Patent ID: 7453977

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; and a detector array for receiving the x-ray radiation as altered by the subject, the detector array comprising a plurality of array arms, each array arm including 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 the number of detector cells in each array arm and the orientation of the array arms with respect to the radiation axis of the x-ray radiation source, the plurality of array arms including: a first array arm operable to be positioned at a first angle with respect to the radiation axis, the first array arm having a first spatial resolution determined at least in part by a value of the first angle, the first array arm including a first portion of the detector cells for receiving and detecting x-ray radiation that passes through a first zone of the subject; and a second array arm operable to be positioned at a second angle with respect to the radiation axis, the second array arm having a second spatial resolution determined at least in part by a value of the second angle which may be different from the value of the first angle, the second array arm including a second portion of the detector cells for receiving and detecting x-ray radiation that passes through a second zone of the subject; a third array arm operable to be positioned at a third angle with respect to the radiation axis, the third array arm having a third spatial resolution determined at least in part by a value of the third angle, the third array arm including a third portion of the detector cells for receiving and detecting x-ray radiation that passes through the first zone of the subject; and a fourth array arm operable to be positioned at a fourth angle with respect to the radiation axis, the fourth array arm having a fourth spatial resolution determined at least in part by a value of the fourth angle which may be different from the value of the third angle, the fourth array arm including a fourth portion of the detector cells for receiving and detecting x-ray radiation that passes through the second zone of the subject; and means for processing signals generated by the detector cells of the detector array to generate a human-perceivable image of the subject.