Apparatus and method for digital radiography

A method for performing Digital Radiography according to multiple imaging modes, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning an object between a radiation source and a x-ray detector using an object support and positioning system;
• selecting a radiographic imaging modality and a desired region of interest;
• adjusting, by at least one of plural x-ray collimators, a shape of an x-ray beam according to the selected imaging modality;
• positioning the X-ray detector in a predefined position into the X-ray beam;
• generating X-ray radiation by the radiation source;
• performing a movement for scanning of the object while detecting the X-ray radiation by means of the x-ray detector;
• performing a readout of the x-ray detector image data, acquisition and elaboration in order to obtain a processed image or tridimensional data set of the selected region of interest according to the selected imaging modality,
• wherein
• in at least one said imaging modality the x-ray detector is a large area x-ray detector of rectangular dimensions which is enclosed within a x-ray sensor cassette,
• the x-ray sensor cassette is equipped with at least one motor drive providing horizontal movement transverse to a reference axis of the x-ray beam,
• the plural x-ray collimators include at least one secondary x-ray collimator utilized for cephalometric radiography and that is also enclosed within the x-ray sensor cassette, and
• the at least one secondary x-ray collimator is farther from the x-ray source than the large area x-ray detector is from the x-ray source.