Patent ID: 8085901

Claim:
A method for obtaining an image by using a digital radiography receiver in an x-ray imaging system of a type configured for film or computed radiography, the method comprising: providing a retrofit connection apparatus that adapts the x-ray imaging system for use with the digital radiography receiver by: forming a receiver interface channel for communicating signals to and from the digital radiography receiver; forming an operator interface channel for routing at least an input expose signal from an operator control to the retrofit connection apparatus; and forming a generator interface channel for transmitting at least an output expose signal from the retrofit connection apparatus to an x-ray generator of the x-ray imaging system; in response to the input expose signal routed over the operator interface channel, transmitting the output expose signal to the x-ray generator over the generator interface channel; providing the retrofit connection apparatus a first mode for operating the x-ray imaging system with the digital radiography receiver; and providing the retrofit connection apparatus a second mode for operating the x-ray imaging system with an x-ray film cassette or a computed radiography cassette, wherein the x-ray film cassette and the computer radiography cassette are removed from the x-ray imaging system to output an image and the digital radiography receiver is not removed from the x-ray imaging system to output an image.