X-ray collimator and method of construction

A method of constructing an X-ray collimator assembly, comprising:

• providing a carrier having a planar top surface;
• providing an arcuate base disposed on said top surface of said carrier, said arcuate base comprising an arcuate bar section, said bar section comprising a radio-opaque material and having an arcuate inner edge, an arcuate outer edge, and a planar top surface spaced away from a planar bottom surface, each of said inner and outer edges including a plurality of parallel grooves formed therein extending from said top surface to said bottom surface;
• providing a plurality of radio-opaque collimator plates, each of said plates being generally rectangular and having first and second alignment tabs extending downward from a bottom edge thereof,
• disposing said plurality of collimator plates on said arcuate base so that each of said first alignment tabs fits into one of said grooves in said inner edge of said arcuate base, and each of said second alignment tabs fits into one of said grooves in said outer edge of said arcuate base, such that said collimator plates are positioned in a radial array with respect to said arcuate base, and said bottom edge of each collimator plate is in contact with said top surface of said arcuate base;
• aligning said plurality of collimator plates perpendicular to said top surface of said arcuate base;
• and
• securing said collimator plates to said arcuate base.