Method for operating a medical image apparatus to correct for deflection of the patient support board

A method for identifying a position of a recumbent patient board in a medical image, comprising the steps of:

• moving a patient on a recumbent patient board in succession through a first medical imaging apparatus and a second medical imaging apparatus, said first medical imaging apparatus operating according to a first imaging modality and said second medical imaging apparatus operating according to a second imaging modality, so that said first and second medical imaging apparatuses have different detection capabilities;
• physically embodying material in or on said recumbent patient board that enhances an ability to detect said recumbent patient board with the detection capability of said second medical imaging apparatus, and said material not being detectable with the detection capability of said first medical imaging apparatus;
• while horizontally moving the patient on the recumbent patient board in succession through said first and second medical imaging apparatuses, obtaining an exposure of the examination subject and a portion of the recumbent patient board with each of said first and second medical imaging apparatuses, said board with said examination subject thereon being subject to vertical deflection, due to loading of the board, from an expected position of the board;
• using only said section of said board that is visible in the exposure obtained with said second medical imaging apparatus, automatically analyzing, in a processor, said exposure obtained with said second medical imaging apparatus to identify a real position of said section of said board and, in said processor, automatically comparing said real position with said expected position to identify a deviation of said real position from said expected position in the exposure obtained with said first medical imaging apparatus;
• and
• in said processor, automatically modifying said exposure obtained with said first medical imaging apparatus for said deviation, to obtain a corrected exposure, and providing said corrected exposure as an output from said processor.