초록 ▼

A patient receiving region (12) is defined within a stationary CT scanner frame (A). An x-ray tube (B) is mounted on a rotating frame portion (40) for rotation about the patient receiving region on an annular bearing (44, 46, 48). A fluidic slip ring (60) is mounted between the rotating and stationa

A patient receiving region (12) is defined within a stationary CT scanner frame (A). An x-ray tube (B) is mounted on a rotating frame portion (40) for rotation about the patient receiving region on an annular bearing (44, 46, 48). A fluidic slip ring (60) is mounted between the rotating and stationary frames adjacent the bearing for conveying cooling fluid between the x-ray tube and a stationarily mounted, preferably off-site, chiller (D). The fluidic slip ring enables large amounts of heat to be removed from the x-ray tube to maintain the x-ray tube at proper operating temperatures without overheating the interior of the CT scanner, the CT scanner room, or the like.

대표청구항 ▼

A CT scanner comprising: a patient receiving region defined within a stationary frame; a fluid cooled x-ray tube mounted on a rotating frame for rotation about the patient receiving region, the x-ray tube having an x-ray window through which x-rays are transmitted across the patient receiving region

A CT scanner comprising: a patient receiving region defined within a stationary frame; a fluid cooled x-ray tube mounted on a rotating frame for rotation about the patient receiving region, the x-ray tube having an x-ray window through which x-rays are transmitted across the patient receiving region; a radiation detection means for detecting radiation which has traversed the patient receiving region; an image reconstruction means for reconstructing an image representation from signals generated by the x-ray detection means; a fluid slip ring for providing fluid communication between the rotating and stationary frames, the fluidic slip ring including: a rotating annular portion having first and second circumferential cooling fluid channels defined therein; a stationary annular portion surrounding the rotatable portion in a generally mating relationship with the channels; a sealing means for preventing cooling fluid flow out of the channels between the rotating and stationary annular portions; a first fluid passage through the stationary annular portion with a first aperture in alignment with the first channel and a second passage through the stationary annular portion having an aperture in alignment with the second channel; a cooling fluid circulating means for circulating a cooling fluid through the fluidic slip ring between the stationary and rotating frames, the stationary annular portion passages being operatively connected with the cooling fluid circulating means, whereby cooling fluid flows through one of the first passages into the first channel, flows from the first channel to the rotating frame, absorbs x-ray tube heat, flows from the rotating frame back to the second channel, and flows through the second stationary annular portion passage.