Large-area individually addressable multi-beam x-ray system and method of forming same

Abstract

A structure to generate x-rays has a plurality of stationary and individually electrically addressable field emissive electron sources with a substrate composed of a field emissive material, such as carbon nanotubes. Electrically switching the field emissive electron sources at a predetermined frequency field emits electrons in a programmable sequence toward an incidence point on a target. The generated x-rays correspond in frequency and in position to that of the field emissive electron source. The large-area target and array or matrix of emitters can image objects from different positions and/or angles without moving the object or the structure and can produce a three dimensional image. The x-ray system is suitable for a variety of applications including industrial inspection/quality control, analytical instrumentation, security systems such as airport security inspection systems, and medical imaging, such as computed tomography.

1 - 59 . (canceled)  
     
     
         60 . An X-ray source comprising: 
 a cold cathode, the cold cathode having a curved emission surface capable of emitting electrons; and    an anode, the anode being spaced apart from the cathode, the anode being capable of emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface;    wherein the cold cathode comprises a plurality of emitters disposed on a substrate and a gate conductor disposed adjacent the plurality of emitters, and wherein the plurality of emitters are operative to emit electrons when a bias voltage is applied to the gate conductor;    wherein the electrons bombard the anode at a focal spot of the anode,    wherein the plurality of emitters comprises a first set of emitters, the first set of emitters being operative to emit a first electron beam having a first focal spot with a first shape, and a second set of emitters, the second set of emitters being operative to emit a second electron beam having a second focal spot with a second shape, the second shape being different than the first shape, and    wherein the first set of emitters and the second set of emitters are located on the same curved emission surface and are separately energizable.    
     
     
         61 . An X-ray source according to  claim 60 , wherein the electrons bombard the anode at a focal spot of the anode, and wherein a size and shape of the focal spot is determined at least in part by a curvature of the curved emission surface.  
     
     
         62 . An X-ray source according to  claim 60 , wherein the electrons bombard the anode at a focal spot of the anode, and wherein the plurality of emitters are addressable thereby permitting the size and shape of the focal spot to be controlled.  
     
     
         63 . An X-ray source according to  claim 60 , wherein the electrons bombard the anode at a focal spot of the anode, the focal spot being characterized by an intensity distribution which describes intensity of electron bombardment as a function of position, and wherein the plurality of emitters are addressable thereby permitting the intensity distribution of the focal spot to be controlled.  
     
     
         64 . An X-ray source according to  claim 60 , further comprising a vacuum housing and an X-ray transmissive window, wherein the cathode and the anode are disposed within the housing, and wherein the X-rays exit the X-ray source by way of the transmissive window.  
     
     
         65 . An X-ray source according to  claim 60 , wherein the curved emission surface is fabricated so as to be curved along a first axis and straight along a second axis which is orthogonal to the first axis.  
     
     
         66 . An imaging system for imaging an object of interest, the imaging system comprising: 
 (A) an X-ray source, the X-ray source including 
 (1) a cold cathode disposed within a housing, the cold cathode having a curved emission surface, the cold cathode comprising a plurality of emitters disposed on a substrate, and  
 (2) an anode, the anode being disposed within the housing and spaced apart from the cathode, the anode emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface wherein the electrons bombard the anode at a focal spot of the anode;  
   (B) a detector array, the detector array comprising a plurality of detector elements, the plurality of detector elements receiving the X-rays after the X-rays pass through the object of interest and generating signals in response thereto;    (C) an image reconstructor, the image reconstructor being coupled to receive the signals from the detector elements, and the image reconstructor constructing an image of the object of interest based on the signals from the detector elements;    (D) a display, the display being coupled to the image reconstructor, and the display displaying the image of the object of interest; and    (E) an X-ray controller, the X-ray controller being coupled to the cold cathode to provide control signals to control the emission of electrons from the plurality of emitters, the X-ray controller being coupled to receive feedback information pertaining to the operation of the imaging system, and wherein the X-ray controller adjusts the control signals for the plurality of emitters as a function of the feedback information.    
     
     
         67 . An imaging system according to  claim 66 , wherein the plurality of emitters are addressable, such that the X-ray controller provides different control signals that control different ones of the plurality of emitters.  
     
     
         68 . An imaging system according to  claim 67 , wherein the X-ray controller adjusts the control signals to control a size and shape of the focal spot.  
     
     
         69 . An imaging system according to  claim 67 , wherein the electrons bombard the anode at a focal spot of the anode, wherein the X-ray controller adjusts the control signals to control a current density distribution of an electron beam formed by the electrons bombarding the focal spot.  
     
     
         70 . An imaging system according to  claim 66 , wherein the cold cathode further comprises 
 an insulative layer, the insulative layer being disposed on the substrate and being located between the plurality of emitters;    a gate conductor, the gate conductor being disposed on the insulative layer; and    wherein the plurality of emitters are operative to emit electrons when a bias voltage is applied to the gate conductor.    
     
     
         71 . An imaging system according to  claim 66 , wherein the imaging system is a computed tomography imaging system, wherein the system further comprises a plurality of additional X-ray sources, the plurality of additional X-ray sources each comprising a respective additional cold cathode and a respective additional anode, wherein the X-ray source and the plurality of additional X-ray sources are disposed in a ring so as to permit the object of interest to be imaged without gantry rotation.  
     
     
         72 . An imaging system according to  claim 71 , wherein the system further comprises an X-ray controller, and wherein the X-ray controller sequentially activates the X-ray source and the plurality of additional X-ray sources in a manner that simulates rotation of a single X-ray source about the object of interest.  
     
     
         73 . An imaging system according to  claim 66 , wherein the imaging system is a medical imaging system.  
     
     
         74 . An imaging system according to  claim 66 , wherein the imaging system is a security checkpoint imaging system.  
     
     
         75 . An imaging system for imaging an object of interest, the imaging system comprising: 
 (A) an X-ray source, the X-ray source including 
 (1) a cold cathode disposed within a housing, the cold cathode having a curved emission surface, the cold cathode comprising a plurality of emitters disposed on a substrate, and  
 (2) an anode, the anode being disposed within the housing and spaced apart from the cathode, the anode emitting X-rays in response to being bombarded with electrons emitted from the curved emission surface;  
   (B) a detector array, the detector array comprising a plurality of detector elements, the plurality of detector elements receiving the X-rays after the X-rays pass through the object of interest and generating signals in response thereto;    (C) an image reconstructor, the image reconstructor being coupled to receive the signals from the detector elements and the image reconstructor constructing an image of the object of interest based on the signals from the detector elements; and    (D) a display, the display being coupled to the image reconstructor, and the display displaying the image of the object of interest    (E) an X-ray controller, the X-ray controller being coupled to the cold cathode to provide control signals to control the emission of electrons from the plurality of emitters,    wherein the electrons bombard the anode at a focal spot of the anode and    wherein the X-ray controller adjusts the control signals for the plurality of emitters to control a size and shape of the focal spot.    
     
     
         76 . An imaging system according to  claim 75 , wherein the X-ray controller pulses the control signals for the plurality of emitters so as to cause the X-rays emitter from the anode to form an X-ray beam that pulsates.  
     
     
         77 . An imaging system according to  claim 75 , wherein the cold cathode further comprises 
 an insulative layer, the insulative layer being disposed on the substrate and being located between the plurality of emitters;    a gate conductor, the gate conductor being disposed on the insulative layer; and    wherein the plurality of emitters are operative to emit electrons when a bias voltage is applied to the gate conductor.    
     
     
         78 . An imaging system according to  claim 75 , wherein the imaging system is a computed tomography imaging system, wherein the system further comprises a plurality of additional X-ray sources, the plurality of additional X-ray sources each comprising a respective additional cold cathode and a respective additional anode, wherein the X-ray source and the plurality of additional X-ray sources are disposed in a ring so as to permit the object of interest to be imaged without gantry rotation.  
     
     
         79 . An imaging system according to  claim 75 , wherein the imaging system is a medical imaging system.  
     
     
         80 . A medical imaging method comprising: 
 generating an X-ray beam at an X-ray source comprising a cathode having a curved emission surface, the cathode comprising a plurality of emitter cones and a thin film gate, the electron beam being emitted towards an anode so as to cause the anode to be bombarded with electrons, wherein the X-ray beam is produced in response to being bombarded by the electrons, wherein the electrons bombard the anode at a focal spot of the anode, wherein a size and shape of the focal spot is defined at least in part by a curvature of the curved emission surface, the generating step including emitting an electron beam from the cathode, wherein the X-ray source directs the X-ray beam through a patient, and wherein the emitting step further includes    applying a first electric field between the thin film gate and the plurality of emitter cones, the first electric field causing the electrons to be emitted from the plurality of emitter cones, and    applying a second electric field between the anode and the cathode, the second electric field causing the electrons to accelerate towards the anode;    detecting the X-ray beam after the X-ray beam passes through at least a portion of the patient;    constructing an image of a portion of the patient based on data collected during the detecting step; and    displaying the image of the portion of the patient.