Mobile X-ray unit

1. A mobile X-ray unit comprising:

a base for accommodating a control unit for controlling an X-ray treatment applicator and a power supply for supplying power to the X-ray treatment applicator;

an articulated arm associated with the base and coupled to the X-ray treatment applicator, the X-ray treatment applicator having an X-ray tube including an anode for generating an acceleration field and a target element for generating an X-ray beam, wherein a longitudinal axis of the anode is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the X-ray tube.

2. The mobile X-ray unit according to claim 1 , wherein the X-ray treatment applicator includes a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the X-ray tube being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the X-ray treatment applicator.

3. The mobile X-ray unit according to claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the anode, the longitudinal axis of the X-ray tube, and the longitudinal axis of the X-ray treatment applicator are co-axially disposed.

4. The mobile X-ray unit according to claim 1 , wherein the anode includes an exit window for emitting the X-rays generated at the target element, the X-ray tube further including a collimator for shaping the generated X-ray beam, wherein the target element, the exit window, and the collimator are axially arranged in a spaced apart configuration.

5. The mobile X-ray unit according to claim 4 , wherein a distance between the target element and the collimator is in the range between 4 and 10 cm.

6. The mobile X-ray unit according to claim 5 , wherein a distance between the target element and the collimator is in the range between 5 and 6 cm.

7. The mobile X-ray unit according to claim 4 , wherein the collimator includes identification devices configured to generate a signal in the control unit representative of collimator characteristics.

8. The mobile X-ray unit according to claim 7 , wherein the collimator is configured to be received in a receptacle having a resistive path, the collimator having a set of projections configured to cooperate with the resistive path of the receptacle to generate the signal.

9. The mobile X-ray unit according to claim 4 , further including a set of collimators each having unique identification devices configured to generate a signal and identify the collimator.

10. The mobile X-ray unit according to claim 9 , wherein each collimator has at least one contact for contacting at least one of a plurality of contact pads on the X-ray treatment applicator for generating the signal.

11. A method for manufacturing a mobile X-ray unit, the method comprising:

assembling the X-ray unit including a base for accommodating a control unit for controlling an X-ray treatment applicator and a power supply for supplying power to the X-ray treatment applicator, wherein the X-ray unit includes an articulated arm associated with the base and coupled to the X-ray treatment applicator, the X-ray treatment applicator having an X-ray tube including an anode and a target element;

connecting the X-ray treatment applicator to the base by a connector; and

arranging the X-ray tube so that a longitudinal axis of the anode is disposed substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the X-ray tube.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the X-ray tube includes an exit window and a collimator for shaping the X-ray beam.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the method further includes the step of arranging the target element, the exit window, and the collimator to be substantially aligned on the longitudinal axis of the X-ray tube in a spaced apart configuration.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein a distance between the target element and the collimator is in a range between 4 and 10 cm.

15. The method according to claim 11 , the method further including aligning the longitudinal axis of the anode, the longitudinal axis of the X-ray tube, and a longitudinal axis of the X-ray treatment applicator.

16. A method of delivering an X-ray beam for irradiating a superficial lesion using an X-ray unit, the method comprising:

positioning the X-ray unit relative to the superficial lesion, the X-ray unit including a base for accommodating a control unit for controlling an X-ray treatment applicator and a power supply for providing power to the X-ray treatment applicator, an articulated arm associated with the X-ray treatment applicator, the X-ray treatment applicator having an X-ray tube including an anode and a target element;

generating an acceleration field at the anode; and

generating an X-ray beam at the anode, wherein a longitudinal axis of the anode is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the X-ray tube.