Abstract: A volumetric computed tomography method includes translating a discrete element x-ray source and detector relative to the patient or object in a z-direction parallel to the axis of rotation. As the source rotates through the angles of a single rotation, it is simultaneously translated by a distance comparable to the discrete spacing distance between individual source elements in the z-direction. The small translation is designed so that the axial planes passing through discrete source element rows are not distinguished from axial planes passing between the discrete source element rows, thereby eliminating the z-dependence of the system and associated sampling problems.