Method and apparatus for adjusting technical exposure factors during radiographic acquisition

A method of acquiring a radiographic image of a patient with an apparatus comprising a X-ray source and a X-ray detector, the X-ray source and the detector being disposes disposed in opposed positions, a region of interest of the patient being positioned in an intermediate position between the X-ray source and the detector and within a propagation bundle of a radiation emitted by the X-ray source, wherein the X-ray source and the detector are movable along a pre-set trajectory due to at least two movements:

• a rotational movement of the X-ray source and the detector around a rotation axis, and
• a translational movement of the rotation axis along a Y-direction in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the rotation axis, or a rotatory movement of the rotation axis around a second axis of rotation perpendicular to a plane parallel to the rotation axis, wherein, due to a combination of the at least two movements, a virtual rotation center which is an instant rotation center of the X-ray source and the detector moves during each acquisition, the method comprising:
• acquiring a scout image by acquiring a pre-exam image;
• and
• subsequently acquiring a real image, wherein, for acquiring the scout image, the rotational movement of the X-ray source and the detector around the rotation axis occurs in opposite directions with respect to a rotation direction of the X-ray source and the detector around the rotation axis during exposure for acquiring the real image.

A method of acquiring a radiographic image of a patient with an apparatus comprising a X-ray source and a X-ray detector, the X-ray source and the detector being disposes in opposed positions, a region of interest of the patient being positioned in an intermediate position between the X-ray source and the detector and within a propagation bundle of a radiation emitted by the X-ray source, wherein the X-ray source and the detector are movable along a pre-set trajectory due to at least two movements:

• a rotational movement of the X-ray source and the detector around a rotation axis, and
• a translational movement of the rotation axis along a Y-direction in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the rotation axis, or a rotatory movement of the rotation axis around a second axis of rotation perpendicular to a plane parallel to the rotation axis, wherein, due to a combination of the at least two movements, a virtual rotation center which is an instant rotation center of the X-ray source and the detector moves during each acquisition, the method comprising:
• acquiring a scout image by acquiring pre-exam image;
• and
• subsequently acquiring a real image,
• wherein, for acquiring the scout image, the rotational movement of the X-ray source and the detector around the rotation axis occurs in opposite directions with respect to a rotation direction of the X-ray source and the detector around the rotation axis during exposure for acquiring the real image, and
• wherein the steps of acquiring a scout image and a real image are each performed with the virtual rotation center) in a different position with respect to the X-ray source, the detector, and the patient under investigation.