Global Tube Engineering

X-Ray TUBE TRAINING Technology Parameters

Patrick Rastello GCO-Buc Rev 02 - 30/09/2001

X-Ray tube technology X-Ray PHOTONS PRODUCTION FOR RADIOLOGY

Electrons are accelerated under high kV potential and then are bombing a metallic surface. Within few microns of depth here after phenomenon's are occuring :
ep

e-

e-

e-

p p Kinetic energy converted into heat (99%) Characteristics material Rays Bremstrahlung Rays p

W X-Ray spectrum
Photons qty

Tungsten Spectrum
Characteristics Rays L K

Obtained with electrons beam accelerated under difference of potential of up to 150 KV

Spectrum

Photons energy

150 keV

Too low energy photons give dose to the patient and are no contributing to the image Too high energy photons are diminishing the image contrast

Mo and Rh X-Ray spectrum Mo. Spectrum

Mainly Characteristics Rays Photons qty

Rh Spectrum
Same shape but few kV Shift (harder beam)

30 kV 25 kV Photons energy
Low energy Mo spectrum dedicated to mammography.

35 kV

Looking for tumors having only 5% difference with normal breast structure

Components of the tube unit

Component of a tube unit : the insert

Component of the insert : the frame (1) Frame

Maintain the vacuum Position the cathode in front of the anode HV insulation of cathode anode +

METAL GLASS
COST DISSIPATION I QUALITY

++ +

-++ -

+ RELIABILITY (METALLISATION)

Metal frame tube : to isolate cathode to anode High Voltage an insulator is needed : ceramic or glass are used. Berylium is used as beam port window

Component of the insert : the frame (2)

MONOPOLAR TUBE
e collector

- 150 kV

Collimator

From Varian Catalog

Component of the insert : the cathode (1)

CATHODE : Filaments are heated by Amps at high temperature (> 2000C) HV extracts and accelerates electrons towards the anode The cup is focusing electron beam on the focal spot Some OEM are using flying focal spot (beam deflection or alternate foci)

Varian

Siemens web

Phiips Medica Mundi

Component of the insert : the cathode (2)

Filaments Filaments

Tabs
(FS length control)

Cathode cup
(FS width control)

CT, RF

Mammo

The electron beam (1)

FILAMENT IS HEATED AT VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE, MAKING A CLOUD OF ELECTRONS AVAILABLE AT THE SURFACE OF THE FILAMENT

HEATING CURRENT ( up to 7 amps)

FILAMENT ELECTRON BEAM (up to 1200 mA)

Anode

Focus Thermal Width - 75 kV

CATHODE CUP

+ 75 kV

ELECTRONS ARE EXTRACTED AND ACCELERATED BY THE kV APPLIED BETWEEN ANODE AND CATHODE

The electron beam (2)

Cathode cup is shifting the electric field equipotential lines ; electrons , that trend to travel perpendicularly to the equipotentials, are thus accelerated and focused toward the thermal focus
- 75 kV Cathode cup Anode - 0 kV + 75 kV

eFilament

Thermal Focus (Width)

= SMALLER BIASED FOCUS 200 V APPLIED ON THE CUP CAN BIAS THE BEAM 3000 V APPLIED ON THE CUP CAN CUT OFF THE BEAM = PULSE CAPABILITY FOR CINEMA

The cathode emission curves Cathode output

800 mA HIGH CURRENT = HIGH TEMPERATURE = MORE e= HIGHer mA

6A

Filament Heating Current AMPS

5.5 A 600 mA
AREA WHERE EMISSIVITY DEPENDS MOSTLY ON CATHODE SHAPE DESIGN

5.0 A

400 mA 4.5 A 200 mA

50 kV

75 kV

100 kV

150 kV

The X-Ray tube anode

Cathode Filament X-Ray beam

ANODE

FS Width FS Length

Thermal track

Component of the insert : the anode (1)

ANODE : Target surface is made of tungsten. Anode core is made of Mo to enhance mechanical resistance. Rhenium (5%) is used to improve track thermomechanical performance ( RTM anode) Anode is eventually back up with graphite to increase its heat storage capacity Rotor is mounted on bearings assembly.

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X-Ray beam density : anode heal effect

Cathode More Photons Photons density to image receptor is not homogeneous due to anode sand blast surface and tube/receptor position Anode

e-

Less Photons Image Receptor Collimator

Component of the insert : the anode (2)

ANODE DESIGN
W
Mo.

BRAZED GRAPHITE ANODE

High track loading, high capacity up to 7.7 MHU (today )

GRAPHITE
Brazing material Platinium, titanium

W Mo.

METAL ANODE
Philips CT up to 2.5 MHU Dunlee CT up to 3.5 MHU Toshiba Helicool

From Plansee web

From Phiips Medica Mundi

Stress relieved anodes (Siemens, Philips )

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Component of the insert : the rotor (1)

BALLS BEARINGS & ROTOR ASSEMBLY
PRELOADED THERMAL COMPENSATION SPRING BEARINGS ASSEMBLIES

Glass metal welding

Balls are lubricated by 500 Angstroms of silver or lead

Balls inner race Balls outer race

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Component of the insert : the rotor (2) What are SPIRAL GROOVES BEARING
Philips MRCs, Toshiba Helicool, Siemen Megacath

Gallium liquid alloy as lubrication liquid within spiral grooves. Liquid is also used as a cooling medium

Anode
From Phiips Medica Mundi

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Component of the insert : the rotor (3)

From Siemens Web Site

From Phiips Medica Mundi

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Component of the insert : the rotor (4)

BALLS BEARINGS & ROTOR ASSEMBLY
Performix
Rotor bearings : Covers2 dramatically different arrangement

HSA 3.5 MHU

Subsecond rotor advanced technology arrangement ! Conventional !

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Component of the insert : the rotor (5)

WHAT ARE STRADDLE BEARINGS ? (Varian/Toshiba, Philips SRC, . )
anode Bearing 1 Bearing 2

From Phiips Medica Mundi

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Component of a tube unit : the housing

MOTOR/ STATOR HV CABLES SOCKETS

INSULATION/COOLING OIL

CASING FUNCTIONS :
X-Ray SHIELDING FEED HV TO THE INSERT PROVIDE mA TO CATHODE COLLECT ma FROM ANODE ELECTRICAL INSULATION INSERT ROTATION INSERT COOLING OIL EXPANSION BELLOW

BEAM PRE-COLLIMATION PRE COLLIMATION SAFETY SENSORS PORT WINDOW

SAFETY SENSORS

LEAD PROTECTION
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Component of the tube : heat exchanger

HOUSING IS EQUIPPED WITH A COOLING DEVICE
Natural convection Air blower (MX100, ) Water jacket (MX120, S550, ) Oil/water plates heat exchanger Oil/air heat exchanger attached or remote

Oil circulating pump

oil

Air or water heat exchanger

H20

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TUBE PARAMETERS

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Tubes System - Application CTQs

IMAGE QUALITY REQUIREMENTS FROM RADIOLOGISTS i , mA

Small focus = Low geometric blur Lower mA longer exposure time Large focus High mA= low exposure time = Low kinetic blur Photons QUANTITY mA x t High power tube kW = High mA = low exposure time = Low kinetic blur

+
ms

mA Dose ( roentgen ) kV kV Photons QUALITY

kV High penetration High contrast

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SPATIAL RESOLUTION / CONTRAST

Tubes System - Application CTQs

TUBES MAIN PARAMETERS

FOCAL SPOT SIZES and FTM

IMAGE QUALITY

BEAM QUALITY- kV PEAK VALUE COVERED FIELD TUBE POWER

ANODE CAPACITY ANODE DISSIPATION

THROUGHPUT

TUBE DISSIPATION
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Covered field
THE MAXIMAL SYMMETRICAL COVERED FIELD IS DEFINED IN cm AT 1 m FROM FOCAL SPOT. INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS DEFINE THE HOMOGENEITY OF THE X-Ray BEAM AS FOLLOWS :
anode tube

100 % 110 %

ANODE HEAL EFFECT

> 70 %

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Anode Angle - Covered field

Anode angle ex 15 The greater is the anode angle, the larger is the covered field Anode angle ex 12

1 meter

1 meter

48 cm
Photons density 110 100 70 110

43 cm

100

70

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Focal Spot : size

THE FOCAL SPOT DIMENSIONS ARE CLASSIFIED THRU NOMINAL STANDARDIZED VALUES ACCORDING TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS (IEC, NEMA)

WIDTH mm NOMINAL VALUE Thermal focus W,t Pinhole camera L,t 0.1 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.8 W L Optical focus MIN MAX 01 0.3 0.6 0.9 1.0 1.2 1.8 0.15 0.45 0.9 1.3 1.4 1.7 2.3

LENGTH mm MIN MAX 0.1 0.15 0.45 0.65 0.9 1.3 1.3 1.8 1.4 2.0 1.7 2.4 2.6 3.3

IEC Measurements are made in very specific conditions tooling, Magnification, kV, Ma,
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Focal Spot : FTM

FOR A GIVEN FOCAL SPOT SIZE, SPATIAL RESOLUTION MAY VARY DUE TO FOCUS UNHOMOGENEITY . FTM CHARACTERIZES THE ABILITY OF THE FOCUS TO REVEAL SMALL OBJECTS
Contrast (density)

1
Same focal size

0.5
Limit of resolution of the focus Star pattern is an object having variable spatial frequency. Spatial frequency is given in pair of lines per mm . Object Spatial Frequency

0.1

Pl/mm

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X-Ray tube power

THE MAXIMUM ANODIC ALLOWED POWER IS DEFINED FOR A SINGLE EXPOSURE OF 0.1 second
kW kV * mA 70 kW 60 kW 50 kW 40 kW 30KW 20 kW 10 kW Exposure time 10 repeated exposures

1 single exposure curve ratings 5 repeated exposures

0.01 s

0.1 s

1s

10 s

If and exposure is made at the maximum power, FS temperature will be raised at its maximum temperature (2400C) If kW ratings are exceeded, max temperature is exceeded and thermal FS/track can melt i.e tube is damaged 32

Tube heat management

AT EACH MOMENT, GENERATOR SOFTWARE PROTECTION ALGORITHM CHECKS THAT COMPONENTS TEMPERATURES (IMPACT, TRACK, ANODE, CASING OIL, ...) REMAIN BELOW DESIGN LIMITATIONS INSTANTANEOUS POWER ANODE 15% FS FS TRACK Convection 100 % 15% MID / LONG TERM LOADABILITY

Temperature 2400 C Exposure time

FOCAL SPOT FS TRACK ANODE 80% Heat is dissipated by thermal radiation 1s

5%

0s

0.1s

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Anode angle
Anode angle ex 15

ANODE ANGLE and kW

For the same optical FS, the thermal focus is longer on the flat anode ie more mA and kW are permitted On other hand, covered field is smaller with the flat anode

Anode angle ex 12

Thermal F Spot Example HS tube 90 mm, 1.2 FS 12 kW covered field 85 kW 43 cm 15 70 kW 48 cm

Same Optical F Spot

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X-Ray tube power

POWER (kW) OF A TUBE WILL INCREASE WITH :

LARGER FOCAL SPOT SIZE

More FS surface = more thermal loading = more mA = more kW, HIGHER ANODE SPEED High speed tube can takes 50-60% more load, FS being more efficiently cooled by faster moving FS track, HIGHER ANODE DIAMETER as FS is cooled down on a longer crown track distance, ANODE MATERIAL HAVING HIGHER THERMAL-MECHANICAL RESISTANCE Mo < Mo doped with Va < W < W with Rh % LOWER ANODE ANGLE As for a given optical focal spot size, thermal focal spot is longer with more flat anode
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Anode heat capacity

ANODE HEAT CAPACITY CHARACTERIZES THE ABILITY OF THE ANODE TO STORE THE ENERGY/HEAT GENERATED DURING THE X-Ray EMISSION
MEASURED IN JOULES

or HEAT UNIT ( 1 JOULE = 1.35 HU) 1 joule = 1 Watt during 1 sec 1 Watt = 1 Amp * 1 Volt

Anode at 20C = 100% anode Remaining capacity Anode at 700 C = 50% anode Remaining cpacity Anode at 1300C = 0% remaining capacity

A TUBE HAVING A LARGE ANODE HEAT CAPACITY ALLOWS REPEATED EXPOSURES OR SEQUENCES Note : avoid confusion with housing heat capacity that is larger than the anode capacity but that is no really an important characteristics (just the result of the casing dimension and its oil capacity
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Anode heat dissipation

IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE LARGE ANODE HEAT CAPACITY BUT IT IS ALSO CRUCIAL TO HAVE A HIGH ANODE DISSIPATION TO REMOVE THE HEAT FROM THE ANODE ANODE HAVING SAME CAPACITY CAN HAVE VERY DIFFERENT DISSIPATIONY
MEASURED IN WATTS (JOULES/sec) OR IN HEAT UNIT PER MINUTE

ex : 10 kW = 10 * 1.35 * 60 = 810 kHU/mn (ProSpeed) A TUBE HAVING A HIGH ANODE HEAT DISSIPATION ALLOWS REPEATED SEQUENCES AT FASTER RATES

These 2 tubes have same anode capacity but tube 1 has faster cooling rate than tube 2

Tube 2

Tube 1

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Anode heat capacity

WHY RAD AND CT TUBES HAVE DIFFERENT ANODE CAPACITIES .....

RAD APPLICATION ; anode from 100 kJ to 400 kJ 1 exposure, Chest 1 exposure, Lumbar : 145 kV 25 mAS = : 80 kV 400 mAS = 3.6 kJ 32.0 kJ

CT APPLICATION : anode from 1.000 to 7.700 kJ Helical 120 kV, 42 k W , 30 S = 1500 kJ = 2.0 MHU

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Anode heat dissipation

THE CASING IS ALSO A COOLING DEVICE
HEAT FROM THE ANODE RADIATES INTO THE CASING OIL CASING HEAT DISSIPATION IS THE LONG TERM LOADABILITY OF THE X-Ray TUBE HIGH CASING DISSIPATION PROMOTES HIGH PATIENTS THRUPOUT

MEASURED IN WATTS (JOULES/sec) or IN HEAT UNIT per minute

H20

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X-Ray tube operating conditions

HIGH VACUUM - HIGH VOLTAGE - HIGH TEMPERATURE HIGH SPEED - HIGH ROTATION - HIGH PRECISION
CURRENT
6 AMPS

120 rpm of whole tube

1 5 0 0 0 0 V O L T S

VACUUM 10
-8

Torr

Filament assembly 10 microns precision

ANODE/TRACK 1400 C

Coincidence 150 microns

ROTOR 10 500 RPM

FOCAL SPOT

2700C

10 KW Dissipation
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GEMS TECHNOLOGY FOR HIGH TIER CT

Bolted target attachment for low
focal spot motion, acoustic noise, and vibration level.

200 mm target provides large

heat storage and large surface for high dissipation rate. Long heat storage. Longer Helical and inter patient delay reduction

HEM (High Efficiency Motor) for

rapid acceleration of large target.

Stainless steel frame

for high strength and rigidity under sub-second scanning. Reduces off focal and elimates glass related failure modes.

High load capacity bearing for subsecond

scanning.

Emissively coated metal frame High efficiency heat exchanger

for higher heat dissipation and patient throughput. to keep oil at low temperature. Higher patient throughput and increased reliability

Ceramic insulators
for high T operation without glass 41 breakage problems.