Patent ID: 8019044

Claim:
An x-ray imaging system for generating dual energy x-ray images comprising: an x-ray source; an image detector spaced from the x-ray source to accommodate a subject to be imaged, the x-ray source being selectively switchable between first and second different x-ray energy levels, the first x-ray energy level being selected within a range of approximately 50-70 kVp and the second x-ray energy level being selected within a range of approximately 110-130 kVp, with a dose allocation, for the first x-ray energy level, being selected within a range of approximately 30-40 percent of a total dose of the first x-ray energy level and the second x-ray energy level; a filter, for the second x-ray energy level, disposed between the x-ray source and the subject, the filter being selected of a filter material range Z filter of approximately 40-47 and a thickness of less than approximately 1 mm; and a computer controlling the x-ray source to irradiate the subject with the first and second energy levels to generate first and second x-ray images.