Patent ID: 7453978

Claim:
An apparatus for generating x-ray images of a subject, the apparatus comprising: an x-ray radiation source for directing x-ray radiation along a radiation axis toward the subject, where the radiation axis substantially coincides with an X-axis of an XYZ coordinate system; a detector array for receiving the x-ray radiation as altered by the subject, the detector array comprising a plurality of detector cells for receiving and detecting the x-ray radiation at a spatial resolution which is dependent at least in part on cell-to-cell spacing between detector cells in the array and the orientation of the array with respect to the X-axis and Z-axis of the XYZ coordinate system, wherein the detector array is operable to be positioned at a tilt angle with respect to the Z-axis of the XYZ coordinate system, where the tilt angle defines an angular relationship between the Z-axis and a pivot axis of the detector array, where the pivot axis passes through an origin of the XYZ coordinate system, and wherein the detector array is operable to be pivoted about the pivot axis and positioned at a pivot angle with respect to the X-axis of the XYZ coordinate system, where the pivot angle defines an angular relationship between the detector array and the X-axis; and means for processing signals generated by the detector cells of the detector array to generate a human-perceivable image of the subject, wherein the subject is disposed between the x-ray radiation source and the detector array at a location on or adjacent a scan axis of the apparatus, wherein the scan axis is substantially parallel to the Z-axis.