IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,342,446
Granted Patent B2
US 12,342,446 · App. 18/974,437 · Granted Jun 24, 2025

X-ray generation apparatus and x-ray imaging apparatus

Inventor: Takeo Tsukamoto (Niigata, JP)
Assignee: Canon Anelva Corporation
H05G1/04
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,342,446
App. No.
18/974,437
Granted
Jun 24, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An X-ray generation apparatus includes an X-ray generation tube. The tube includes an insulating tube with a first opening end and a second opening end, a cathode arranged to close the first opening end of the insulating tube and including an electron emitting portion, and an anode arranged to close the second opening end and including a target that generates X-rays when electrons from the electron emitting portion collide; and an accommodating container configured to accommodate the X-ray generation tube, wherein the accommodating container has a third opening end, and the anode is arranged to close the third opening end, the accommodating container is filled with an insulating liquid to contact a part of the anode, and at least a part of an outer surface of the insulating tube is surrounded by a member so as to reduce abnormal discharge between the cathode and the anode via the insulating tube.

Claims (26)

1. An X-ray generation apparatus comprising:

an X-ray generation tube including an insulating tube with a first opening end and a second opening end, a cathode arranged to close the first opening end of the insulating tube and including an electron emitting portion, and an anode arranged to close the second opening end and including a target that generates X-rays when electrons from the electron emitting portion collide; and

an accommodating container configured to accommodate the X-ray generation tube,

wherein the accommodating container has a third opening end, and the anode is arranged to close the third opening end,

wherein the accommodating container is filled with an insulating liquid to contact a part of the anode, and

wherein an entire region of an outer surface of the insulating tube and an entire region of the cathode are surrounded by a member so as to reduce abnormal discharge between the cathode and the anode via the insulating tube.

2. The X-ray generation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the member is formed by a mold method.

3. The X-ray generation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the accommodating container includes a portion having a tubular shape, the portion of the accommodating container has a third opening end closed by the anode, a part of the X-ray generation tube is surrounded by the portion of the accommodating container.

4. The X-ray generation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the member is made of an insulating material.

5. The X-ray generation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the member is made of one of polytetrafluoroethylene, PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate resin), and fluorine rubber.

6. The X-ray generation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein—the member is made of epoxy.

7. The X-ray generation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the insulating liquid is an insulating oil.

8. The X-ray generation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the insulating liquid is a fluorine-based inert liquid.

9. An X-ray imaging apparatus comprising:

the X-ray generation apparatus defined in claim 1 ; and

an X-ray detector configured to detect X-rays emitted from the X-ray generation apparatus.

10. An X-ray generation apparatus comprising:

an X-ray generation tube including an insulating tube with a first opening end and a second opening end, a cathode arranged to close the first opening end of the insulating tube and including an electron emitting portion, and an anode arranged to close the second opening end and including a target that generates X-rays when electrons from the electron emitting portion collide; and

an accommodating container configured to accommodate the X-ray generation tube, wherein the accommodating container has a third opening end, and the anode is arranged to close the third opening end,

wherein the accommodating container is filled with an insulating liquid to contact a part of the anode,

wherein a part of an outer surface of the insulating tube is surrounded by a member so as to reduce abnormal discharge between the cathode and the anode via the insulating tube,

wherein the member is arranged apart from the first opening end and the second opening end in an axial direction of the insulating tube, and

wherein a distance between the member and the cathode is smaller in the axial direction than a distance between the member and the anode in the axial direction.

11. The X-ray generation apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the member includes a ring-shaped portion.

12. The X-ray generation apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein a plurality of the members are arranged apart from each other with respect to an axial direction of the insulating tube.

13. The X-ray generation apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the ring-shaped portion has a circular cross section.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2024
From: TSUKAMOTO, TAKEO
To: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 069529/0166 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTJP2023002275 · Jan 25, 2023
Related Publication 20250106971A1 · Mar 27, 2025
References Cited (66)
US 5132999A · Wirth · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 9131590B2 · Suzuki et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9230774B2 · Yanagisawa et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9282622B2 · Draper et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9373478B2 · Tamura · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 9653252B2 · Yanagisawa et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9741524B2 · Kawase · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9818571B2 · Shiozawa et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9824848B2 · Ikarashi · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9831060B2 · Kawase · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9887063B2 · Yamazaki et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10381190B2 · Ikarashi · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10504679B2 · Ohashi · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10720299B1 · Ando · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10743396B1 · Kawase · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10813203B2 · Kawase et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10969347B2 · Kawase · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11039526B2 · Suzuki et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11140763B2 · Kawase · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11875965B2 · Ishii · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20130266119A1 · Taniguchi · 2013 [cited by examiner]
US 20140029725A1 · Ueda · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20140369467A1 · Yamazaki · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20160020060A1 · Ohashi · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160133429A1 · Kawase · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160163499A1 · Shimono · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160225572A1 · Yanagisawa · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20170032923A1 · Tsunoda · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20190150255A1 · Kawase · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20200211808A1 · Ando · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210100088A1 · Ishii · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20240306283A1 · Kawase et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
JP H0287500A · 1990 [cited by applicant]
JP H04319296A · 1992 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007080568A · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2011233411A · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2013101879A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014072158A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014086147A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014139876A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014154423A · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015015227A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015028909A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2015153548A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016085945A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016095916A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016103451A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2016539484A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017016921A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2017022037A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018026355A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018073625A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018206676A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 2018206677A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
JP 7413614B1 · 2024 [cited by applicant]
JP 7486694B1 · 2024 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020136911A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2020213039A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021015036A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021022428A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021044524A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021044525A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2024157394A1 · 2024 [cited by applicant]
WO 2024157530A1 · 2024 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report (PCT/ISA/210) with translation and Written Opinion (PCT/ISA/237) mailed Mar. 7, 2023, by the Japan Patent Office as the International Searching Authority for International Application No. PCT… [cited by applicant]
IPRP mailed Jun. 7, 2023, by the Japan Patent Office for International Application No. PCT/JP2023/002275. (18 pages). [cited by applicant]
Cited By (1)
US 12,701,647