System and method for imaging a subject

1. A method of creating a long view image of a subject comprising:

positioning an image detector at a first position relative to a subject;

moving the image detector along a path relative to the subject from the first position to a second position;

collecting a plurality of image data portions at a plurality of intermediate positions between the first position and the second position;

determining an overlap region between at least a sub-plurality of the plurality of image data portions;

generating an intermediate image based on the determined overlap between each image data portion;

weighting the intermediate image due to a position of at least one image data portion; and

displaying the long view image based at least in part on the generated intermediate image.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein collecting the plurality of image data portions at the plurality of intermediate positions, further comprises:

emitting x-rays from a source; and

detecting at the image detector the emitted x-rays and/or attenuation of the emitted x-rays.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein emitting x-rays from the source includes emitting x-rays from a single source.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

dividing the emitted x-rays from the source into at least a first x-ray beam portion and a second x-ray beam portion.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein collecting the plurality of image data portions at the plurality of intermediate positions, further comprises:

collecting at each intermediate position of the plurality of intermediate positions at least a first sub-plurality of image data portions based on the first x-ray beam portion and a second sub-plurality of image data portions based on the second x-ray beam portion.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein dividing the emitted x-rays from the source into at least the first x-ray beam portion and the second x-ray beam portion further comprises:

passing the emitted x-rays through a slotted filter to impinge on the image detector at least the first x-ray beam portion and the second x-ray beam portion.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

moving the source with the image detector;

wherein the collected plurality of image data portions include a first sub-plurality of image data portions based on the first x-ray beam portion and a second sub-plurality of image data portions based on the second x-ray beam portion.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein dividing the emitted x-rays from the source into at least the first x-ray beam portion and the second x-ray beam portion further comprises:

dividing the emitted x-rays into at least a third beam portion and the first beam portion and the second beam portion; and

passing the emitted x-rays through a slotted filter having at least a first slot, a second slot, and a third slot.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

collecting at each intermediate position of the plurality of intermediate positions at least a first sub-plurality of image data portions based on the first x-ray beam portion, a second sub-plurality of image data portions based on the second x-ray beam portion; and a third sub-plurality of image data portions based on the third x-ray beam portion.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein generating the intermediate image based on the determined overlap between each image data portion, further comprises:

generating a first intermediate image based on the first sub-plurality of image data portions based on the first x-ray beam portion;

generating a second intermediate image based on the second sub-plurality of image data portions based on the second x-ray beam portion; and

generating a third intermediate image based on the third sub-plurality of image data portions based on the third x-ray beam portion.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprises:

registering the first sub-plurality of image data portions;

registering the second sub-plurality of image data portions; and

registering the third sub-plurality of image data portions.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting a portion of the subject; and

determining a motion profile for the collecting the plurality of image data portions at the plurality of intermediate positions.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

moving the image detector at a first orientation relative to the subject along the path; and

moving the image detector at a second orientation relative to the subject along the path;

wherein the first orientation is different from the second orientation.

14. An imaging system for generating a long view image of a subject comprising:

an image detector positionable between a first position relative to a subject and a second position relative to the subject, wherein the image detector is operable to collect a plurality of image data portions at a plurality of intermediate positions between the first position and the second position;

an imager movement system operable to move the image detector along a path relative to the subject between the first position to a second position;

an image processor operable to execute instructions to:

determine an overlap region between at least a sub-plurality of the plurality of image data portions,

generate an intermediate image based on the determined overlap between at least a sub-plurality of the plurality of image data portions; and

weight the intermediate image due to a position of at least one image data portion; and

a display device operable to display an image based at least in part on the generated intermediate image.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:

a single source configured to emit x-rays toward the detector;

wherein the detector is operable to detect the emitted x-rays and/or an attenuation of the emitted x-rays.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

a substantially solid member having at least a first through slot and a second through slot;

wherein the substantially solid member blocks the emitted x-rays from reaching the detector or the subject;

wherein substantially only x-rays that pass through the first through slot and the second through slot reach the subject or the detector.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein substantially only x-rays that pass through the first through slot and the second through slot form at least a first imaging portion and a second imaging portion at each intermediate position at the plurality of intermediate positions.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the imager movement system is configured to move the single source and the image detector substantially opposed to each other along the path.

19. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:

a substantially solid member having at least a first through slot, a second through slot, and a third through slot;

wherein the substantially solid member blocks the emitted x-rays from reaching the detector or the subject;

wherein substantially only x-rays that pass through the first through slot, the second through slot, and the third through slot reach the subject or the detector.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the image detector is moveable from a first orientation relative to the subject to a second orientation relative to the subject.