System and Method for X-Ray Backscatter Imaging with Removable Detector

1 . An x-ray imaging system comprising:

a movable x-ray imager that is configured to be handheld during operation, the movable x-ray imager including a first backscatter x-ray detector assembly; and

a second backscatter x-ray detector assembly that is removably attachable with the movable x-ray imager,

the movable x-ray imager and the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly including complementary attachment features configured to secure, removably, the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly with the movable x-ray imager in an arrangement having the second and first backscatter x-ray detector assemblies fixedly oriented with respect to each other.

2 . The x-ray imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the complementary attachment features are complementary mechanical connector components.

3 . The x-ray imaging system of claim 2 , wherein the complementary mechanical connector components are mechanical latch, strap, snap, rivet, pin, or hook and loop fastener components.

4 . The x-ray imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the complementary attachment features are magnets or a magnet and a magnetically susceptible material.

5 . The x-ray imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the complementary attachment features are complementary attachment features by which the movable x-ray imager and the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly are removably attachable with each other via removable attachment to a mechanical connector.

6 . The x-ray imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the first backscatter x-ray detector assembly includes a first active detector area, and wherein the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly includes a second active detector area at least as large as the first detector area.

7 . The x-ray imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the second active detector area is at least four times as large as the first active detector area.

8 . The x-ray imaging system of claim 7 , wherein the second active detector area is at least nine times as large as the first active detector area.

9 . The x-ray imaging system of claim 1 , wherein:

the movable x-ray imager further includes:

an x-ray source configured to output source x-rays;

a scanner configured to scan the source x-rays over a target;

a processor; and

a display,

and wherein:

the first backscatter x-ray detector assembly is configured to detect a first portion of backscattered x-rays that are backscattered from the target and to output a first signal representative of the first portion of backscattered x-rays;

the processor is configured to process the first signal to form an image of the target at the display; and

the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly is configured to detect a second portion of the backscattered x-rays and output a second signal representative of the second portion of backscattered x-rays, the second signal communicatively coupled to the movable x-ray imager,

wherein the movable x-ray imager is configured to process the second signal to enhance the image of the target at the display.

10 . The x-ray imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the movable x-ray imager is configured to process the second signal to enhance the image by combining the first and second signals electrically or in software to form a combined signal, and wherein the processor is configured to process the combined signal to form the image of the target.

11 . The x-ray imaging system of claim 9 , wherein the movable x-ray imager is configured to process the second signal to enhance the image by processing the second signal separate from the first signal to form a complimentary x-ray image of the target.

12 . The x-ray imaging system of claim 1 , wherein:

the movable x-ray imager includes an x-ray source configured to output source x-rays, and a scanner configured to scan the source x-rays over a target;

the first backscatter x-ray detector assembly is configured to detect a first portion of backscattered x-rays that are backscattered from the target and to output a first signal representative of the first portion of backscattered x-rays;

the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly is configured to detect a second portion of the backscattered x-rays and to output a second signal representative of the second portion of backscattered x-rays; and

the movable x-ray imager, the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly, or a combination of the movable x-ray imager and the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly is configured to output a representation of one or more images of the target according to the following alternative configurations:

wherein, in a detached mode of operation with the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly detached from the x-ray imager, the representation of the one or more images of the target is a function of the first signal, and

wherein, in an attached mode of operation with the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly attached to the x-ray imager, the representation of the one or more images of the target is at least one of (i) the function of the first signal, (ii) a function of the second signal, or (iii) a function of the first and second signals.

13 . The x-ray imaging system of claim 12 , wherein, in the attached mode of operation, the second signal is communicatively coupled to the movable x-ray imager, and the movable x-ray imager is configured to combine the first and second signals electrically or in software to form the representation of the one or more images, the movable x-ray imager further configured to output the representation of each image of the one or more images as a function of the first and second signals combined, accordingly.

14 . The x-ray imaging system of claim 12 , wherein, in the attached mode of operation, the representation is a two-part representation of two or more images of the target, a first part of the two-part representation being of a first image of the two or more images as a function of the first signal, and a second part of the two-part representation being of a complimentary, second image of the two or more images as a function of the second signal.

15 . The x-ray imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the movable x-ray imager includes a transmitter module configured to transmit, via a cable or wirelessly, the representation of the one or more images of the target to an external computer, analyzer, or monitor.

16 . An x-ray imaging system comprising:

means for x-ray imaging by detecting a first portion of backscattered x-rays that are backscattered from a target, the means for x-ray imaging being movable and configured to be handheld during operation;

means for detecting a second portion of the backscattered x-rays; and

means for securing, removably, the means for detecting the second portion of the backscattered x-rays with the means for x-ray imaging,

the means for x-ray imaging being operable for x-ray imaging both (i) with the means for detecting the second portion secured to the means for x-ray imaging and (ii) with the means for detecting the second portion detached from the means for x-ray imaging.

17 . An x-ray imaging system comprising:

a movable x-ray scanning module including an x-ray source configured to output source x-rays, a scanner configured to scan the source x-rays over a target, and an attachment feature, wherein the movable x-ray scanning module is configured to be handheld during scanning the source x-rays over the target;

a first backscatter x-ray detector assembly; and

a second backscatter x-ray detector assembly,

each of the first and second backscatter x-ray detector assemblies including respective complementary attachment features configured to secure, removably, the respective detector assemblies with the movable x-ray scanning module in an interchangeable manner.

18 . The x-ray imaging system of claim 17 , wherein the second detector assembly has a second active detector area at least twice as large as a first active detector area of the first detector assembly.

19 . A method of x-ray imaging comprising:

scanning source x-rays over a target, using a movable x-ray scanning module with a first backscatter x-ray detector assembly removably attached with the movable x-ray scanning module;

removing, interchangeably, the first backscatter x-ray detector assembly from the movable x-ray scanning module;

attaching, removably and interchangeably, a second backscatter x-ray detector assembly with the movable x-ray scanning module; and

scanning source x-rays over the target or another target using the movable x-ray scanning module with the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly removably attached with the movable x-ray scanning module,

the method further comprising holding the movable x-ray scanning module using one or more human hands during the scanning source x-rays with the first and second detector assemblies removably attached to the movable x-ray scanning module.

20 . The method of x-ray imaging of claim 19 , wherein scanning source x-rays with the first detector assembly removably attached includes detecting backscatter x-rays with a first active detector area, and wherein scanning source x-rays with the second detector includes detecting backscatter x-rays with a second active detector area at least twice as large as the first active detector area.