System and method for motion and angulation profiles in tomosynthesis

A method of tomosynthesis comprising:

• identifying a target, said target comprising a first dimension and a second dimension;
• projecting an x-ray beam onto at least a portion of said target, said x-ray beam having a source, a beam axis, a projection area, an angle ∅ representing an angular distance between said beam axis and said first dimension of said at least a portion of said target, and an angle γ representing an x-ray beam width along said first dimension;
• varying a position of said x-ray source along at least said first dimension;
• and
• varying said angle γ and said angle ∅ based at least in part on said position along said first dimension of said x-ray source to substantially maintain said projection area.

A system for performing tomosynthesis comprising:

• an x-ray source capable of emitting an x-ray beam, said x-ray beam having a beam axis, a beam width, a projection area, and an angle γ representing said beam width along a first dimension;
• a target with a perimeter;
• a first motion subsystem for moving said x-ray source along at least a portion of said first dimension to a first dimension position;
• a second motion subsystem for altering an angle of said tube source thereby adjusting an angle ∅ representing an angular distance between said beam axis and said first dimension;
• and
• at least one collimator capable of altering said angle γ, wherein said altering is based at least in part on said first dimension position of said x-ray source so that said projection area remains substantially within said perimeter of said target.