Method and apparatus for multi-planar radiation emission for imaging

Abstract

An multi-planar radiation emission system, preferably an X-ray biplanar transillumination system, for generating planar images of a subject from different perspectives includes a first X-ray source which emits first pulses of X-ray radiation toward a subject from a first direction at a first repetition rate, a first imaging device which detects the first pulses and generates a first image of the subject from a first perspective, a second X-ray source which emits second pulses of X-ray radiation toward the subject from a second direction at a second repetition rate which is different from the first repetition rate, wherein the first and second pulses are temporally interleaved and non-overlapping, and a second imaging device which detects the second pulses and generates a second image of the subject from a second perspective. The first and second images are preferably planar images which are 'moving' images in the sense that information from successive pulses is used to periodically update the planar images on a display. The relative reduction of the pulse repetition rate of the pulses used to generate one of the two planar images advantageously reduces potentially harmful X-ray emissions and reduces the image processing required to generate the planar images without significantly sacrificing useful information, since one of the two images is generally referred to only occasionally to provide the observer with a three-dimensional perspective of the planar image of greater interest.