Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method for generating an x-ray image corresponding to an object, comprising:interposing the object between a detector and an x-ray source;interposing a grid between the x-ray source and the object, the grid comprising a plurality of elements defining interstices, a first area of the grid corresponding to the elements being larger than a second area of the grid corresponding to the interstices;exposing the grid to primary x-ray energy generated by the x-ray source, thereby exposing the object to a first portion of the primary x-ray energy via the interstices of the grid;receiving a second portion of the primary x-ray energy with first areas of the detector corresponding to the interstices of the grid;receiving secondary x-ray energy with the first areas of the detector and with second areas of the detector corresponding to the elements of the grid, the secondary x-ray energy resulting from interaction of the first portion of the primary x-ray energy with the object; andgenerating x-ray image data for the object by altering first data corresponding to the first areas of the detector with reference to second data corresponding to the second areas of the detector. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the primary x-ray energy comprises a plurality of pencil beams. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the first and second areas of the detector are defined by the pencil beams. 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the secondary x-ray energy is caused by scattering of the primary x-ray energy by the object. 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising digitizing the second portion of the primary x-ray energy and the secondary x-ray energy to generate the first and second data. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein altering the first data with reference to the second data comprises subtracting the second data from the first data. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the relationship between the first and second areas of the grid results in the second data being oversampled relative to the first data. 8. The method of claim 6 wherein the second data are derived using a 2D intrapolation technique for the secondary x-ray energy received with the second areas of the detector. 9. An apparatus operable to capture an x-ray image corresponding to an object, comprising:an x-ray source operable to generate primary x-ray energy;a detector apparatus for holding a detector operable to capture the x-ray image at an image plane; anda grid comprising a plurality of elements defining interstices, a first area of the grid corresponding to the elements being larger than a second area of the grid corresponding to the interstices, the grid being positioned between the x-ray source and the detector apparatus such that the x-ray apparatus is operable to receive the object between the grid and the detector apparatus, and wherein the grid is operable to transmit a first portion of the primary x-ray energy via the interstices. 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the elements of the grid comprise a plurality of wires, the plurality of wires comprising first substantially parallel wires aligned in a first direction, and second substantially parallel wires aligned in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first wires are interwoven with the second wires. 12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first and second wires reside in separate layers which are not interwoven. 13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein each of the wires is characterized by a substantially circular cross-section. 14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first portion of the primary x-ray energy comprises a plurality of pencil beams defined by the interstices of the grid. 15. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising the detector. 16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the detector comprises one of film, an intensifying screen, a storage-phosphor plate, and a solid-state detector. 17. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the detector apparatus is positioned such that when the object and the detector are present, a second portion of the primary x-ray energy is received with first areas of the detector corresponding to the interstices of the grid, and wherein secondary x-ray energy is received with the first areas of the detector and with second areas of the detector corresponding to the elements of the grid, the secondary x-ray energy resulting from interaction of the first portion of the primary x-ray energy with the object. 18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a data processing system operable to generate x-ray image data for the object by altering first data corresponding to the first areas of the detector with reference to second data corresponding to the second areas of the detector. 19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the data processing system is further operable to digitize the second portion of the primary x-ray energy and the secondary x-ray energy to generate the first and second data. 20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the data processing system if further operable to alter the first data with reference to the second data by subtracting the second data from the first data.