Abstract: An exposure management and control system and method for x-ray technique selection is provided. Optimal x-ray technique, which affects image quality, can be accurately predetermined to use for any application. A patient model is combined with a closed loop brightness control, using a parameter that does not affect image quality. This is used to create a control system that operates as a knowledge based control system. The x-ray system brightness control system comprises a first and second regulator. The first regulator is an image quality, or brightness, regulator. The brightness regulator can have multiple functions, such as peak mA control, power limiter, skin dose limiter, and an override function. The second regulator is a dose error regulator. The second regulator is independent of the first regulator, and cooperates with the first regulator to provide x-ray technique optimization independent of brightness control.

Abstract: A model-based optimization is used to determine x-ray techniques for optimal image quality performance. The first step for achieving model-based optimization is to determine optimized techniques for a fixed spectral filter and focal spot to define a basic trajectory. The spectral filter and focal spot versus patient size are then optimized. The determined optimized techniques and the optimized spectral filter and focal spot versus patient size are used to create a functional trajectory which includes a Basic Trajectory Selector Table (indicating optimized spectral filter/focal spot) and the associated basic trajectories.