System and method for x-ray inspection

A method for scanning an exposure-limited subject comprising:

• producing at a source, radiant energy within a defined x-ray spectrum;
• providing the radiant energy in a direction that traverses at least a portion of a scanning volume;
• filtering the radiant energy with a filter;
• applying at least a portion of the radiant energy to the scanning volume;
• conveying the exposure-limited subject to the scanning volume and generating conveyance data indicative of at least a conveyance state of the exposure-limited subject;
• applying at least a portion of the filtered radiant energy to the exposure-limited subject;
• sensing the radiant energy produced from the source and generating source radiant energy data;
• acquiring conveyance data, source radiant data, and a signal related to subject dose data at a dose controller and generating a measure indicative of the dose of radiant energy acquired by the exposure-limited subject, where the measure indicates when the exposure-limited subject has acquired a dose of radiant energy above a dose threshold;
• and
• adjusting at least one of the production of radiant energy, the filtering of radiant energy, and the conveying in response to at least one of the conveyance data, the source radiant data, and the signal related to subject dose data, and the measure.