Bedside dynamic imaging

1. A method of operating a mobile fluoroscopic imaging system comprising a mounted x-ray source, a collimator attached to the x-ray source, and a freely positionable DR detector mechanically unconnected to the x-ray source and the collimator, the method comprising:

positioning the x-ray source and the DR detector about a patient;

storing data defining a distance between a focal spot of the x-ray source and a plane occupied by the collimator along a line perpendicular to the plane occupied by the collimator, and a size of an aperture of the collimator; and

determining a source-to-image distance and tilt angle of the x-ray source relative to the DR detector including:

activating the x-ray source and capturing a scout image in the DR detector;

calculating dimensions of the scout image; and

determining the source-to-image distance and the tilt angle based on the data defining the distance between the focal spot of the x-ray source and the plane occupied by the collimator, the size of the aperture of the collimator and on the dimensions of the scout image.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

attaching a first inclinometer to the DR detector;

attaching a second inclinometer to the collimator;

generating and transmitting three-dimensional orientation signals associated with spatial orientations of the x-ray source and the DR detector using the first and second inclinometers;

calculating a relative spatial displacement as between the x-ray source and the DR detector based on the three-dimensional orientation signals; and

displaying a numerical value of the angular displacement.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising determining a magnitude of deviation from a parallel orientation as between the x-ray source and the DR detector using the orientation signals.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising manually adjusting the aperture of the collimator to a size that is known to generate a radiation field to fit within borders of the DR detector.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the collimator automatically electromechanically adjusting an aperture of the collimator to a size that is known to generate a radiation field to fit within borders of the DR detector.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising automatically electromechanically adjusting the aperture to generate a radiation field between about one inch and about three inches across on the DR detector.

7. The method of claim 2 , further comprising monitoring whether the relative spatial displacement occurs using the first and second inclinometers.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising increasing a size of the aperture of the collimator such that a radiation field on the DR detector remains within the borders of the DR detector.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising starting a fluoroscopic examination of the patient using the x-ray source and the DR detector, wherein the system is configured to trigger a warning signal if the relative spatial displacement occurs.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising placing a patterned filter in the collimator and capturing the scout image in the DR detector having the filter pattern thereon.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising using the filter pattern to determine a relative orientation of the x-ray source and the DR detector.

12. A mobile radiographic imaging system comprising:

a wheeled mobile x-ray cart comprising a processing system;

a tube head comprising an x-ray source and a collimator, the tube head attached to the mobile x-ray cart using a support column;

a DR detector mechanically unconnected to the tube head; and

the processing system having stored therein data defining a distance between a focal spot of the x-ray source and a plane occupied by the collimator along a line perpendicular to the plane occupied by the collimator, and data defining a size of an aperture of the collimator,

wherein the processing system is configured to determine a source-to-image distance and tilt angle of the x-ray source relative to the DR detector based on: dimensions of a radiographic image captured by the DR detector in response to an activation of the x-ray source, the data defining the distance between the focal spot of the x-ray source and the plane occupied by the collimator, and the data defining the size of the aperture of the collimator.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a first inclinometer attached to the DR detector configured to transmit three-dimensional orientation signals associated with a spatial orientation of the DR detector; and

a second inclinometer attached to the collimator configured to transmit three-dimensional orientation signals associated with a spatial orientation of the collimator,

wherein the processing system is configured to calculate a spatial displacement as between the collimator relative to the DR detector based on the three-dimensional orientation signals transmitted by the first and second inclinometers.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the collimator comprises motor driven blades configured to electromechanically adjust the aperture of the collimator to a size that is known to generate a radiation field to fit within borders of the DR detector.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the system is configured to emit a warning signal if the spatial displacement as between the collimator relative to the DR detector exceeds an acceptable limit.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a patterned filter in the collimator, wherein the processing system is configured to determine a relative orientation of the x-ray source relative to the DR detector based on a radiographic image of the patterned filter captured by the DR detector in response to an activation of the x-ray source.