Image guided acquisition of quantitative dual energy data

1. A computer-implemented method for processing image data, comprising:

acquiring a digital X-ray image having a first field of view using a digital X-ray imaging system;

identifying a region of interest in the digital X-ray image having a first field of view;

positioning the digital X-ray imaging system to acquire an image of the region of interest with the digital X-ray imaging system reconfigured to acquire a digital X-ray image with a second field of view, the second field of view being different from the first field of view; and

acquiring a dual-energy digital X-ray image of the region of interest with the digital X-ray imaging system reconfigured to acquire a digital X-ray image with the second field of view.

2. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 1 , wherein acquiring a digital X-ray image having a first field of view using a digital X-ray imaging system comprises opening a slit of a collimator disposed over an X-ray source of the digital X-ray imaging system to a fully open position.

3. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 1 , comprising:

establishing a quantitative metric of an object of interest based on the digital X-ray image having a first field of view.

4. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 1 , wherein reconfiguring the digital X-ray imaging system comprises disposing a collimator over an X-ray source.

5. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 1 , wherein acquiring a digital X-ray image having a first field of view using a digital X-ray imaging system comprises acquiring a digital X-ray image using X-rays substantially of a single energy level.

6. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 1 , wherein the digital X-ray imaging system comprises a dual-energy X-ray source, a collimator, and a dual-energy digital X-ray detector and positioning the digital X-ray imaging system comprises orienting the dual-energy X-ray source and the collimator relative to the dual-energy digital X-ray detector to position the second field of view at the location on the dual-energy digital X-ray detector corresponding to the region of interest in the digital X-ray image having a first field of view.

7. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 1 , comprising correcting the dual-energy digital X-ray image of the region of interest for scatter, wherein the dual-energy digital X-ray image comprises image intensity data having a first region that is produced by primary X-rays and scatter and a second region that is produced by scatter only.

8. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 7 , wherein correcting the dual-energy digital X-ray image for scatter comprises:

identifying within the image intensity data the first region that is produced by primary X-rays and scatter and the second region that is produced by scatter only;

establishing scatter intensity in the second region of the image intensity data that is produced by scatter only;

estimating scatter intensity in the first region of the image intensity data based on the scatter intensity in the at least one second region of the image intensity data; and

correcting the first region of the image intensity data for scatter based on the estimated scatter intensity in the first region.

9. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 7 , comprising:

establishing quantitative information of the region of interest based on a scatter-corrected dual-energy digital X-ray image.

10. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 9 , wherein establishing quantitative information of the region of interest based on a scatter-corrected dual-energy digital X-ray image comprises establishing bone mineral density of the region of interest.

11. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 1 , wherein identifying a region of interest in the digital X-ray image having a first field of view comprises guiding the digital X-ray imaging system to the location of the region of interest within the digital X-ray image.

12. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 11 , wherein guiding the digital X-ray imaging system to the location of the region of interest within the digital X-ray image comprises operating a computer input device to dispose a graphical representation on the region of interest in the digital X-ray image as displayed on a monitor of the digital X-ray imaging system.

13. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 11 , wherein guiding the digital X-ray imaging system to the location of the region of interest within the digital X-ray image is performed automatically based on a program adapted to identify the region of interest within the digital X-ray image.

14. A system for computer for processing image data, comprising:

means for acquiring a digital X-ray image having a first field of view using a digital X-ray imaging system;

means for identifying a region in the digital X-ray image having a first field of view;

means for positioning the digital X-ray imaging system to acquire an image of the region of interest with the digital X-ray imaging system configured to acquire a digital X-ray image with a second field of view, the second field of view being different from the first field of view; and

means for acquiring a dual-energy digital X-ray image of the region of interest with the digital X-ray imaging system reconfigured to acquire a digital X-ray image with the second field of view.

15. A machine-readable medium for processing medical image data, comprising:

code operable to acquire a digital X-ray image having a first field of view using a digital X-ray imaging system;

code operable to identify a region of interest in the digital X-ray image having a first field of view;

code operable to position the digital X-ray imaging system to acquire an image of the region of interest with the digital X-ray imaging system configured to acquire a digital X-ray image with a second field of view, the second field of view being different from the first field of view; and

code operable to acquire a dual-energy digital X-ray image of the region of interest with the digital X-ray imaging system reconfigured to acquire a digital X-ray image with the second field of view.

16. A computer-implemented method for obtaining a digital X-ray image, comprising:

acquiring a first digital X-ray image with an X-ray source configured to produce an image having a first field of view;

guiding the X-ray source to a position to acquire an image of a region of interest based on the location of the region of interest in the first digital X-ray image; and

acquiring a dual-energy digital X-ray image of the region of interest with the X-ray source reconfigured to produce an image having a second field of view, the second field of view being different from the first field of view.

17. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 16 , comprising:

computing a quantitative metric of an object of interest based on the first digital X-ray image.

18. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 16 , comprising:

correcting the dual-energy digital X-ray image of the region of interest for scatter.

19. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 18 , wherein correcting the dual-energy digital X-ray image of the region of interest for scatter comprises:

identifying a first region of the dual-energy digital X-ray image that is produced by primary X-rays and scatter and a second region that is produced by scatter only;

establishing scatter intensity in the second region of the dual-energy digital X-ray image that is produced by scatter only;

estimating scatter intensity in the first region of the dual-energy digital X-ray image based on the scatter intensity in the second region of the dual-energy digital X-ray image; and

correcting the first region of the dual-energy digital X-ray image for scatter based on the estimated scatter intensity in the first region of the dual-energy digital X-ray image.

20. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 19 , comprising:

establishing quantitative information of the region of interest based on the dual-energy digital X-ray image of the region of interest corrected for scatter.

21. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 20 , wherein establishing quantitative information of the region of interest based on the dual-energy digital X-ray image of the region of interest corrected for scatter comprises establishing bone mineral density in the region of interest.

22. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 16 , comprising:

identifying the region of interest in the first digital X-ray image automatically using a program adapted to identify the region of interest in the first digital X-ray image.

23. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 22 , wherein guiding the X-ray source to a position to acquire an image of a region of interest based on the location of the region of interest in the first digital X-ray image comprises automatically positioning the X-ray source to acquire the image of the region of interest based on the location of the region of interest in the first digital X-ray image identified by the program adapted to identify the region of interest in the first digital X-ray image.

24. The computer-implemented method for processing image data as recited in claim 22 , wherein the program adapted to identify the region of interest in the first digital X-ray image comprises a segmentation program.

25. A computer-implemented method for processing image data, comprising:

acquiring a single-energy digital X-ray image using a digital X-ray imaging system;

identifying a region of interest in the single-energy digital X-ray image;

positioning the digital X-ray imaging system to acquire a dual-energy image of the region of interest; and

acquiring a dual-energy digital X-ray image of the region of interest with the digital X-ray imaging system.