Patent ID: 7526065

Claim:
An apparatus including an automated X-ray imaging system for producing a plurality of X-ray imaging signals, comprising: an X-ray emission system responsive to at least one emission control signal by providing at least first and second doses of X-ray radiation, wherein said second dose differs from said first dose in one or more of a plurality of X-ray radiation characteristics; an X-ray detection system responsive to at least one detection control signal and for placement in relation to said X-ray emission system to be responsive to at least respective portions of said first and second doses of X-ray radiation following exposure thereto of at least a portion of a subject disposed substantially between said X-ray emission and detection systems by providing corresponding first and second image signals corresponding to said respective portions of said first and second doses of X-ray radiation, respectively; and a control system, coupled to said X-ray emission and detection systems, responsive to said first and second image signals by providing said emission and detection control signals, wherein said second image signal differs from said first image signal in one or more of a plurality of image characteristics, and said first and second image signals together form a plurality of images which is one or more of a planar image and a volumetric image, respectively, a volumetric image and a planar image, respectively, a lower resolution image and a higher resolution image, respectively, and a higher resolution image and a lower resolution image, respectively; wherein said portion of said subject defines a target region for said at least respective portions of said first and second doses of X-ray radiation, said target region is disposed in a first spatial relation to said X-ray emission system, said target region is disposed in a second spatial relation to said X-ray detection system, and said X-ray emission system is further responsive to said at least one emission control signal by controlling said first spatial relation.