Nano X-ray Tubes: Faster and Cheaper

Evolving nano technology has come a long way in improving a wide range of medical technology.  Scientists have been using nanostructures on the surface of X-ray tubes to improve their efficiency in converting power to radiation, making X-ray tubes faster and longer lasting while delivering better resolution. 

The carbon nano-coating allows the tube to be energized with a fraction of electrical energy and can be turned on and off instantaneously, which results in less heat produced, permitting a smaller, faster device.  The current X-ray tube design has historically not been very efficient in transforming electricity to radiation.  As a result, only 1% of the electrical energy is converted into a usable X-ray and the rest is heat.  Because of this, designs are larger and mechanical shutters are required to help control the radiation from the tube.  This limits the speed in which a tube can be switched on and off.

One prime advantage of increased speed and energy conversion is that multiple X-ray sources can be used simultaneously.  Prototypes using up 25 simultaneous beams produced images of twice the resolution in breast tissue when compared to existing CT technology.  Current nanotube designs also allow the technology to produce a spot size of approximately 80 um.  These improvements allow the technology to focus on breast, lung, and cardiovascular imaging, studies where movement is a major issue.   

I spoke to Dr. Otto Zhou, one of the original thought leaders of the technology, and he said, “The properties of the technology allow the X-ray source to be very efficient in converting energy and to be turned off and on instantly.  Now, we can produce a very clear tomosynthesis image.”

But, it doesn’t stop with improved imaging and longer lasting tubes.  The next step is miniature X-ray tubes, which will really change how we use X-rays.