Method for reducing radiation exposure during patient positioning

1. A method for reducing the exposure of a patient to radiation during patient positioning in an x-ray imaging procedure with an x-ray imaging system having an x-ray source and an x-ray detector and a digital imaging system, comprising the steps of

acquiring a first image;

positioning the patient;

panning the first image by the digital imaging system;

adjusting collimator blades of a collimator;

zooming the first image by the digital imaging system as the collimator is closed;

shrinking the first image by the digital imaging system as the collimator is opened;

automatically setting a best image intensifier zoom stage by the digital imaging system;

automatically setting a best detector zoom stage by the digital imaging system;

acquiring a second image; and

zooming the second image using fractional bilinear interpolation by the digital imaging system such that an exposed anatomy of the patient fills a screen.

2. A method for reducing the exposure of a patient to radiation during patient positioning in an x-ray imaging procedure with an x-ray imaging system having an x-ray source and an x-ray detector and a digital imaging system, comprising the steps of

acquiring a first image;

positioning the patient;

panning the first image by the digital imaging system;

drawing an arrow indication if the image is panned off the screen;

adjusting collimator blades of a collimator;

zooming the first image by the digital imaging system as the collimator is closed;

shrinking the first image by the digital imaging system as the collimator is opened

automatically setting a best image intensifier zoom stage by the digital imaging system;

automatically setting a best detector zoom stage by the digital imaging system;

acquiring a second image; and

zooming the second image using fractional bilinear interpolation by the digital imaging system such that an exposed anatomy of the patient fills a screen.