Patent ID: 8009798

Claim:
An x-ray imaging apparatus comprising: a unitary component comprising a radiation source that emits high-energy radiation in a radiation pattern having a central ray, and a compression plate in an unchanging position relationship with respect to said radiation source; a radiation detector unit; said radiation source and said radiation detector unit being configured to receive an examination subject therebetween and said compression plate being configured to compress the examination subject between the compression plate and the detector, and said radiation detector unit being configured to detect said high-energy radiation emitted by said radiation source, attenuated by said examination subject compressed by said compression plate, said radiation detector unit comprising a border region; and a supporting unit to which said unitary component and said radiation detector unit are mounted, said supporting unit being configured to move said unitary component relative to said radiation to align the examination subject between the radiation source and the radiation detector unit, by always maintaining a symmetrical distribution, relative to the central ray of said radiation pattern, of said high-energy radiation striking said radiation detector unit.