SBIR Phase I: Electrostatic Design for Cold-Cathode, Miniature X-ray Sources

这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是改善日常生活中的3D X射线成像。目前，3D X射线成像用于绝对需要对对象进行非破坏性成像的应用。一个例子是在医疗保健领域，即计算机断层扫描，在美国每天进行25万次成像，通过使医生能够快速识别和治疗中风、心脏病发作和癌症等疾病，挽救了无数生命。机场是计算机断层扫描被大量使用的其他地方，每天快速检查数百万个行李，以捕捉曾经无法通过传统X射线系统看到的威胁。能够用于上述应用的3D X射线成像的系统是大的、昂贵的和固定的，这阻止了它们在更多应用中的使用。该项目为3D X射线成像提供了一种新的架构，有望使系统更便宜，更小，更紧凑，需要更少的功率并表现出更高的性能。这种新的架构将使3D X射线成像能够用于新的应用，使其在医院和机场等关键基础设施位置之外的任何地方和时间都更经济实惠。这个小型企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目是开发新的3D X射线成像架构最关键组件的第一步：一种微型、高性能和廉价的X射线源。由于生成3D图像的方法，现代3D X射线成像系统是大的、昂贵的且固定的。单个X射线源和检测器弧对以高速旋转，以在不同角度生成用于重建3D模型的2D图像。现代X射线源和探测器非常笨重，每个重超过100磅，并且需要大量的结构加固，导致系统重量超过1000磅。所提出的新架构使用X射线源和探测器的固定环。X射线源是电动打开和关闭的，模仿现代3D X射线成像系统的旋转而不旋转，从而使系统更便宜，更小，使用更低的功率，同时表现出更高的性能。为了实现这些愿望，必须开发更小，高性能和廉价的微型X射线源。该项目将通过测量性能、分辨率和可靠性等关键指标来表征这种X射线源。 该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is improved access to 3D x-ray imaging in everyday life. Currently 3D x-ray imaging is used for applications where it is absolutely necessary to non-destructively image an object. One example is in healthcare, known as computed tomography, where imaging is performed 250,000 times per day in the US saving countless lives by enabling doctors to quickly identify and treat disease such as stroke, heart attack, and cancer. Airports are other locations where computed tomography is heavily used to quickly inspect millions of bags per day to catch threats that were once unable to be seen through conventional x-ray systems. The systems capable of 3D x-ray imaging for the applications mentioned above are large, expensive and immobile which prevent their use in more applications. This project enables a new architecture for 3D x-ray imaging which promises to make systems less expensive, smaller and more compact, require less power and demonstrate higher performance. This new architecture will enable access to 3D x-ray imaging for new applications by making it more affordable and available where and when it is needed, outside of key infrastructure locations like hospitals and airports.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is the first step in developing the most critical component to a new 3D x-ray imaging architecture: a miniature, high-performance, and inexpensive x-ray source. Modern 3D x-ray imaging systems are large, expensive and immobile due to the method of generating 3D images. A single x-ray source and detector arc pair are rotated at high speeds to generate 2D images at different angles which are used to reconstruct a 3D model. Modern x-ray sources and detectors are very bulky, weighing over 100 pounds each, and necessitate substantial structural reinforcement, resulting in systems that weigh over 1000 pounds. The proposed new architecture uses a stationary ring of x-ray sources and detectors. The x-ray sources are electrically turned on and off mimicking the rotation of modern 3D x-ray imaging systems without spinning, resulting in a system that is inexpensive and smaller, and uses lower power while demonstrating higher performance. For these aspirations to be realized, a miniature x-ray source that is smaller, high-performance and inexpensive must be developed. This project will take the first steps to characterize such an x-ray source by measuring key metrics such as the performance, resolution and reliability. The design will be iterated through simulations.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.