System and method for synchronization of the acquisition of images with the cardiac cycle for dual energy imaging

The preferred embodiments of the present invention generally relate to improvements in a medical X-Ray imaging system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for synchronizing the acquisition of images with the cardiac phase for dual energy imaging. A system and method for improving the image quality of an X-ray image of a patient in a dual energy X-ray imaging system is provided. The system includes a heart cycle monitor, and X-ray emitter and an X-ray detector. A patient is positioned between the X-ray emitter and the X-ray detector. The heart cycle monitor monitors the cardiac cycle of the patient to detect a cardiac trigger. Once the cardiac trigger has been detected, the X-ray emitter emits high energy and low energy X-rays through the patient and the X-ray detector detects the emissions and forms images. The X-ray detector then performs a number of scrubs. Then the X-ray emitter acquires at least one offset image. The offset and the X-ray images are then combined to form X-ray images that may then be employed for dual energy X-ray processing.