Apparatus for providing shielding in a multispot x-ray source and method of making same

1. A modular x-ray source for an imaging system comprising:

a structure formed of a structure material, said structure material forming at least one cavity and each said cavity having a first wall and a second wall;

at least one target positioned on the first wall within the cavity and configured to receive an electron beam and emit x-rays; and

shielding material positioned on the second wall of the cavity and surrounded by the structure material, said shielding material absorbing at least some of said x-rays from the target.

2. The modular source of claim 1 further comprising at least one tungsten shielding plate positioned substantially orthogonal to a beam of x-rays that emanates from said target.

3. The modular source of claim 1 further comprising a pair of collimator plates positioned substantially parallel to the x-rays that emanate from the target.

4. The modular source of claim 1 wherein the shielding material comprises tungsten.

5. The modular source of claim 4 wherein the shielding material has a thickness between 1 mm and 4 mm.

6. The modular source of claim 1 further comprising:

an electron source mounting plate configured to mechanically support an electron source; and

at least one structural support member mechanically coupling the electron source mounting plate to the structure within the modular source;

wherein the at least one target is mounted on a target support that comprises one or more high voltage insulators.

7. The modular source of claim 6 wherein the electron source mounting plate is grounded.

8. The modular source of claim 6 wherein the modular source is configured to apply a negative bias voltage to the electron source mounting plate and a positive bias voltage to the target support.

9. The modular source of claim 1 further comprising a coolant line positioned within and thermally coupled to the structure, the coolant line configured to allow heat to be transferred from the structure to a coolant passing therethrough.

10. The modular source of claim 9 wherein the coolant line is electrically coupled to the structure and is configured to pass a high-voltage and a current applied thereto to the structure.

11. The modular source of claim 1 wherein the structure comprises copper.

12. The modular source of claim 1 wherein the structure is grounded.

13. The modular source of claim 1 wherein the electrons emitted from one or more electron sources are each emitted on a trajectory that is substantially orthogonal to a surface of the structure, and wherein the target is mounted having spot positions at an angle that is between 0° and 90° from the respective trajectories impinging thereon.

14. The modular source of claim 13 wherein the angle is between 10° and 40° from the respective trajectories impinging thereon.

15. The modular source of claim 1 , wherein there are two or more cavities and respective two or more targets.

16. A method of manufacturing a modular x-ray source comprising:

forming a target mounting material having at least one cavity therein;

positioning a plurality of targets within each cavity;

positioning a plurality of electron sources approximately opposite respective targets; and

attaching a shielding material to a wall within the at least one cavity and completely surrounded by the target mounting material.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising a tungsten shielding plate positioned substantially orthogonal to a beam of x-rays that emanates from one of the plurality of targets.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising a pair of collimator plates having surfaces that are positioned substantially parallel to a beam of x-rays that emanates from one of the plurality of targets.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the plurality of targets are positioned such that electrons emitting from each respective electron source impinge upon a surface of the target at an angle that is between 0° and 90° from the respective trajectories impinging thereon.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the angle is between 10° and 40° from the respective trajectories impinging thereon.

21. An x-ray imaging system comprising:

a rotatable gantry;

a detector mounted to the rotatable gantry; and

a modular x-ray source mounted to the rotatable gantry, the modular x-ray source comprising:

a structure formed of a structure material, said structure material forming at least one cavity;

at least one target positioned within the cavity, configured to receive electron beams from respective electron sources and forming focal spots; and

a shielding material positioned on a wall within the cavity and surrounded by the structure material.

22. The x-ray imaging system of claim 21 wherein the shielding material comprises tungsten.

23. The x-ray imaging system of claim 21 further comprising at least one collimator plate positioned within the modular x-ray source and substantially parallel to x-rays that emanate from the focal spots.

24. The x-ray imaging system of claim 21 wherein the structure comprises copper.

25. The x-ray imaging system of claim 21 further comprising a cooling line positioned in the structure, and wherein a high-voltage potential is applied to the structure via the cooling line.

26. The x-ray imaging system of claim 21 wherein the at least one target is mounted on the structure such that electrons emitted from respective electron sources impinge thereon at an angle that is between 0° and 90° from the respective trajectories impinging thereon.

27. The x-ray imaging system of claim 26 wherein the angle is between 10° and 40° from the respective trajectories impinging thereon.