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

Abstract

An x-ray imaging system includes a movable x-ray imager that is configured to be handheld during operation and includes a first backscatter x-ray detector assembly. The system also includes 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 include complementary attachment features configured to secure, removably, the second backscatter x-ray detector with the movable x-ray imager in an arrangement having the second and first backscatter x-ray detectors fixedly oriented with respect to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.