Patent ID: 6459760
Filing Date: 2002-10-01
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for determining an axial distance between an imaging source and a selected portion of a structure, the structure being positioned between the imaging source and an imaging detector panel spaced apart from the imaging source, the method comprising:detecting an image of the selected portion on the imaging detector panel when the imaging source is in a first source position; determining a first image position of the selected portion image on the detector panel when the imaging source is in the first source position; determining an axial distance between the imaging source and the imaging detector panel when the imaging source is in the first source position; moving the imaging source laterally relative to the selected portion to a second source position; determining a lateral distance moved by the imaging source between the first source position and the second source position; determining a second image position of the selected portion image on the detector panel when the imaging source is in the second source position; determining a lateral distance moved by the selected portion image on the detector panel relative to the selected portion between the first image position and the second image position; and determining the axial distance between the imaging source and the selected portion based on the axial distance between the imaging source and the imaging detector panel, the lateral distance moved by the imaging source, and the lateral distance moved by the selected portion image on the imaging detector panel.