second direction, and a strip-shaped outlet hole extending in the second direction is formed in the third side wall;

a plurality of electron guns arranged along a second direction and arranged on the first side wall for emitting electrons to the inner wall of the second side wall;

the anode is arranged on the second side wall along the second direction and used for receiving electrons emitted by the electron gun;

a high voltage connection connected to the anode; and

and the output window is used for sealing the strip-shaped outlet holes and enabling X-rays to be emitted out of the shell through the strip-shaped outlet holes.

In the distributed X-ray source, the casing has a vacuum chamber, a first side wall and a second side wall opposite along a first direction and parallel to each other, and a third side wall adjacent to the first side wall and the second side wall and extending along a second direction, and the third side wall is provided with a strip-shaped outlet hole extending along the second direction; the electron guns are arranged along the second direction and are arranged on the first side wall and used for emitting electrons to the inner wall of the second side wall; the anode is arranged on the second side wall along the second direction and used for receiving electrons emitted by the electron gun, and the high-voltage connector is connected with the anode. The output window is used for sealing the strip-shaped exit hole and enabling X-rays to be emitted out of the shell through the strip-shaped exit hole. Therefore, electrons are emitted to the anode through any one or more of the plurality of electron guns, the high-voltage connector provides high voltage for the anode, so that an accelerating electric field is formed in the vacuum cavity, the electrons from the electron guns interact with the anode to generate X rays and are emitted out of the shell through the strip-shaped emission holes and the output windows, and the X rays are generated to the outside of the shell at different times and spaces through informing any one or more of the plurality of electron guns, so that different requirements of a CT device for the X rays are met.

In an embodiment, the distributed X-ray source further comprises a plurality of vacuum cable joints;

the vacuum cable connectors are respectively connected with the electron guns, and the vacuum cable connectors are arranged on the first side wall along the second direction and are used for being connected with filaments and leads of the electron guns.

In an embodiment, the distributed X-ray source further comprises at least one cooling joint, wherein a cooling circuit is arranged inside the anode, the cooling circuit is communicated with the cooling joint, and the cooling joint is used for introducing a cooling medium.

In one embodiment, the number of the cooling connectors is two, namely a liquid inlet connector and a liquid outlet connector;

the cooling loop extends along the second direction, and the two cooling joints are arranged on the shell and are respectively communicated with two ends of the cooling loop.

In one embodiment, the distributed X-ray source further comprises at least one vacuum pump;

the vacuum pump is arranged on the shell and communicated with the vacuum cavity.

In one embodiment, the distributed X-ray source further comprises an exhaust connector disposed in the housing and in communication with the vacuum chamber.

In one embodiment, the vacuum pump is a titanium pump.

In one embodiment, the distributed X-ray source further comprises a cooling source;

a cooling groove is formed in the outer side face of the shell, and the cooling groove extends along the second direction;

the cooling source is connected with the opening of the cooling groove.

In an embodiment, the distributed X-ray source further comprises at least two supports;

one end of the supporting body is connected with the anode, and the other end of the supporting body is connected with the inner wall of the shell and is used for supporting the anode.

In one embodiment, the distributed X-ray source further comprises an exit cylinder disposed on the outer wall of the housing;

one end of the emergent cylinder is communicated with the strip-shaped emergent hole, the other end of the emergent cylinder is used for emitting X-rays, and the emergent cylinder is used for restraining the emergent direction of the X-rays.

An embodiment of the present application further provides a CT apparatus, including: a plurality of first control modules, at least one second control module, and a distributed X-ray source according to any one of claims 1-10;

the first control modules are connected with the electron guns in a one-to-one correspondence manner and used for controlling the electron guns to emit electrons;

the second control module is connected with the first control modules and is used for transmitting control signals to the first control modules so as to control any electron gun to emit electrons.

In the above CT apparatus, the housing has a vacuum chamber, a first side wall and a second side wall opposite to each other in a first direction and parallel to each other, and a third side wall adjacent to the first side wall and the second side wall and extending in a second direction, and the third side wall is provided with a strip-shaped exit hole extending in the second direction; the electron guns are arranged along the second direction and are arranged on the first side wall and used for emitting electrons to the inner wall of the second side wall; the anode is arranged on the second side wall along the second direction and used for receiving electrons emitted by the electron gun, and the high-voltage connector is connected with the anode. The output window is used for sealing the strip-shaped exit hole and enabling X-rays to be emitted out of the shell through the strip-shaped exit hole. And the second control module is used for controlling each first control module to input emission signals to the electron gun, so that any one or more of the electron guns emits electrons to the anode, the high-voltage connector provides high voltage for the anode, an accelerating electric field is formed in the vacuum cavity, the electrons from the electron guns interact with the anode to generate X rays and are emitted out of the shell through the strip-shaped emission holes and the output windows, and the X rays are generated outside the shell at different time and space by informing any one or more of the electron guns, so that different requirements of a CT device on the X rays are met.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a distributed X-ray source according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a distributed X-ray source according to another embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a distributed X-ray source in accordance with yet another embodiment.

Reference numerals illustrate:

a 100-distributed X-ray source;

110-a housing; 111-vacuum chamber; 112-a first side; 113-a second side; 114-a third side; 115-strip shaped exit holes; 116-cooling grooves;

120-electron gun;

130-anode; 131-a cooling circuit;

140-high pressure joint;

150-an output window;

160-vacuum cable connector;

170-cooling the joint;

180-vacuum pump;

190-exhaust joint; 191-support.

Detailed Description

In order to make the above objects, features and advantages of the present application more comprehensible, embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present application. This application is, however, susceptible of embodiment in many other forms than those described herein and similar modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the application, and therefore the application is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

In the description of the present application, it should be understood that, if there are terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., these terms refer to the orientation or positional relationship based on the drawings, which are merely for convenience of description and simplification of description, and do not indicate or imply that the apparatus or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be configured and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as limiting the present application.

Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and the like, if any, are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying a relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defining "a first" or "a second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of the present application, the terms "plurality" and "a plurality" if any, mean at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless specifically defined otherwise.

In this application, unless explicitly stated and limited otherwise, the terms "mounted," "connected," "secured," and the like are to be construed broadly. For example, the two parts can be fixedly connected, detachably connected or integrated; can be mechanically or electrically connected; either directly or indirectly, through intermediaries, or both, may be in communication with each other or in interaction with each other, unless expressly defined otherwise. The specific meaning of the terms in this application will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art as the case may be.

In this application, unless expressly stated or limited otherwise, the meaning of a first feature being "on" or "off" a second feature, and the like, is that the first and second features are either in direct contact or in indirect contact through an intervening medium. Moreover, a first feature being "above," "over" and "on" a second feature may be a first feature being directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply indicating that the first feature is level higher than the second feature. The first feature being "under", "below" and "beneath" the second feature may be the first feature being directly under or obliquely below the second feature, or simply indicating that the first feature is less level than the second feature.

It will be understood that if an element is referred to as being "fixed" or "disposed" on another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. If an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and the like as used herein, if any, are for descriptive purposes only and do not represent a unique embodiment.

Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a distributed X-ray source 100 according to an embodiment of the present application, where the distributed X-ray source 100 according to an embodiment of the present application includes: a housing 110, a plurality of electron guns 120, an anode 130, a high voltage connector 140, and an output window 150.

In the above-described distributed X-ray source 100, the housing 110 has a vacuum chamber 111, a first sidewall and a second sidewall that are opposite and parallel to each other along the first direction OX, and a third sidewall that is adjacent to the first sidewall and the second sidewall and extends along the second direction OY, and the third sidewall is provided with a strip-shaped exit hole 115 extending along the second direction OY; the electron guns 120 are arranged along the second direction OY and disposed on the first sidewall for emitting electrons to the inner wall of the second sidewall; the anode 130 is disposed on the second sidewall along the second direction OY for receiving electrons emitted from the electron gun 120, and the high voltage connector 140 is connected to the anode 130. The output window 150 serves to seal the strip-shaped output hole 115 and enable the X-rays to be emitted outside the housing 110 through the strip-shaped output hole 115. Thus, electrons are emitted to the anode 130 through any one or more of the plurality of electron guns 120, the high-voltage joint 140 supplies high voltage to the anode 130, so that an accelerating electric field is formed in the vacuum cavity 111, the electrons from the electron guns 120 interact with the anode 130 to generate X-rays and are emitted out of the shell 110 through the strip-shaped emission holes 115 and the output windows 150, and the X-rays are generated outside the shell 110 at different times and spaces through informing any one or more of the plurality of electron guns 120, so that different requirements of a CT device for the X-rays are met.

Specifically, the anode 130 has a plurality of anode 130 targets, and the plurality of anode 130 targets are in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of electron guns 120, and the anode 130 targets are used for generating X-rays by reacting with electrons emitted from the electron guns 120.

Specifically, the housing 110 is square in shape as shown in fig. 1 or shaped as shown in fig. 3.

Referring to fig. 2, in particular, the housing 110 has a cylindrical shape.

Specifically, the high voltage connection 140 produces a voltage of 60kV-320kV.

In an embodiment, the exit window is transparent and seals the strip-shaped exit aperture 115 so that X-rays can exit the housing 110 directly through the exit window.

In another embodiment, the exit window is non-transparent and is removably or removably coupled to the housing 110, and is closed when the internal vacuum is required during the X-ray generation process, and is opened for X-rays to exit the housing 110 when X-rays are required.

Specifically, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the third sidewall are sidewalls enclosing the vacuum chamber 111.

Referring to fig. 1, in an embodiment, the distributed X-ray source 100 further includes a plurality of vacuum cable joints 160, where the vacuum cable joints 160 are respectively connected to the electron guns 120, and the vacuum cable joints are disposed on the first sidewall along the second direction OY and used for connecting to filaments and leads of the electron guns 120 to connect to electron emission signals, while guaranteeing the vacuum degree of the vacuum chamber 111, and the filaments heat the electron guns 120 to the working temperature to emit electrons.

In one embodiment, the vacuum cable connectors 160 are respectively connected to the electron guns 120 in a one-to-one correspondence.

In another embodiment, one vacuum cable tie 160 is connected to each of the plurality of electron guns 120.

Referring to fig. 1, in an embodiment, the distributed X-ray source 100 further includes at least one cooling joint 170, the cooling circuit 131 is disposed inside the anode 130, the cooling circuit 131 is in communication with the cooling joint 170, and the cooling joint 170 is used to introduce a cooling medium, so as to take away heat on the prototype.

Specifically, the number of the cooling joints 170 is one, a cooling medium is introduced through the cooling joints 170, cooling is performed for a certain time, the cooling medium in the housing 110 is extracted through the cooling joints 170, and a new cooling medium is introduced again.

Specifically, the cooling medium is transformer oil, and may be other mediums capable of absorbing heat, which will not be described in detail.

Referring to fig. 1, in one embodiment, the cooling connectors 170 are two, namely a liquid inlet connector and a liquid outlet connector; the cooling circuit 131 extends along the second direction OY, and the two cooling joints 170 are arranged on the shell 110 and are respectively communicated with two ends of the cooling circuit 131, so that cooling medium can be introduced through the liquid inlet joint and discharged through the liquid outlet joint, and recycling of the cooling medium is realized.

Referring to fig. 1, in one embodiment, the distributed X-ray source 100 further includes at least one vacuum pump 180, wherein the vacuum pump 180 is disposed on the housing 110 and is in communication with the vacuum chamber 111 for maintaining the vacuum degree of the vacuum chamber 111.

Referring to fig. 1, in an embodiment, the distributed X-ray source 100 further includes an exhaust connector 190, where the exhaust connector 190 is disposed in the housing 110 and is in communication with the vacuum chamber 111, so that when the vacuum inside the vacuum chamber 111 is not needed, the exhaust connector 190 is opened, so that the vacuum degree inside the housing 110 is reduced.

Referring to fig. 1, in an embodiment, the vacuum pump 180 is a titanium pump or an ion pump, the titanium pump has a high vacuum degree, and the CT apparatus can be miniaturized, and the vacuum pump 180 can be of other forms, which will not be described in detail.

Preferably, the number of the vacuum pumps 180 is plural to maintain the internal vacuum environment of the vacuum chamber 111.

Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, the distributed X-ray source 100 further comprises a cooling source; the cooling groove 116 is formed in the outer side face of the shell 110, the cooling groove 116 extends along the second direction OY, and the cooling source is connected with the opening of the cooling groove 116, so that the cooling source cools into the cooling groove 116 through the opening of the cooling groove 116, heat in the shell 110 is taken away, and stable generation of X-rays in the vacuum cavity 111 is ensured.

Specifically, the cooling source may be air-cooled or water-cooled.

Referring to fig. 1, in an embodiment, the distributed X-ray source 100 further includes at least two supporting bodies 191, one end of each supporting body 191 is connected to the anode 130, and the other end is connected to the inner wall of the housing 110, so as to support the anode 130, so as to ensure that the cathode is stably arranged along the first direction OX, thereby ensuring the stability of electrons and the anode 130, and further ensuring the stable generation of X-rays.

Specifically, the support 191 is a ceramic material for insulation of the anode 130.

In one embodiment, the distributed X-ray source 100 further includes an exit tube (not shown) disposed on an outer wall of the housing 110. One end of the emergent tube is communicated with the strip-shaped emergent hole 115, the other end is used for the X-ray to be emergent, and the emergent tube is used for restraining the emergent direction of the X-ray.

Preferably, the projection of the inner contour of the exit tube on the plane of the inner contour of the exit hole is identical to the inner contour of the exit hole, so that the perceived exit of the X-rays is smoother and the exit direction is limited to the extension direction of the exit tube.

An embodiment of the present application further provides a CT apparatus, including: a plurality of first control modules (not shown), at least one second control module (not shown) and a distributed X-ray source according to any of claims 1-10;

the first control modules are connected with the electron guns 120 in a one-to-one correspondence manner and are used for controlling the electron guns 120 to emit electrons;

the second control module is connected to the first control modules and is configured to transmit control signals to the first control modules to control any one of the electron guns 120 to emit electrons.

In the above CT apparatus, the housing 110 has a vacuum chamber 111, a first sidewall and a second sidewall which are opposite in the first direction OX and are parallel to each other, and a third sidewall which is adjacent to the first sidewall and the second sidewall and extends in the second direction OY, and the third sidewall is provided with a strip-shaped exit hole 115 extending in the second direction OY; the electron guns 120 are arranged along the second direction OY and disposed on the first sidewall for emitting electrons to the inner wall of the second sidewall; the anode 130 is disposed on the second sidewall along the second direction OY for receiving electrons emitted from the electron gun 120, and the high voltage connector 140 is connected to the anode 130. The output window 150 serves to seal the strip-shaped output hole 115 and enable the X-rays to be emitted outside the housing 110 through the strip-shaped output hole 115. Thus, each first control module is controlled by the second control module to input emission signals to the electron gun 120, so that any one or more of the electron guns 120 emit electrons to the anode 130, the high-voltage connector 140 supplies high voltage to the anode 130, so that an accelerating electric field is formed in the vacuum cavity 111, the electrons from the electron gun 120 interact with the anode 130 to generate X-rays and are emitted out of the shell 110 through the strip-shaped emission holes 115 and the output window 150, and the X-rays are generated outside the shell 110 at different times and spaces by informing any one or more of the electron guns 120, so that different requirements of one CT device for the X-rays are met.

Specifically, the first control module is connected to the filament and the lead of the electron gun 120, and is used for controlling the electron gun 120 to generate electrons and controlling the electrons to emit out of the electron gun 120.

Specifically, the second control modules are multiple, and each second control module controls the first control modules to control the electron guns 120 to emit electrons.

The technical features of the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily combined, and all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-described embodiments are not described for brevity of description, however, as long as there is no contradiction between the combinations of the technical features, they should be considered as the scope of the description.

The above examples only represent a few embodiments of the present application, which are described in more detail and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the claims. It should be noted that it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and improvements could be made without departing from the spirit of the present application, which would be within the scope of the present application. Accordingly, the scope of protection of the present application is to be determined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims (11)

1. A distributed X-ray source, the distributed X-ray source comprising:

the device comprises a shell, a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor and a control unit, wherein the shell is provided with a vacuum cavity, a first side wall, a second side wall and a third side wall, the first side wall and the second side wall are opposite in a first direction and are parallel to each other, the third side wall is adjacent to the first side wall and the second side wall and extends in a second direction, and a strip-shaped outlet hole extending in the second direction is formed in the third side wall;

a plurality of electron guns arranged along a second direction and arranged on the first side wall for emitting electrons to the inner wall of the second side wall;

the anode is arranged on the second side wall along the second direction and used for receiving electrons emitted by the electron gun;

a high voltage connection connected to the anode; and

and the output window is used for sealing the strip-shaped outlet holes and enabling X-rays to be emitted out of the shell through the strip-shaped outlet holes.

2. The distributed X-ray source of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of vacuum cable joints;

the vacuum cable connectors are respectively connected with the electron guns, and the vacuum cable connectors are arranged on the first side wall along the second direction and are used for being connected with filaments and leads of the electron guns.

3. A distributed X-ray source according to claim 1, further comprising at least one cooling joint, the inside of the anode being provided with a cooling circuit, the cooling circuit being in communication with the cooling joint for the passage of a cooling medium.

4. A distributed X-ray source according to claim 3, wherein the number of cooling connectors is two, a liquid inlet connector and a liquid outlet connector;

the cooling loop extends along the second direction, and the two cooling joints are arranged on the shell and are respectively communicated with two ends of the cooling loop.

5. The distributed X-ray source of claim 1, further comprising at least one vacuum pump;

the vacuum pump is arranged on the shell and communicated with the vacuum cavity.

6. The distributed X-ray source of claim 5, further comprising an exhaust fitting disposed to the housing and in communication with the vacuum chamber.

7. A distributed X-ray source according to claim 5, wherein the vacuum pump is a titanium pump.

8. The distributed X-ray source of claim 1, further comprising a cooling source;

a cooling groove is formed in the outer side face of the shell, and the cooling groove extends along the second direction;

the cooling source is connected with the opening of the cooling groove.

9. The distributed X-ray source of claim 1, further comprising at least two supports;

one end of the supporting body is connected with the anode, and the other end of the supporting body is connected with the inner wall of the shell and is used for supporting the anode.

10. The distributed X-ray source of claim 1, further comprising an exit tube disposed on an outer wall of the housing;

one end of the emergent cylinder is communicated with the strip-shaped emergent hole, the other end of the emergent cylinder is used for emitting X-rays, and the emergent cylinder is used for restraining the emergent direction of the X-rays.

11. A CT apparatus, comprising: a plurality of first control modules, at least one second control module, and a distributed X-ray source according to any one of claims 1-10;

the first control modules are connected with the electron guns in a one-to-one correspondence manner and used for controlling the electron guns to emit electrons;

the second control module is connected with the first control modules and is used for transmitting control signals to the first control modules so as to control any electron gun to emit electrons.