Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. An X-ray localizer light system comprising: a long life X-ray localizer light source;  an optical concentrator, the light source being situated at a first focal spot, the optical concentrator being configured for concentrating X-ray localizer light from the light source to a second focal spot;  an opaque shield having an aperture therein, the aperture being situated proximate to the second focal spot and being of such a geometrical shape so as to maximize light throughput while meeting light field edge contrast requirements of the X-ray localizer system. 2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the light source comprises a halogen lamp. claim 1 3. The system of  claim 2  wherein the halogen lamp comprises an axially positioned filament coil and wherein each dimension of the coil is smaller than a corresponding dimension of the aperture. claim 2 4. The system of  claim 3  wherein the filament coil is wound in a helix having a length and a diameter, and wherein the length of the helix is equal to or less than about twice the diameter of the helix. claim 3 5. The system of  claim 1  wherein the light source comprises a light source having a rated life of at least about 1000 hours. claim 1 6. The system of  claim 5  wherein the rated life is at least about 3000 hours. claim 5 7. The system of  claim 1  wherein the light source comprises a light source capable of withstanding repetitive switching operation in an X-ray machine environment. claim 1 8. The system of  claim 1  wherein the light source comprises a light source having substantially similar restart and operation voltages. claim 1 9. The system of  claim 8  wherein the restart voltage is equal to or less than about 48 volts. claim 8 10. The system of  claim 8  wherein the restart voltage is equal to or less than about 12 volts. claim 8 11. The system of  claim 1  wherein the optical concentrator comprises a reflector. claim 1 12. The system of  claim 11  wherein the reflector comprises a quasi-ellipsoidal portion, and wherein the light source is situated within the quasi-ellipsoidal portion. claim 11 13. The system of  claim 12  wherein the reflector further comprises a cylindrical portion situated between the quasi-ellipsoidal portion and the shield for reflecting stray light from the quasi-ellipsoidal portion in the direction of the shield, a back reflector portion situated proximate to the shield, and a centrally-mounted portion situated between the aperture and the light source for directing back-reflected light in the direction of the aperture. claim 12 14. The system of  claim 11  wherein the quasi-ellipsoidal portion comprises an elliptical portion. claim 11 15. The system of  claim 11  wherein the light source, the reflector, and the shield are configured to provide an efficiency of light from the light source to the aperture in a range of about 10 percent. claim 11 16. The system of  claim 11  wherein the reflector comprises a thermally conductive material coated by dichroic mirror material. claim 11 17. The system of  claim 1  wherein the shield comprises aluminum. claim 1 18. The system of  claim 1  wherein the aperture comprises a square aperture. claim 1 19. The system of  claim 1  wherein the aperture comprises a polygonal aperture. claim 1 20. The system of  claim 1  further comprising a diffuser situated between the light source and the aperture. claim 1 21. The system of  claim 20  wherein the diffuser is attached to the shield. claim 20 22. The system of  claim 20  wherein the diffuser comprises foggy glass. claim 20 23. The system of  claim 20  wherein the diffuser comprises patterned glass. claim 20 24. An X-ray localizer light system comprising: a halogen lamp;  a reflector having first and second focal spots, the lamp being situated at the first focal spot, the reflector being configured for concentrating light from the lamp to the second focal spot;  an opaque shield having an aperture therein, the aperture being situated proximate to the second focal spot and being of such a geometrical shape so as to maximize light throughput while meeting light field edge contrast requirements of the X-ray localizer system; and  a diffuser situated between the lamp and the aperture,  wherein the halogen lamp comprises an axially positioned filament coil and wherein each dimension of the coil is smaller than a corresponding dimension of the aperture. 25. The system of  claim 24  wherein the filament coil is wound in a helix having a length and a diameter, and wherein the length of the helix is equal to or less than about twice the diameter of the helix. claim 24 26. The system of  claim 24  wherein the reflector comprises an elliptical portion, and wherein the lamp is situated within the elliptical portion. claim 24 27. The system of  claim 24  wherein the reflector comprises a quasi-ellipsoidal portion, and wherein the lamp is situated within the quasi-ellipsoidal portion. claim 24 28. The system of  claim 27  wherein the reflector further comprises a cylindrical portion situated between the quasi-ellipsoidal portion and the shield for reflecting stray light from the quasi-ellipsoidal portion in the direction of the shield, a back reflector portion situated proximate to the shield, and a centrally-mounted portion situated between the aperture and the light source for directing back-reflected light in the direction of the aperture. claim 27 29. The system of  claim 24  wherein the reflector comprises a thermally conductive material coated by dichroic mirror material. claim 24 30. The system of  claim 24  wherein the diffuser is attached to the shield. claim 24