Patent ID: 8623029

Claim:
A method for scanning the head of a patient, comprising: providing a head frame which is at least partially radiotranslucent, and providing a composite skull pin, wherein the composite skull pin comprises: a core comprising a cylindrical body having a cone on its distal end, wherein the cone terminates in a distal point, and further wherein the core is formed out of a substantially radiotranslucent material; and a hollow conical jacket terminating in a sharp distal point, the hollow conical jacket being sized, shaped and positioned so that it overlies, and closely conforms to, the exterior of the cone of the core, the hollow conical jacket being formed out of a strong, hard material, and further wherein the hollow conical jacket has a sufficiently small mass such that the composite skull pin has a low X-ray signature; and securing the head of a patient to the head frame using the composite skull pin.