Apparatus and method for tomosynthesis image acquisition

An apparatus for image acquisition comprising:

• an x-ray source moveable about a first path with reference to a target object;
• an x-ray detector moveable about a second path with reference to the target object;
• a controller configured to selectively expose the x-ray source to the target object and conceal the x-ray source from the target object while the x-ray source is travelling about the first path, and move the x-ray detector along the second path in a first direction while the x-ray source is exposed, and in a second direction, generally opposite to the first, at a same linear velocity as the x-ray source when the x-ray source is concealed;
• and
• wherein a center of a photon beam from the x-ray source impinges on different locations on the x-ray detector from different x-ray exposure positions as the x-ray source travels along the first path.

A method for image acquisition comprising:

• selectively concealing and exposing an x-ray source to a target object while the x-ray source travels along a first path;
• moving an x-ray detector along a second path in a first direction while the x-ray source is exposed to the target object,
• moving the x-ray detector along the second path in a second direction generally opposite the first direction at a same linear velocity as the x-ray source while the x-ray source is concealed from the target object;
• assessing at least one spacing among multiple images of a point of interest on the x-ray detector, and
• locating the point of interest at a height above the x-ray detector, based on the at least one assessed spacing;
• wherein a center of a photon beam from the x-ray source impinges on different locations on the x-ray detector from different x-ray exposure positions as the x-ray source travels along the first path.