Methods and systems for fast filter change

An imaging system, comprising:

• a gantry for receiving an imaging subject;
• an X-ray source positioned in the gantry for emitting an X-ray beam;
• an X-ray detector positioned in the gantry opposite to the X-ray source for detecting attenuated X-rays;
• a filter assembly mounted in the gantry adjacent to an output of the X-ray source, wherein the filter assembly includes:
• a first filter driving system including a motor, a first filter and a second filter positioned adjacent the first filter;
• a motorized table for moving the imaging subject;
• and
• a computation device with instructions stored in a non-transient memory to:
• position the first filter in a path of the X-ray beam;
• move the table to move the imaging subject to a first position;
• acquire a first portion of an imaging dataset corresponding to a first anatomy of the subject by turning on the X-ray source to emit an X-ray beam;
• move the table to move the imaging subject to a second position;
• and
• while moving the table to move the imaging subject to the second position, switch from the first filter to the second filter, wherein switching from the first filter to the second filter includes actuating the motor to switch from the first filter to the second filter in less than two seconds, and wherein during the filter switching, the X-ray source does not emit the X-ray beam;
• acquire a second portion of the imaging dataset corresponding to a second anatomy of the subject by turning on the X-ray source to emit an X-ray beam, wherein the second anatomy is different than the first anatomy.