SPIE - Education Modern Diagnostic X-ray Sources SC1183

During recent decades, in particular since the advent of computed tomography and the increasing sophistication of interventional X-ray systems, progress in the development of diagnostic X-ray sources has been tremendous. More than 100,000 diagnostic X-ray tubes are being installed or replaced every year. Tubes for detal application, non-destructive testing and material analytics add to this. As a sound basis for their work, specialists and academians working in the realm of X-rays like system developers, medical and X-ray physicists and clinicians may want to improve their background knowledge. Literature on the topic has grown recently, among others with several publications by the lecturer, see [1-10], including a textbook. In addition, this course will offer 1:1 interaction to improve understanding the physics of production of “clinical” X-rays for diagnostics. It will comprehensively treat functional principles of X-ray sources. Design aspects, special features, radiation protection, modern performance metric, manufacturing technology, and cost aspects will be discussed. Why is vacuum technology not at all regarded outdated? Will we find the X-ray LED, compact X-ray Lasers or flat panel sources in medical imaging soon? Why do hundreds of tube types populate the market? The lecture will cover system performance aspects related to the source, material boundary conditions, and manufacturing technology. The quest for affordable healthcare demands for trade-offs between value and cost, and objective comparison of tube types. Initial costs and costs of tube replacement will be discussed as well as means to extend tube life and to save natural resources. Last but not least, the lecture may spark fascination for these vacuum electronic light sources off-the-mainstream.