Conformable x-ray sensor panel

1. A flexible digital radiographic detector assembly comprising:

a conformable bag;

a flexible digital radiographic detector enclosed by the bag;

granular media enclosed by the bag; and

an opening in the bag configured to evacuate air therefrom, wherein the granular media is compressed and the assembly stiffens.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the opening in the bag is configured to receive a device for evacuating air from the bag or for pressurizing the air in the bag.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a valve in the bag configured to engage a device for applying a positive or negative air pressure to the bag.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bag further comprises two adjoining separate chambers, a first one of the two separate chambers enclosing the digital radiographic detector.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein a second one of the two separate chambers is pressurized while the first one of the two separate chambers is depressurized.

6. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein a second one of the two chambers is releasably attached to the first one of the two chambers.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a semi-rigid member within the bag, the semi-rigid member configured to limit a conformational bending of the flexible DR detector when air is evacuated from the bag.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the semi-rigid member comprises a layer of lead or other radiopaque material.

9. A method comprising:

providing a flexible digital radiographic detector;

enclosing the flexible digital radiographic detector in a conformable bag;

adding granular media into the conformable bag;

manually positioning the bag having the detector and granular media therein on an object to be radiographically imaged;

either evacuating air from the bag or pressurizing the bag, for securing the bag against the object to be radiographically imaged; and

firing an x-ray source through at least a portion of the object toward the flexible digital radiographic detector to capture a radiographic image of at least the portion of the object.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of evacuating comprises forming an opening in the conformable bag and pumping air from the conformable bag through the opening.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of evacuating comprises forming a valve in the conformable bag and applying a negative air pressure thereto.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising forming two chambers in the conformable bag, including disposing the digital radiographic detector in a first one of the two chambers.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising depressurizing the first one of the two chambers and simultaneously pressurizing a second one of the two chambers.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of forming comprises attaching a second one of the two chambers to the first one of the two chambers.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising disposing a semi-rigid member within the conformable bag.

16. A method comprising:

enclosing a digital radiographic detector and granular media in a conformable bag;

positioning the conformable bag on a surface of an object to be radiographically imaged;

evacuating air from the conformable bag;

radiographically exposing the object to be radiographically imaged; and

capturing a radiographic image of the object to be imaged using the enclosed digital radiographic detector.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of evacuating comprises evacuating a first chamber of the conformable bag, and wherein the method further comprises pressurizing a second chamber of the conformable bag.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising enclosing a stiffening member in the conformable bag.