Patent ID: 7110497

Claim:
A method for reducing a subject's exposure to x-rays when obtaining a view of an area of a subject that is longer than a length of a maximum field of view of an x-ray detector by obtaining at least two images, the method comprising: determining a length of an area to be imaged; calculating, based on the length of the area to be imaged, a size, in a direction of movement, of an angle of x-rays used to obtain at least one of the at least two images; obtaining the at least two images; and pasting the at least two images together to form a pasted image; wherein the size of the angle of x-rays is calculated to reduce exposure to the subject; and wherein the size of the angle of x-rays is calculated based on a number of images to be collected and wherein calculating the number of images to be collected comprises: determining a total length to be imaged; determining a maximum angle of x-rays that can be used to image the area of the subject using an x-ray detector; determining an amount of overlap; and determining a minimum number of images needed based at least in part on the total length to be imaged, the maximum angle of x-rays, and the amount of overlap.