Patents Assigned to Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
  • Patent number: 7312467
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray picture stored in a phosphor layer includes: an irradiation device for irradiating the phosphor layer with a stimulating light beam to be moved along a line over the phosphor layer, and in so doing stimulating the phosphor layer into emitting emission light; a detector for collecting the emission light emitted from the storage phosphor layer and for converting the emission light collected into a detector signal S; a processing unit for deducing picture signal values B for pixels of the picture along the line from the detector signal S; and two or more sensors located at different reference positions to collect reference times when the light beam is located at the different reference positions. The processing unit deduces a number of detector signal values D from the detector signal S to deduce the picture signal values B between the two reference times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Gerstlauer, Detlef Brautmeier, Rainer Nebosis, Axel Kasper
  • Patent number: 7304316
    Abstract: A storage phosphor plate for the storage of X-ray information, including a storage phosphor layer which stores the X-ray information and can be stimulated by stimulation light into emitting emission light, and a support layer on which the storage phosphor layer is located, the support layer being partially transparent for the stimulation light, and having a thickness d and an absorption coefficient for the stimulation light, where (k times d)?0.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Mair
  • Patent number: 7247874
    Abstract: Device for detecting information which is contained in a phosphor layer, with multiple individual radiation sources for emitting stimulation light incident upon the phosphor layer along a stimulation line and suitable for stimulating emission light in the phosphor layer, and a detector for detecting the emission light which is stimulated in the phosphor layer. To ensure the highest possible quality of the detected image, an elongated concave mirror is provided, for focusing the stimulation light emitted by the individual radiation sources onto the phosphor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Bode, Georg Reiser
  • Patent number: 7247875
    Abstract: A process for the collection and presentation of an X-ray image stored in a phosphor layer, includes the steps of: collecting information in an area of the phosphor layer and in an area adjacent to, and outside of, the phosphor layer; dividing the information collected into image information and edge information, taking into account a run of the information collected, whereby the image information corresponds to the information collected in the area of the phosphor layer, and the edge information corresponds to the information collected in the area adjacent to, and outside of, the phosphor layer; and presenting the image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Haug, Detlef Brautmeier, Horst Scherer
  • Publication number: 20070153968
    Abstract: A driving apparatus (1) for an optical scanning device (5) has a threaded spindle (16) onto which a spindle nut (23) is threaded. The driving apparatus (1) further includes a coupler (24) for coupling the spindle nut (23) to the scanning device (5). The coupler (24) effects a Cardan coupling in the manner of a Cardan joint. In a technically simple way particularly good synchronisation can be guaranteed during scanning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Johannes Holzl, Werner Stahl
  • Publication number: 20070152179
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray image stored in a storage phosphor layer (4) is pivotable and includes acquiring unit (24) for acquiring an orientation of the apparatus (1). In this way, in a technically simple way, good image quality of an X-ray image read out can be guaranteed. Furthermore, the invention relates to a radiography module with this type of apparatus (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Mair, Jens Nissen, Stefan Stallmeister
  • Publication number: 20070153975
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray image stored in a storage phosphor layer (4) includes an irradiation device (13) for irradiating the storage phosphor layer (4) with stimulation radiation (14) and a detection device (16) for collecting emission radiation (15) which the storage phosphor layer (4) emits as a result of the irradiation by means of the stimulation radiation (14). The irradiation device (13) and the detection device (16) are fixedly or rigidly associated with one another. Furthermore, an actuation device (8) is provided for producing a relative movement between the storage phosphor layer (4) on the one hand and the irradiation device (13) and the detection device (16) on the other hand. According to the invention, the apparatus (1) includes acquiring unit (19, 19?, 20, 20?, 21, 21?) for acquiring a speed of the relative movement. In this way, in a technically simple way, good image quality of an X-ray image read out can be guaranteed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Stephan Mair, Stefan Stallmeister, Jens Nissen
  • Publication number: 20070145312
    Abstract: An apparatus (4) for reading out X-ray information stored in a storage phosphor layer (2) includes a support (10) onto which a storage phosphor plate (1) is laid. The storage phosphor plate (1) comprises the storage phosphor layer (2) and a support layer (3) onto which the storage phosphor layer (2) is applied. Furthermore, a controller (12) is provided for processing X-ray information read out from the storage phosphor layer (2). According to the invention, a distance sensor (14, 15) serves to determine a distance of the distance sensor (14, 15) from the storage phosphor plate (1) lying on the support (10), and the controller (12) is designed such that it processes the X-ray information read out from the storage phosphor layer (2) dependently upon the distance determined by means of the distance sensor (14, 15). An unlevelness determined by means of the distance sensor (14, 15) is taken into account by the controller (12) when processing the X-ray information read out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: AGFA-GEVAERT HEALTHCARE GMBH
    Inventors: Roland Muller, Walter Hofmuth, Rudolf Loistl
  • Patent number: 7227167
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system having a scanner and a memory layer. The memory layer comprises particles for storing X-ray information items, that can be excited by a stimulating radiation to emit an emission radiation corresponding to one of the X-ray information items and that are embedded in a medium and are distributed over the entire thickness of the memory layer. The scanner comprises an irradiating device for irradiating a linear region on the memory layer and a detector for the positionally resolved detection of emission radiation emitted by the memory layer along the linear region. To increase the sharpness of the X-ray information items to be detected with low losses in the intensity of the emission radiation, the medium can at least partially absorb components, directed both perpendicularly and parallel to the plane of the memory layer, of the emission radiation emitted by the individual particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Leblans, Robert Fasbender, Magath Niang, Clemens Herrmann, Rudy Van den Bergh
  • Patent number: 7227168
    Abstract: A system and corresponding method for reading out X-ray information stored in a phosphor layer, includes a read-out device for reading out the X-ray information stored in the phosphor layer, and an input unit integrated in to the read-out device for entering additional information by an operator where the input unit is in the form of a graphical input unit into which the additional information can be entered in graphical form by the operator. Moreover, an allocation device is provided for allocating the entered additional information in graphical form to the X-ray information read out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventor: Hannes Serro
  • Publication number: 20070114479
    Abstract: An apparatus and a corresponding method for reading out a storage phosphor plate (2) with an insertion device for inserting a cassette (1) in which a movably disposed support (3) is located, on top of which the storage phosphor plate (2) lies, a read-out device (20) for reading out the storage phosphor plate (2) and a conveyance device (11, 12) which takes the storage phosphor plate (2) from the support (3) and conveys it in a first direction (R) to the read-out device (20). In order to achieve the most precise and reliable alignment possible of the storage phosphor plate (2) relative to the read-out device (20) in a simple way, a positioning device (13) is provided for shifting the support (3), on which the storage phosphor plate (2) lies, in a second direction (A) which is different from the first direction (R) so that the support (3) and the storage phosphor plate (2) are aligned relative to the read-out device (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Heinz, Markus Atzenbeck, Thomas Hartmann, Alfons Kastl, Güther Schindlbeck, Rudolf Loistl, Hans Ketterer, Otto Butz
  • Publication number: 20070114448
    Abstract: A cassette (1) for a storage phosphor plate (2) comprises a cassette housing (4) with an opening (7) and a support (3) disposed movably within the cassette housing (4), wherein the storage phosphor plate (2) lies on the support (3). In order to simplify the structure of the cassette (1) and of the corresponding removal mechanism, provision is made such that the support (3) can be moved, together with the storage phosphor plate (2) lying on top of it, through the opening (7) of the cassette housing (4), at least partially from the inside of the cassette housing (4), and the storage phosphor plate (2) lying on the support (3) can be taken from the support (3) when the support (3) is located, with the storage phosphor plate (2) lying on top of it, at least partially outside of the cassette housing (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Applicant: Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Anton Pirmann, Rudolf Loistl, Jürgen Heinz, Thomas Hartmann, Alfons Kastl, Gunther Schindlbeck, Hans Ketterer, Otto Butz
  • Patent number: 7186997
    Abstract: A device and a method for reading out information stored in a storage layer (15), and an X-ray cassette are proposed which make use for the purpose of erasing information stored in the storage layer (15) of an erasing means (11, 12, 14) which generates an erasure radiation (17). This erasure radiation (17) can have both a first and a second intensity, the first intensity being larger than the second intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Gebele, Jurgen Muller, Hans Schaller, Werner Stahl
  • Patent number: 7176476
    Abstract: A device for acquiring information contained in a phosphor layer comprises a light source (2) for irradiating the phosphor layer (1) with excitation light (3) that is suitable for exciting emission light (4) in the phosphor layer (1), a detector (6) for detecting the emission light (4) that has been excited in the phosphor layer (1), and a filter device (8), arranged between the phosphor layer (1) and the detector (6), that is substantially transparent in a first wavelength range (W1) of the emission light (4) and substantially non-transparent in a second wavelength range (W2) of the excitation light (3). To increase the reliability during the acquisition of the emission light, the filter device (8) is made substantially non-transparent in at least a third wavelength range (W3) having longer wavelengths than the second wavelength range (W2) of the excitation light (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: AGFA- Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Lind, Ralph Thoma, Georg Reiser, Christian Schulz
  • Patent number: 7170080
    Abstract: A read-out device reads out X-rays stored in phosphor layers. To improve image quality, the read-out device is controlled such that an X-ray of a first body part, e.g. of a limb, stored in a phosphor layer is read out by the read-out device controlled in a first read-out mode, and an X-ray of a second, different body part, e.g. of a thorax, stored in the phosphor layer is read out by the read-out device controlled in a second read-out mode. The scan parameters of the read-out device set in the first read-out mode are different from the scan parameters set in the second read-out mode in at least one scan parameter. The scan parameters include, but are not limited to, the size of the pixels, the intensity and/or the width of a focus range of stimulation light on the phosphor layer, the sampling rate of a detector, and a speed of the phosphor layer in relative movement to the read-out device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Fasbender, Clemens Herrmann, Johan Lamotte, Stephan Mair, Horst Scherer, Jörg Frankenberger
  • Patent number: 7170079
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reading out information items stored in a phosphor layer, in which the phosphor layer is excited to emit emission light and the emission light is sensed by a detector and the detector is moved relative to the phosphor layer. During this process, the detector consecutively senses the emission light emitted in each case by individual regions of the phosphor layer. To reduce the dark noise and the movement blur, provision is made that the detector senses the emission light emitted by a region during an integration time that is less than a forward-travel time for the movement of the detector by the width of the region in the forward-travel direction (V).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Robert Fasbender, Herbert Gebele, Michael Weinberger
  • Patent number: 7157728
    Abstract: Apparatus for reading out X-ray information stored in a stimulatable phosphor layer, includes: a plurality of light sources used to emit stimulation light which can stimulate the phosphor layer to emit emission light; a detector used to collect emission light emitted from the phosphor layer; and a control unit for controlling an intensity of the light sources by using a control parameter determined from a reference light source in a regulation unit. The highest possible level of homogeneity and constancy of the light sources will be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Nitsche
  • Patent number: 7151272
    Abstract: The present invention reduces the influences of electromagnetic fields during reading out of image signals from memory phosphor films. This is done by pre-amplifying the detection signals obtained from a detection device, in particular a CCD array, before further processing, for example by an analog-to-digital converter. An amplification register for electron multiplying can be used for the amplification. In this way individual photon sensitivity can be achieved when reading out X-ray images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Nitsche, Michael Weinberger, Ralph Thoma, Georg Reiser, Bernhard Sang
  • Patent number: 7122822
    Abstract: Device for detecting information which is contained in a phosphor layer, with a light source for emitting stimulation light incident upon the phosphor layer along a stimulation line is suitable for stimulating emission light in the phosphor layer, and a detector for detecting the emission light which is stimulated in the phosphor layer. To ensure the highest possible quality of the detected image, an elongated concave mirror is provided, for focusing the stimulation light emitted by the light source onto the phosphor layer. The light source is projected onto the phosphor layer at a scale of 1:M, where M takes a value between 0.5 and 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert Healthcare Gmbh
    Inventors: Andreas Bode, Georg Reiser
  • Patent number: 7109496
    Abstract: The invention relates to a storage layer (4) for storing x-ray information, comprising a large number of needle-shaped storage material areas (15A to 15L) for guiding light radiation (17 to 28, 30 to 35). An absorption zone (14A to 14N), which contains absorption material for absorbing light radiation (17 to 23, 30 to 35, 39) lies between the individual needle-shaped storage material areas (15A to 15L) and absorbs less than all of the light radiation that it receives. The invention also relates to a device for reading x-ray information from a storage layer of this type and to an x-ray cassette which has a device of this type for reading x-ray information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert Healthcare GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Gebele, Hans Schaller, Robert Fasbender