Imaging system

1 . A method of generating an image, comprising:

moving an imager of a moveable imaging system to a first imager position;

accessing first image data acquired with the imager at the first imager position;

moving the imager to a second imager position after acquiring the first image data;

accessing second image data acquired with the imager at the second imager position;

evaluating the first image data to identify a feature in the first image data from the imager;

evaluating the second image data to identify the feature in the second image data from the imager;

determining an alignment evaluation of the first image data and the second image data based on tracking the feature in the first image data and the second image data and without tracking a position of the imager; and

outputting the alignment evaluation to allow generation of the image that is aligned with the first image data and the second image data without tracking a position of the imager.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the alignment evaluation based on the identified feature having a stored predetermined dimension; and

determining a transformation matrix based on the alignment evaluation to align the first image data and the second image data based on the determined transformation matrix.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

transforming the second image data with the transformation matrix to generate an aligned second image data that is aligned to the first image data.

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

combining the first image data and the aligned second image data to generate a combined image data.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

displaying a combined image based on the combined image data.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

registering the first image data to a subject; and

registering the second image data to the subject,

wherein the combined image data and combined image are registered to the subject.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the imager moves in at least two degrees of freedom between the first imager position and the second imager position, and

wherein at least one degree of freedom is corrected to generate the aligned second image data based at least on the determined alignment evaluation and the determined transformation matrix.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the at least one degree of freedom includes movement of the imager outside of a Z-axis of movement of the imager.

9 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

recalling a first subject tracked position relative to the imager at the first imager position;

recalling a second subject tracked position relative to the imager at the second imager position; and

wherein determining the transformation matrix is based further on the recalled first subject tracked position and the recalled second subject tracked position.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the feature in the first image data and identifying the feature in the second image data includes determining a high contrast gradient portion in the first image data and the second image data, wherein the feature has a stored predetermined dimension.

11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

acquiring the first image data with a source and a detector of the imager; and

acquiring the second image data with the source and the detector of the imager.

12 . A method of generating a combined image from a plurality of image data, comprising:

moving an imager of a moveable imaging system to a first imager position;

accessing first image data acquired at the first imager position;

moving the imager to a final imager position after acquiring the first image data;

accessing final image data acquired at the final imager position;

determining at least a portion of a feature having a stored predetermined dimension included in both the first image data and the final image data;

determining an alignment transformation to align the feature between the first image data and the final image data based on tracking a position of the feature in the first image data and the final image data and without tracking a position of the imager; and

outputting the alignment transformation.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining a transformation matrix based on the alignment transformation to align the first image data and the final image data; and

correcting for misalignment of the first image data and the final image data in at least one degree of freedom of movement of the image between the first imager position and the final imager position that is outside a Z-axis movement of the imager.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving an input of a selected image dimension;

determining if at least one intermediate imager position is required in addition to the first imager position and the final imager position to achieve the selected image dimension; and

if determined that at least one intermediate imager position is required, determining the at least one intermediate imager position.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

registering the first image data to a subject;

registering intermediate image data, acquired at the at least one intermediate imager position, to the subject;

registering the final image data to the subject; and

generating a combined image of all of the first image data, the intermediate image data, and the final image data based on the determined transformation matrix,

wherein the determined transformation matrix is operable to align each of the first image data, the intermediate image data, and the final image data to at least a selected one of the first image data, the intermediate image data, or the final image data;

wherein the combined image includes the selected image dimension; and

wherein the combined image is registered to the subject.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein each of the first image data and the final image data include a dimension less than the selected image dimension.

17 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

tracking a position of an instrument relative to a subject;

displaying a combined image of the subject based on the first image data and the final image data that are combined based on a determined transformation matrix; and

displaying a graphical representation of the instrument at the tracked position relative to the combined image.

18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

recalling a first tracked position of the imager at the first imager position;

recalling a first subject tracked position relative to the imager at the first imager position;

recalling a final tracked position of the imager at the final imager position;

recalling a final subject tracked position relative to the imager at the final imager position; and

determining a transformation matrix to align the final image data to the first image data based on the recalled first subject tracked position and the recalled final subject tracked position.

19 . A system to generate a combined image from a plurality of image data, comprising:

a processor system configured to execute instructions to:

move an imager of a moveable imaging system to a first imager position;

access first image data acquired with the imager at the first imager position;

move the imager to a final imager position after acquiring the first image data;

access final image data acquired with the imager at the final imager position;

determine at least a portion of a feature having a stored predetermined dimension included in both the first image data and the final image data;

determine an alignment evaluation to align the feature between the first image data and the final image data based on tracking the feature in the first image data and the final image data and without tracking a position of the imager; and

output the alignment evaluation.

20 . The system of claim 19 , further comprising:

a source and a detector, of the imager, configured to acquire the first image at the first imager position and the final image data at the final imager position; and

a display to display a combined image based on the first image data and the final image data and a tracked position of an instrument relative to the combined image,

wherein the combined image is based on the first image data and the final image data combined based on a transformation matrix;

wherein the processor system is further configured to execute instructions to determine a transformation matrix based on the alignment evaluation to align the first image data and the final image data; and

wherein the transformation matrix is operable to correct for misalignment of the first image data and the final image data in at least one degree of freedom of movement of the image between the first imager position and the final imager position that is outside a Z-axis movement of the imager.