IP Library Granted Patent US 8,488,737
Granted Patent B2
US 8,488,737 · App. 12/967,297 · Granted Jul 16, 2013

Medical X-ray imaging system

Inventors: Jan Boese (Eckental, DE); Jens Fürst (Herzogenaurach, DE); Michael Maschke (Lonnerstadt, DE); Frank Sprenger (Cary, NC)
Assignees: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft; XinRay Systems LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,488,737
App. No.
12/967,297
Filed
Dec 14, 2010
Granted
Jul 16, 2013
Kind
B2
Art Unit
2882
USPC
378/62
Abstract

In order to achieve improved image quality in X-ray photographs, a medical X-ray imaging system, comprising a flat, planar X-ray source having a surface with X-ray focal points arranged adjacent to one another and an X-ray detector with a sensor surface, is provided. The X-ray source has a plurality of field emission guns with at least one field emission cathode and the surface with focal points of the X-ray source is larger in size than the sensor surface of the X-ray detector.

Claims (17)

1. A medical X-ray imaging system, comprising:

a flat, planar X-ray source having a surface;

a field emission gun arranged on the X-ray source comprising a cathode and an anode; and

an X-ray detector having a sensor surface,

wherein the surface of the X-ray source is larger than the sensor surface of the X-ray detector,

wherein the X-ray source comprises an array having a plurality of field emission guns, and

wherein the field emission guns are arranged in a rectangular array, an elliptical array, or a circular array such that the field emission guns are distributed uniformly over the surface of the X-ray source.

2. The X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the surface of the X-ray source is at least twice as large as the sensor surface of the X-ray detector.

3. The X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises an electron-emitting element.

4. The X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the anode comprises a focal point.

5. The X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises a plurality of electron-emitting elements that are activated individually.

6. The X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the anode comprises a plurality of focal points arranged adjacent to one another that correspond to the electron-emitting elements respectively.

7. The X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cathode comprises a nanostructured material with carbon nanotubes.

8. The X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the X-ray detector is a digital flat-panel detector.

9. The X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the X-ray source and the X-ray detector are carried jointly by a C-arm or a U-bracket.

10. The X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the X-ray source and/or the X-ray detector or the C-arm or the U-bracket are arranged on an articulated arm robot.

11. The X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the X-ray imaging system is selected from a group consisting of: a fluoroscopy system, an angiography system, and a projection X-ray system.

Assignments (6)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 066088 FRAME: 0256. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jan 17, 2024
From: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
To: SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
Reel/Frame 071178/0246 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2023
From: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
To: SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS AG
Reel/Frame 066088/0256 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2016
From: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
To: SIEMENS HEALTHCARE GMBH
Reel/Frame 038959/0354 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 5, 2012
From: XINRAY SYSTEMS LLC
To: XINRAY SYSTEMS INC
Reel/Frame 028324/0505 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2011
From: BOESE, JAN; FUERST, JENS; MASCHKE, MICHAEL
To: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 026031/0464 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 28, 2011
From: SPRENGER, FRANK
To: XINRAY SYSTEMS LLC
Reel/Frame 026031/0678 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2009 058 266 · Dec 14, 2009 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20110170663A1 · Jul 14, 2011