Global Patent Index - EP 1614135 A4

EP 1614135 A4 20100428 - MINIATURE X-RAY TUBE WITH MICRO CATHODE

Title (en)

MINIATURE X-RAY TUBE WITH MICRO CATHODE

Title (de)

MINIATUR-RÖNTGENRÖHRE MIT MIKROKATHODE

Title (fr)

TUBE A RAYONS X MINIATURE MUNI D'UNE MICROCATHODE

Publication

EP 1614135 A4 20100428 (EN)

Application

EP 04758417 A 20040326

Priority

  • US 2004009346 W 20040326
  • US 39749003 A 20030326

Abstract (en)

[origin: WO2004088701A2] A miniature x-ray tube capable of intra vascular use, as for irradiating the interior wall of a blood vessel to prevent restenosis, as well as uses in other natural or surgically-created body cavities, has a micro cathode preferably formed by MEMS techniques. The very fine wire of the cathode filament is formed on a semiconductor base and draws a current sufficiently low that lead wires in a cathode heater circuit, passing through a probe line connected to the x-ray tube, can be very small wires, which helps maintain sufficient dielectric spacing in the high voltage circuit handled by the same probe line. In a preferred embodiment the probe line comprises a glass fiber, providing needed dielectric strength and allowing for a direct seal to the x-ray tube. The glass fiber is held at a small diameter to allow flexibility for navigating small-radius turns within the vessels. In a preferred embodiment the fiber is overcoated with a high-dielectric polymer to significantly increase the dielectric strength of the overall cable, without adding significantly to stiffness. The high voltage ground conductor is a coaxial sheath on the outside of the polymer. Exterior to the ground conductor is a further flexible layer having paths for coolant.

IPC 8 full level

A61N 5/10 (2006.01); C03B 37/027 (2006.01); C03B 37/03 (2006.01); G02B 6/10 (2006.01); H01J 9/04 (2006.01); H01J 35/06 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP KR)

A61B 6/00 (2013.01 - KR); H01J 35/32 (2013.01 - EP); H05G 1/02 (2013.01 - KR); G02B 6/4298 (2013.01 - EP)

Citation (search report)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IT LI LU MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

DOCDB simple family (publication)

WO 2004088701 A2 20041014; WO 2004088701 A3 20050414; EP 1614135 A2 20060111; EP 1614135 A4 20100428; JP 2007524959 A 20070830; KR 20060002871 A 20060109

DOCDB simple family (application)

US 2004009346 W 20040326; EP 04758417 A 20040326; JP 2006509361 A 20040326; KR 20057018092 A 20050926