APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MULTI-MODAL IMAGING USING MULTIPLE X-RAY SOURCES

1 . An imaging system for imaging at least a first and a second subject, comprising:

a support stage adapted to support the at least first and second subjects;

an imaging system comprising:

(a) an ionizing radiation imaging section including:

(i) at least a first ionizing radiation source energizable for directing ionizing radiation toward the support stage and within a first zone that includes at least a portion of the first subject and a second ionizing radiation source energizable for directing ionizing radiation within a second zone that lies substantially outside the first zone and that includes at least a portion of the second subject; and

(ii) at least one imaging receiver that forms a radiation image of the subject within each zone according to incident ionizing radiation; and

(b) a camera system energizable to obtain at least one illumination image of the at least first and second subjects; and

a computer in signal communication with the imaging system and energizable to form a combined image from the radiation image and the illumination image of the same subjects obtained from the imaging system.

2 . The imaging apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ionizing radiation imaging section further comprises a transport apparatus that is actuable to move the at least one imaging receiver between at least a first imaging position and a second position.

3 . The imaging system of claim 1 further comprising a display in signal communication with the computer and energizable to display the combined image.

4 . The imaging system of claim 1 wherein the first and second ionizing radiation sources are microfocus x-ray emitters.

5 . The imaging system of claim 1 wherein the at least one imaging receiver is an x-ray camera.

6 . The imaging system of claim 1 wherein the at least one imaging receiver is a digital receiver panel.

7 . The imaging system of claim 1 wherein the at least one imaging receiver comprises a phosphor plate.

8 . The imaging system of claim 7 wherein the camera system is further energizable to obtain an image of the imaging receiver.

9 . The imaging system of claim 1 wherein the imaging system further comprises a light imaging section that comprises one or more illumination sources energizable to direct illumination toward the at least first and second subjects on the support stage.

10 . The imaging system of claim 9 wherein at least one of the one or more illumination source comprises optical fibers.

11 . An imaging system for imaging at least first and second immobilized subjects, the system comprising:

a support stage adapted to receive the at least first and second subjects in an immobilized state;

a camera disposed to obtain at least a first image of the at least first and second subjects in a first imaging mode that employs light from the immobilized subjects; and

an ionizing radiation imaging section for obtaining a second image of the at least first and second subjects in a second imaging mode, wherein the ionizing radiation imaging section comprises at least:

(i) a first ionizing radiation source energizable for directing ionizing radiation within a first zone that includes at least a portion of the first subject;

(ii) a second ionizing radiation source energizable for directing ionizing radiation within a second zone that includes at least a portion of the second subject and that lies substantially outside the first zone; and

(iii) a movable phosphor plate that transduces ionizing radiation to visible light, wherein the phosphor plate includes a phosphor plane and wherein the phosphor plate is mounted to be moved, while the subjects remain immobilized on the support stage, between a second position proximate the support stage for capture of the second image and a first position further away from the support stage for capture of the first image.

12 . The imaging system of claim 11 wherein the first and second ionizing radiation sources are microfocus x-ray emitters.

13 . The imaging system of claim 11 wherein the imaging system further comprises one or more illumination sources for providing illumination to the first and second subjects.

14 . An imaging system for imaging at least first and second immobilized subjects, the system comprising:

a support stage adapted to receive the at least first and second subjects in an immobilized state;

a camera disposed to obtain at least a first image of the at least first and second subjects in a first imaging mode that uses light from the immobilized subjects; and

an ionizing radiation imaging section for obtaining a second image of the at least first and second subjects in a second imaging mode, wherein the ionizing radiation imaging section comprises at least:

(i) a first ionizing radiation source energizable for directing ionizing radiation toward the support stage and within a first zone that includes at least a portion of the first subject;

(ii) a second ionizing radiation source energizable for directing ionizing radiation within a second zone that lies substantially outside the first zone and that includes at least a portion of the second subject;

(iii) a movable x-ray camera that is mounted to be moved, while the subjects remain immobilized on the support stage, between a first position for and during capture of the first image and a second position, closer to the support stage, for and during capture of the second image.

15 . The imaging system of claim 14 wherein the imaging system further comprises one or more illumination sources for providing illumination to the first and second subjects.

16 . A method for forming a multimodal image for at least a first subject and a second subject, comprising:

supporting the at least first and second subjects on a support stage;

directing ionizing radiation within a first zone that includes at least a portion of the first subject;

directing ionizing radiation within a second zone that lies substantially outside the first zone and includes at least a portion of the second subject;

acquiring a radiation image of the first and second subjects;

directing illumination toward the at least first and second subjects on the support element and acquiring an illumination image of the at least first and second subjects; and

forming a combined, multimodal image of the subjects from the radiation image and the illumination image.

17 . The method of claim 16 further comprising indexing a radiation receiver to a first position for acquiring the radiation image for the first subject and to a second position for acquiring the radiation image for the second subject.

18 . The method of claim 16 wherein at least one of the first and second subjects is a mammal.

19 . An imaging system for imaging at least a first and a second subject, the system comprising:

a support stage adapted to support the at least first and second subjects;

an imaging system comprising:

(a) an ionizing radiation imaging section that comprises:

(i) at least a first ionizing radiation source energizable for directing ionizing radiation toward the support stage and within a first zone that includes at least a portion of the first subject and a second ionizing radiation source energizable for directing ionizing radiation within a second zone that lies substantially outside the first zone and that includes at least a portion of the second subject;

(ii) at least one imaging receiver that forms an image of the subject within each zone according to incident ionizing radiation; and

(iii) a light imaging section that comprises one or more illumination sources energizable to direct illumination toward the at least first and second subjects on the support stage; and

(b) a camera system energizable to obtain at least one image of the at least first and second subjects; and

a computer in signal communication with the imaging system and energizable to form a combined image from two or more images of the same subjects obtained from the imaging system.