Which set of items are the three components of a CBCT machine?

• A. Collimated x ray beam; patient/source; flat panel detector
• B. X-ray generator; Panoramic sensor; Digital computer
• C. Flat panel detector; patient/source; monitor
• D. Detector array; Computer; Hand switch

Answer: (A)

In cone-beam CT, the data come from three essential parts: the X-ray source, the object being scanned, and the detector. The X-ray generator creates a collimated cone-shaped beam that travels through the patient. The patient serves as the object that attenuates different amounts of X-ray energy depending on tissue density. The flat-panel detector captures the attenuated X-rays from many angles as the gantry rotates around the patient, providing a series of projections that are reconstructed into a 3D volume. This combination—collimated X-ray beam, the patient as the object, and the detector—is the fundamental trio that enables CBCT imaging.

The other options mix in components that aren’t part of the core acquisition trio (like a panoramic sensor or monitor) or include items more related to display or workflow rather than the three primary acquisition elements.