DEVELOPMENTS IN THE X-RAY TUBE

INTRODUCTION

Since the discovery of X-rays more than 100 years ago, significant developments
have taken place in the X-ray tube to meet various requirements –may be shorter
exposure time, multiple repetitive exposures, capacity to accept heavy load or
enhanced tube life etc. This has become possible by having multiple focal spots, faster
rotating anodes, better anode disc materials or may be by replacing glass envelope
with metal etc, i.e lot of physical changes have taken place in the x-ray tube design,
whereas , principle of production of x-rays remains the same and problem of high heat
production remains still unresolved.

Important Dates in the Developments of x-ray tubes

1895 : Roentgen discovered x-rays (using crook’s type of tube)
1913 : The Coolidge hot cathode x-ray tube.
1915 : Hooded anode tube
1920 : Oil Cooled tube
1925 : Grenz ray tube
1929 : Rotating anode tube
1932 : Grid controlled stationary anode tube
1937 : Grid Controlled rotating anode tube
1959 : High speed tube
1962 : Rhenium alloyed tungsten composite anode tube
1967 : First dedicated mammography unit with molybdenum anode
1971 : Glass metal tube with molybdenum anode
1973 : Three layer anode (W-Re) + Mo or (W-Re) +W +(W-Zr-Mo)
1979 : Metal Ceramic tube
1981 : Three focus tube
1989 : Direct anode cooling with noiseless rotor
X-Rays were discovered by Wilhelm Conrad. Rontgen on Friday Nov. 8, 1895 IN
Germany
When he passed current through Crooks type tube covered with card board shield to
stop any light arising from the fluorescence of glass walls in a dark room, he was
surprised to note small glow coming from a nearby placed sheet of paper painted with
Barium Platino Cyanide. He confirmed these emanations of rays coming from the
tube and named these x-rays or unknown rays.
The Gas Tube (ion Tube)
Early x-ray tube was called a gas tube because its action depended upon the presence
of small residual amount of gas present in it. And the radiographer used to keep a
selection of tubes of various mAs values on a rack, usually in the dark room. When a
change of mAs was required the radiographer disconnected the tube and replaced it
with a different one from the rack.

Limitations of gas tube:

Relatively low intensity of x-ray (not more than 5mA)
Was unreliable and unstable as x-ray production depended upon the gas content which
was a very variable factor
The Coolidge Tube (Hot Cathode X-Ray Tube)

Also called electron tubes were first introduced by W.D Coolidge in 1913 employing
the principle of thermionic emission i.e. on heating metal element emit electrons.
Electrons liberated from heated filament were repelled by negative charge of filament
and accelerated towards positively charged anode in completely evacuated glass tube,
resulted into production of x-rays after striking the target Coolidge tube is the proto
type for modern x-ray tubes being used today
What is an X-Ray Tube
X-ray tube is a device in which energy conversion takes place i.e. kinetic energy of
fast moving electrons is converted into heat (99%) and 1% X-ray energy. X-rays are
produced when fast moving electrons are decelerated in matter (high speed electrons
strike with a target)
Apparatus designed for generation of x-rays require :
 A Source of electrons i.e. filament with source of heating
 A system capable of accelerating electrons across a space where there is
nothing to impede them i.e. an evacuated glass enclosure with H.T.
transformer.
 A structure usually called the target where the electrons strike –Anode
MODERN X-RAY TUBES
With few technical modifications modern tubes are similar to Coolidge tube
Main components of an x-ray tube :
Cathode assembly -filament (tungsten)
- Cathodecup (Molybdenum)
Anode assembly with target (tungsten) - Fixed anode or Rotating anode
Glass envelope (Borosilicate or Pyrex high heat resistant) with vacuum level 10-7 to
10 -8 mm of Hg
Electric circuit to provide current and voltage for
filament heating (4-6 Amp, 8-12 volt) and high tension circuit for acceleration of
electrons towards anode

ADVANTAGES OF STATIONARY ANODE X-RAY TUBE

It has Compact Unit and has less cost.
But Limitations are
– Since area covered by electrons beam on the target i.e. x-ray source and the area
over which heat is spread are the same so we cannot use higher electrical loads or
high mAs
Its Applications include
– Dental x-ray sets, small portable and mobile x-ray units with limited output

ROTATING ANODE TUBES

Limitations of stationary anode tube were overcome by rotating anode tubes which
were introduced in 1936

Based on the principle of removal of target from the electron beam before it reaches
too, high a temp and by replacing it by another cooler target i.e. target form the face
of rotating disk or the end of a rotating cylinder
MAIN FEATURES OF ROTATING ANODE TUBE
The shape of glass envelope is modified to accommodate different styles of
electrodes, rotor and stator of an induction motor
Cathode cup and filament are offset opposite the target track near the periphery of
anode disc.
Anode disc made of tungsten has its periphery bevelled at an angle be 10o -200
Diameter of disc determines the length of target (diameter between 75-125mm)
Disc is connected to rotor (made of copper) with molybdenum stem
Rotor rotates with speed of 3000RPM on ball bearings (made of steel) with dry
lubricant (silver or lead coating)
Rotation is produced by stator coils which surround the neck of x-ray tube outside the
glass envelope

ADVANTAGES of ROTATING ANODE TUBE

– It permits selection of higher electrical load (exposure factors) without risk of over
heating
APPLICATIONS
– Almost universal use in radiography
ADVANCES IN ROTATING ANODE TUBE
– New anode materials
– Reduced target angle
– Increased speed of anode rotation
– Grid Controlled x-ray tube
– Metal / ceramic x-ray tube
REDUCED TARGET ANGLE
Target angle was reduced to 6o from 15o to 20o
The steeper the slope of anode face, the smaller is the apparent focus for a given size
of actual focus
Steeper slope will produce sharper images than the other one while taking the same
electrical loading.
However limit is placed that by small target angle the useful x-ray beam will cover a
smaller area at given tube to film distance
Another development in the use of reduced target angle is by having two different
target angles ( biangular tubes)

BIANGULAR TUBES
The anode of a biangular tube has two focal tracks (Inner for fine focus) and outer for
broad focus with cathode having two filaments arranged one above the other
The surface of the anode disc is beveled at two angles
Thus fine focus used for radiographic examination requiring more details, where
as large for routine radiography purpose.
New Anode Materials
Now a days anode discs are not made of solid tungsten but of combination of metals;
Therefore an alloy of rehnium & tungsten (10% Rhenium, 90% tungsten) is used to
face the anode disc as it retain its smoothness better than tungsten as the tube ages.
This resists the roughness process much better and the target surface does not
deteriorate quality so higher electrical loads can be applied to it during its working
life. Another material now being used for anode disc is a combination of tungesten
and molybdenum. Molybednum has the advantage being not so dense as tungsten and
of ability to accept a given amount of heat with less rise in temperature and can accept
high electrical loads. So what is used in practice is a molybdenum disc with a coating
of 10% rhenium and 90% tungsten over the target back.
The molybdenum disc may be alloyed walk titanium and zirconium. Another material
which has been and as a base for anode dise is shafhite,applied as in thick layer
behind molybdeness grafite (carbon)as a higher melting point than tengusten(3510o
compared with 3370oc )and has a 10 time higher specifiec heat than that of tungsten .
So disc with grafite as a higher heat storage capacity which is much grater than that of
an equal volume of tungusten.Improved his storage his capacity his thuys gained to
the use of grafivte without pauying the price of an increase in anode volume and
weight of the dise. Grafite is use as a heat sink behind a reheniun -tungesten
-molybedenum differences in there thermal expension and to the lower thermal
conductivity of grafite. Earlier it was Tungsten alone Rhenium 10% + Tungsten 90%
(higher tube life)
Rhenium and Tungsten +Molybdenum
(RTM anode) Rhenium and Tungsten + (Titanium + Zirconium +Molybdenum - TZM
base) (Rhenium +Tungsten ) + (Molybdenum) + Graphite as base
(Rhenium +Tungsten )+CVD Graphite
Advantage : higher heat storage capacity permitting higher tube rating with prolonged
tube life

INCREASED SPEED OF ANODE ROTATION

At normal speed the anode rotates with 3000 RPM whereas at high speed it rotates at
9000-10000 RPM with a 3 phase supply
At high speed quicker rate of heat dissipation will be there, allowing greater input
load (higher rating capacity) but at short exposures
Advantage :
– Allow use of high mA and shorter exposure time
Allow possible use of smaller focal spots
Disadvantages:
– Initial cost of equipment
– Longer ‘prepare’ time
– Greater wear on the bearings
– Require braking system
GRID CONTROLLED X-RAY TUBE
A third electrode called grid is used in place of wire mesh
Focussing cup surrounding the filament can be used as third electrode to control the
flow of electrons
A negative vias voltage (around 1500v) applied to the cup relative to filament to
punch off the flow of electrons
Thus cup acts as a exposure switch to turn the current on or off as when required
Applications in cine fluorography and angiography
Metal/ceramic X-Ray Tube
In this glass envelope has been replaced with metal casing and ceramic is used as
insulator for high voltage cables.
e.g. Super Rolatix ceramic x-ray tube by Philips
Features :
Anode rotates on an axle with bearings at each end providing greater stability and
reduced stress on shaft This permits use of massive anode (approx. 2000gm in place
of
700 gm in conventional tubes)
Metal envelope is grounded thus relatively positive with respect to electrons
Ceramic insulators (Al. Oxide) are used to insulate high voltage parts of x-ray tube
form the metal envelope thus allowing more
compact tube design Metal used is an alloy of Chromium and iron
ADVANTAGES OF METAL\CERAMIC TUBE
Higher Tube Loading
– Allows higher tube currents to be used because of larger heat storage capacity of
anode
Longer Tube Life
– Deposition of tungsten on the glass wall acts as electrode causing arcing bet. Glass
and filament shortening tube life. When metal enclosure is grounded, this deposition
will not alter grounding thus increasing its life

Reduced off Focus Radiation

– Electrons back scattered from the anode may strike anode again producing x-rays
from areas other than focal spot. The metal enclosure decreases off focus radiation by
attracting off focus electrons to the grounded metal wall relatively Positive as
compared to electrons. Low atomic no. of metal may produce few and low energy x-
rays.

ROTATING SEGMENTED ANODE TUBES

(Developed by Machlett Laboratories incorporated in Dynamax “100” tube)
The cup shaped anode is made of graphite
Several hundred independent tungsten rhenium segment line the inside of cup
When segmented anode rotates, the tungsten segments are forced against graphite cup
by centrifugal force
Advantage
Segmented anode tolerates the head of instantaneous exposures better than
conventional anode apart from greater cumulative heat loads.
The breaks between segments behave like expansion joints in a concrete side walk,
thus protecting anode from thermal stress

Different types of X-ray Tubes depending upon applications :

– Radiotherapy X-ray Tube (Deep Therapy).
– Stereographic X-ray Tube
– Mammography X-ray Tube
– C.T. X-ray Tube
– Field Emission X-ray Tube

RADIOTHERAPY TUBES
Tubes for deep therapy have KVp in the range of 200-300 Kv and usually work at 15-
20mA
Single focus tubes size (6-8mm) with hooded anode and target angle of about 35o
The glass envelope is about 60cm in length to prevent external arcing due to high
voltage
These are oil cooled stationary anode tubes
To allow emission of required primary x-ray beam a hole is cut in the hood below the
target. But now a days these are not being used.

STEREOGRAPHIC X-RAY TUBES

These are Similar to conventional rotating anode x-ray except Rotating anode is
bombarded simultaneously by two beams of electrons from two independent cathode
assemblies
These are used for stereoradiographic and stereofluoroscopic x-ray examinations

MAMMOGRAPHY X-RAY TUBE

For maximum visualization of soft tissues of the breast having similar ability to
absorb x-rays a beam of soft radiation (longer wavelength ) is required
Longer wavelength can be produced by selecting x-ray tube which operate at low
KVp (20-40)

Features of a Mammography Tube

Use of target made of molybdenum
Closer spacing of cathode and anode
Beryllium window (thinned glass window)
Use of molybdenum filter in place of aluminum filter

TUBES FOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

CT require longer exposure time at higher KV than needed for general radiography
Early generation CT Scanners used stationary anode, oil cooled tube as those use in
radiotherapy
But these have been charged with heavy duty rotating anode tube with higher thermal
capacity and smaller focal spot (upto 0.6mm). These tubes are air cooled with current
value upto 600mA
Some CT tubes are grid controlled for pulsed radiations to reduce rad. Dose
CT tubes are oriented in the gantry with long axis perpendicular to the fan beam to
avoid heel effect

TUBES FOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

FIELD EMISSION X-RAY TUBES (Also called cold cathode tubes)
In place of electron emission by thermionic –effect the electrons are extracted from
cathode by a high potential difference
Since electrons which can be emitted are less in number these tubes can be used only
for neonatal radiography
If higher voltage (upto 350Kv) is applied these tubes can be used for high Kv chest
radiography. But not useful for general purpose radiography

Cross section of commercially available field emission tube

A conical anode surrounded by a cylindrical cathode containing facing rows of needle
(actually more than two)
The X-ray beam passes through a window in the end of the tube with less intensity in
the centre of field
Generator used is generally capacitor discharge type
Needle tip diameter is about 1µ.
Electrons are extracted form the cathode by an intense electric field rather than by
thermionic emissio