A novel X-ray source for diagnosis: K-fluorescent enhanced X-ray tube

A novel X-ray source for diagnosis, K-fluorescent enhanced X-ray tube, has been developed. With selectively enhanced K characteristic lines of optimum photon energies for medical diagnosis, the novel X-ray tube will provide am imaging source of higher signal-to-noise ratio and lower radiation dose. Its working principle and structure are described. A prototype tube designed with K characteristic photon energy about 44 keV has been built and tested. Results of spectral measurements in comparison with a conventional X-ray tube are given, which demonstrate an increase of 15%, 75% and 110% in the photon flux within the energy region of 30 keV to 50 keV at the tube voltage of 70 kV, 80 kV and 90 kV respectively.