import imp

def import_module(path):
	"""
	Imports a python file as a module. The path can be relative or absolute.
	
	Based on the work of Yuval Greenfield released into the public domain.
	"""
	
	# remove the .py suffix
	mod_dn = os.path.dirname(path)
	mod_fn = os.path.basename(path)
	
	if mod_fn.endswith(".py"):
		mod_name = mod_fn[:-3]
	else:
		# packages for example
		mod_name = mod_fn
	
	fd = None
	
	try:
		data = imp.find_module(mod_name, [mod_dn])
		module = imp.load_module(mod_name, *data)
		fd = data[0]
	
	finally:
		if fd is not None:
			fd.close()
	
	return module