Global Patent Index - EP 1409078 A1

EP 1409078 A1 20040421 - OPTICALLY DRIVEN THERAPEUTIC RADIATION SOURCE

Title (en)

OPTICALLY DRIVEN THERAPEUTIC RADIATION SOURCE

Title (de)

OPTISCH ANGETRIEBENE THERAPEUTISCHE STRAHLENQUELLE

Title (fr)

SOURCE DE RAYONNEMENT THERAPEUTIQUE A ENTRAINEMENT OPTIQUE

Publication

EP 1409078 A1 20040421 (EN)

Application

EP 02737538 A 20020619

Priority

  • US 0219416 W 20020619
  • US 29920401 P 20010619
  • US 88456101 A 20010619
  • US 88422901 A 20010619

Abstract (en)

[origin: WO02102459A1] A miniaturized, optically driven therapeutic radiation source (100) includes a laser-heated thermionic cathode (122). A fiber optic cable (113) directs a light beam from an optical source (104) to impinge upon a surface of the thermionic cathode (122), heating the surface to a temperature sufficient to cause thermionic emission of electrons. The target element (128) emits therapeutic radiation, such as x-rays, in response to incident accelerated electrons from the electron beam. In one embodiment, the electron source (122) and the target element (128) are disposed within a capsule (130) which defines a substantially evacuated region. The inner surface of the capsule is coated with a semiconductor coating, so that a uniform voltage gradient is maintained within the evacuated capsule. In another embodiment, the thermionic cathode (300) is formed of a spiral-shaped conductive element (310) having a plurality of spaced-apart turns. Interstitial spacing between adjacent turns essentially eliminates heat transfer across the spacin.

IPC 1-7

A61N 5/10

IPC 8 full level

G21K 5/02 (2006.01); A61N 5/10 (2006.01); G21K 1/06 (2006.01); H01J 35/06 (2006.01); H01J 35/08 (2006.01); H01J 35/32 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP US)

A61N 5/1001 (2013.01 - EP US); G21K 1/06 (2013.01 - EP); H01J 35/32 (2013.01 - EP); A61N 2005/1022 (2013.01 - EP); H01J 35/064 (2019.04 - EP US); H01J 2235/164 (2013.01 - EP)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR

DOCDB simple family (publication)

WO 02102459 A1 20021227; CN 1596140 A 20050316; EP 1409078 A1 20040421; EP 1409078 A4 20090408; JP 2005502160 A 20050120; JP 4268037 B2 20090527

DOCDB simple family (application)

US 0219416 W 20020619; CN 02812131 A 20020619; EP 02737538 A 20020619; JP 2003505042 A 20020619