Patent ID: 6914958

Claim:
A method for acquiring digital x-ray images, said method comprising: identifying scan parameters designating slices of interest from a patient anatomy; calculating scan ranges for each of said slices, said scan images corresponding to distances traveled by each of a detector and x-ray tube while said x-ray tube exposes said detector to radiation; calculating first and second preparation positions for each of said x-ray tube and detector, said first and second preparation positions being located at opposite ends of said scan ranges and corresponding to a distance traveled by said x-ray tube and detector, said x-ray tube not exposing said detector to x-rays while moving through said preparation positions; moving said detector and x-ray tube to said first detector and x-ray tube preparation positions, respectively; acquiring a first x-ray image with said detector while moving said detector in a first direction over a first detector scan range and moving said x-ray tube in a second direction over a first tube scan range, said second direction differing from said first direction, said first x-ray image being acquired based on said scan parameters; moving said detector and x-ray tube to said second detector and x-ray tube preparation positions, respectively; positioning said detector and x-ray tube at said second detector and x-ray tube preparation positions, respectively, after said acquiring a first x-ray image step; and acquiring a second x-ray image with said detector while moving said detector in said second direction over a second detector scan range and moving said x-ray tube in said first direction over a second tube scan range, said second x-ray image being acquired based on said scan parameters.