COLLIMATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING A RADIATION IMAGE OF A LONG BODY PART USING DIRECT DIGITAL X-RAY DETECTORS

A method for acquiring a radiographic image of an elongated object, comprising: positioning an elongated object between a source of x-rays and a digital image capture device having an imaging dimension which is less than a like dimension of said elongated object; wherein said image source is stationary and said source projects an x-ray pattern which encompasses said elongated object; moving said digital image capture device in a direction parallel to said known imaging dimension to sequential contiguous stationary positions to acquire a sequence of radiographic images of said elongated object; and moving an assembly of x-ray opaque material which is positioned between said source of x-rays and said elongated object, and which has an opening for allowing passage of x-rays, such that said opening is synchronized with the movement of said digital image capture device to facilitate acquisition of said sequence of radiographic images at said stationary positions.