System, kit, and method for x-ray imaging with removably attachable detector assembly

1. An x-ray imaging system comprising:

a 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 to form an attached arrangement having the second and first backscatter x-ray detector assemblies fixedly oriented with respect to each other,

wherein the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly forms an outer loop defining an inner opening at which the movable x-ray imager is configured to be received for attachment of the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly with the movable x-ray imager to form the attached arrangement.

2. The x-ray imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the movable x-ray imager is configured to be handheld during operation.

3. The x-ray imaging system of claim 1 , further comprising a robotic arm, and wherein the movable x-ray imager is configured to be attached to the robotic arm, the robotic arm configured to translate and rotate the movable x-ray imager during operation.

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

5. The x-ray imaging system of claim 4 , wherein the complementary mechanical connector components are mechanical latch, strap, snap, rivet, pin, or hook and loop fastener components.

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

7. 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.

8. The x-ray imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the movable x-ray imager is configured to be inserted into the inner opening of the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly and retained therein via the complementary attachment features.

9. The x-ray imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the outer loop is a partial outer loop.

10. The x-ray imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the outer loop is a closed outer loop.

11. 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.

12. The x-ray imaging system of claim 11 , wherein the second active detector area is at least four times as large as the first active detector area.

13. The x-ray imaging system of claim 12 , wherein the second active detector area is at least nine times as large as the first active detector area.

14. 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.

15. The x-ray imaging system of claim 14 , 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.

16. The x-ray imaging system of claim 14 , 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.

17. 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.

18. The x-ray imaging system of claim 17 , 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.

19. 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;

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 to form an attached arrangement having the means for detecting the second portion and the means for x-ray imaging fixedly oriented with respect to each other,

the means for x-ray imaging being operable for x-ray imaging both (i) with the means for detecting the second portion secured, removably, to the means for x-ray imaging to form the attached arrangement and (ii) with the means for detecting the second portion detached from the means for x-ray imaging,

wherein the means for detecting the second portion of the backscattered x-rays forms an outer loop defining an inner opening at which the means for x-ray imaging is configured to be received for attachment of the means for detecting the second portion with the means for x-ray imaging to form the attached arrangement.

20. An x-ray imaging kit comprising:

a 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; and

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

wherein the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly forms an outer loop defining an inner opening at which the movable x-ray imager is configured to be received for attachment of the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly with the movable x-ray imager to form the attached arrangement.

21. A method of x-ray imaging comprising:

scanning source x-rays over a target, using a movable x-ray imager including a first backscatter x-ray detector assembly;

attaching, removably, a second backscatter x-ray detector assembly with the movable x-ray imager to form an attached arrangement, the second backscatter detector assembly forming an outer loop defining an inner opening, wherein attaching includes the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly receiving, at the inner opening, the movable x-ray imager; and

scanning source x-rays over the target or another target using the movable x-ray imager with the second backscatter x-ray detector assembly removably attached with the movable x-ray imager to form the attached arrangement.