Progress in the development of a new high heat load x-ray tube

The ongoing development of a new class of liquid cooled rotating anode x-ray tubes capable of high average and high peak power is discussed. Tube performance is characterized by zero wait-times between exposures and essentially no derating from peak instantaneous ratings for any arbitrary exposure sequence. The results of a successful program, which demonstrated proof of principle of the novel heat transfer surface will be described. The design and physics of the heat transfer surface of an experimental tube under construction will be reviewed. Potential benefits of this new tube include higher patient throughput in CT and certain fluoroscopic modalities, and possible longer tube life than conventional designs. New high average power techniques such as slit scanning, energy subtraction, x-ray spectrum optimization and special scatter rejection methods would become more clinically practical