Image compression for x-ray imaging devices

An imaging method, comprising:

• providing an x-ray imaging device with a housing containing an internal power source, an internal power supply, and a trigger or foot switch that can be activated while the x-ray imaging device is positioned by hand;
• capturing a first x-ray image, having a first frame byte size, using the x-ray imaging device by activating the trigger;
• compressing the first x-ray image using a compression process performed by a processor, forming a compressed first x-ray image having a first compressed x-ray image frame byte size, the processor located within the x-ray imaging device and then wirelessly transmitting the compressed first x-ray image to a display device;
• capturing a second x-ray image, having a second frame byte size, using the x-ray imaging device;
• compressing the second x-ray image using the processor, forming a compressed first x- ray image having a first compressed x-ray image frame byte size, and then wirelessly transmitting the compressed second x-ray image to the display device, wherein the compressed first x-ray image file has a frame byte size that is less than the frame byte size of the first frame byte size by a factor of 16 or more, and wherein the compressed second x-ray image has a frame byte size that is less than the frame byte size of the second frame byte size by a factor of 16 or more;
• and
• displaying the first and second x-ray images on the display device at a frame rate of more than 8 frames per second.

A hand-held X-ray imaging device, comprising:

• a support arm with a housing enclosing an internal power supply and an internal, removable power source, the power source being replaceable and delivering 60 or more X-ray images using a single charge, the support arm being configured to rotate around an object to be analyzed while being held by a support structure;
• an X-ray source contained near one end of the support arm;
• an X-ray detector contained near the other end of the support arm;
• an internal processor and supporting electronics configured to compress an x-ray image by a factor of 16 or more and wirelessly transmit the compressed x-ray image to an external display device;
• and
• a trigger or foot switch that can be activated after the imaging device is properly positioned;
• wherein the x-ray device is configured to be removable from the support structure and used in a stand-alone fashion for x-ray imaging.