Apparatus and method for obtaining two radiographic images of an object from one exposing radiation dose

An apparatus for diagnostic radiographic imaging, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a stationary x-ray source for providing a two dimensional area exposing dose of x-rays, thereby irradiating a stationary imaging object;
• (b) a first x-ray radiation large area receptor for detecting two dimensional imagewise modulated x-rays from said exposing dose emitted from said x-ray source and from said imaging object, said object being interposed between said source and said first receptor, said first receptor thereby providing a first image of said object from said exposing dose;
• and
• (c) a second x-ray radiation large area receptor for detecting two dimensional imagewise modulated x-rays from said exposing dose emitted from said first receptor, said second receptor being situated behind said first receptor and comprising x-ray converter means and detector means for detecting a converted x-ray image, said second receptor thereby providing a digital second image of said object from said exposing dose;
• wherein said x-ray converter means comprises a photoconductive layer and said detector means comprises a thin-film transistor (TFT) array.

An apparatus for diagnostic radiographic imaging, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a stationary x-ray source for providing a two dimensional area exposing dose of x-rays, thereby irradiating a stationary imaging object;
• (b) a first x-ray radiation large area receptor for detecting two dimensional imagewise modulated x-rays from said exposing dose emitted from said x-ray source and from said imaging object, said object being interposed between said source and said first receptor, said first receptor thereby providing a first image of said object from said exposing dose;
• and
• (c) a second x-ray radiation large area receptor for detecting two dimensional imagewise modulated x-rays from said exposing dose emitted from said first receptor, said second receptor being situated behind said first receptor and comprising x-ray converter means and detector means for detecting a converted x-ray image, said second receptor thereby providing a digital second image of said object from said exposing dose;
• wherein said x-ray converter means comprises an image intensifier and an optic coupling device, and said detector means comprises a semiconductor image sensor.

A method for forming two radiographic x-ray images of an imaging object from an exposing dose of x-rays, said method comprising:

• (a) exposing a stationary imaging object to a two dimensional area exposing dose of x-rays from an x-ray source, said imaging object being interposed between said x-ray source and a first x-ray radiation large area receptor;
• (b) detecting by said first receptor two dimensional imagewise modulated x-rays from said exposing dose emitted from said x-ray source and from said imaging object, thereby providing a first image of said object;
• and
• (c) detecting by a second x-ray radiation large area receptor two dimensional imagewise modulated x-rays from said exposing dose emitted from said first receptor, said second receptor being situated behind said first receptor and comprising x-ray converter means and detector means for detecting a converted x-ray image, thereby providing a second digital image of said object;
• wherein said x-ray converter means comprises a scintillating phosphor, a channeled light detector, or a fiber-optic scintillator, and said detector means comprises a thin-film transistor (TFT) array.

A method for forming two radiographic x-ray images of an imaging object from an exposing dose of x-rays, said method comprising:

• (a) exposing a stationary imaging object to a two dimensional area exposing dose of x-rays from an x-ray source, said imaging object being interposed between said x-ray source and a first x-ray radiation large area receptor;
• (b) detecting by said first receptor two dimensional imagewise modulated x-rays from said exposing dose emitted from said x-ray source and from said imaging object, thereby providing a first image of said object;
• and
• (c) detecting by a second x-ray radiation large area receptor two dimensional imagewise modulated x-rays from said exposing dose emitted from said first receptor, said second receptor being situated behind said first receptor and comprising x-ray converter means and detector means for detecting a converted x-ray image, thereby providing a second digital image of said object;
• wherein said x-ray converter means comprises a photoconductive layer and said detector means comprises a thin-film transistor (TFT) array.

A method for forming two radiographic x-ray images of an imaging object from an exposing dose of x-rays, said method comprising:

• (a) exposing a stationary imaging object to a two dimensional area exposing dose of x-rays from an x-ray source, said imaging object being interposed between said x-ray source and a first x-ray radiation large area receptor;
• (b) detecting by said first receptor two dimensional imagewise modulated x-rays from said exposing dose emitted from said x-ray source and from said imaging object, thereby providing a first image of said object;
• and
• (c) detecting by a second x-ray radiation large area receptor two dimensional imagewise modulated x-rays from said exposing dose emitted from said first receptor, said second receptor being situated behind said first receptor and comprising x-ray converter means and detector means for detecting a converted x-ray image, thereby providing a second digital image of said object;
• wherein said x-ray converter means comprises an image intensifier and an optic coupling device, and said detector means comprises a semiconductor image sensor.