Patent ID: 8306181

Claim:
An extra-oral dental x-ray imaging system, for performing a partial CT or partial 3D image of a region of interest of an object, the system comprising: a) an x-ray source for exposing an object to x-rays so that the object may be imaged during the exposure; b) an x-ray imaging device suitable for producing multiple radiated image frames during at least part of the exposure; c) a first manipulator unit for moving the imaging device and the x-ray source along a path between plural positions corresponding to plural radiated image frames during the exposure, the manipulator unit configured for enabling movement of both the x-ray source and the imaging device by selective rotation about at least one rotational axis located between a focal point of the x-ray source and the x-ray imaging device, wherein during the exposure the manipulator unit moves the imaging device and the x-ray source about the at least one rotational axis; d) a second manipulator unit configured for providing at least one of translation and rotation of the x-ray source; and e) a third manipulator unit configured for providing at least one of translating and rotating the imaging device, said second and third manipulators being separate from each other and separate from said first manipulator unit and configured for translation and rotation the imaging device and x-ray source independently of each other and independently of the first manipulator, and relative to the axis of rotation during at least part of the exposure so that during the exposure the rotational axis is virtually moved along a curve due to the at least one of translation and rotation of the x-ray source and of the imaging device respectively provided by the first and second manipulators.