Patent ID: 8681935

Claim:
A method for positioning an X-ray image acquisition device having an X-ray radiation source and an X-ray detector, the X-ray radiation source being capable of emitting X-ray radiation onto an object under an adjustable viewing direction depending on geometrical parameters of the X-ray image acquisition device, the method comprising the steps of: creating a straight reference plane intersecting a three-dimensional representation of the object; creating a center point as a geometrical center of an intersection area of the three-dimensional representation of the object on the reference plane; creating (i) a normal vector and (ii) at least one tangential vector, wherein the normal vector is defined as a vector through the center point, extending perpendicularly to the reference plane, and wherein the at least one tangential vector is defined as a vector through the center point, extending tangentially on the reference plane; defining at least one viewing direction derived from the normal vector and/or at least one tangential vector; and registering (i) the reference plane, (ii) the three-dimensional representation of the object's frame of reference and (iii) the X-ray image acquisition device's frame of reference; and adjusting the geometrical parameters of the X-ray image acquisition device according to at least one optimal viewing direction selected from the at least one defined viewing direction.