Patent ID: 8199883

Claim:
A radiographic imaging apparatus comprising: an x-ray source; an x-ray detector; a table for positioning a patient to be imaged; a segmented filtering assembly having a generally annular frame comprising a first pair of opposing openings in a wall of the frame and two opposing x-ray attenuation segments in the wall of the frame; and a controller configured to: position the segmented filtering assembly between the x-ray source and the x-ray detector at a first angular orientation such that x-rays pass through the first pair of opposing openings; monitor detector saturation feedback information from the x-ray detector while the x-ray source irradiates the x-ray detector; and if saturation is imminent and has not yet occurred, rotate the segmented filtering assembly to a second angular orientation such that the two opposing x-ray attenuation segments are positioned to attenuate the x-rays.