Patents by Inventor Paul Leblans

Paul Leblans has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7422765
    Abstract: A binderless storage phosphor screen with needle shaped crystals, wherein the phosphor is an alkalihalide phosphor and the needles show high [100] unit cell orientation in the plane of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Erich Hell, Manfred Fuchs, Detlef Mattern, Bernhard Schmitt, Paul Leblans
  • Patent number: 7378676
    Abstract: Stimulable phosphor screens, sheets or panels having alkali metal halide storage phosphors have been disclosed, said phosphors showing emission of red light, after stimulation with an ultraviolet radiation source having a radiation emission maximum of 365 nm, wherein an intensity of red light is not higher than 10% of the blue light emission intensity, and wherein both emission intensities having been measured after stimulation of the said storage phosphors in the phosphor layer of the panel, having stored energy from radiation in the wavelength range shorter than 350 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Luc Struye, Paul Leblans
  • Patent number: 7351442
    Abstract: A method for producing CsX:Eu stimulable phosphors and screens or panels provided with said phosphors as powder phosphors or vapor deposited needle-shaped phosphors suitable for use in image forming methods for recording and reproducing images of objects made by high energy radiation, wherein said CsX:Eu stimulable phosphors are essentially free from oxygen in their crystal structure, and wherein X represents a halide selected from the group consisting of Br, Cl and combinations thereof, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of mixing CsX with a compound or combinations of precursor compounds having as a composition CsxEuyX?x+?y, wherein the ratio of x to y exceeds a value of 0.25, wherein ??2 and wherein X? is a halide selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I and combinations thereof; heating said mixture at a temperature above 450° C.; cooling said mixture, and optionally annealing and recovering said CsX:Eu phosphor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Johan Lamotte, Paul Leblans
  • Publication number: 20080044555
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a radiation image storage phosphor layer on a support layer, wherein said method comprises a vapor depositing step of raw materials of an alkali metal halide salt and a lanthanide dopant salt or a combination thereof in order to ensure vapor deposition of a binderless storage phosphor layer from one or more resistance-heated crucible(s) in a vapor deposition apparatus, wherein one or more shutters are positioned between said crucible(s) and said support, at the time said vapor depositing step starts while opening said shutter(s), a start temperature is measured on and registered by means of a thermocouple positioned close to the support at the back side of the support, opposite to the side of the support where vapor becomes deposited in order to form said binderless storage phosphor layer, of less than 250° C., but not less than 100° C., when an additional heating is applied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Paul Leblans
  • Publication number: 20080044560
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a radiation image storage phosphor layer on a support layer, wherein said method comprises a vapor depositing step of raw materials of an alkali metal halide salt and a lanthanide dopant salt or a combination thereof in order to ensure vapor deposition of a binderless storage phosphor layer from one or more resistance-heated crucible(s) in a vapor deposition apparatus, wherein one or more shutter(s) are positioned between said crucible(s) and said support, at the time said vapor depositing step starts while opening said shutter(s), a start temperature is measured on and registered by means of a thermocouple, positioned close to the support at the side of said support where vapor becomes deposited in order to form said binderless storage phosphor layer, of less than 300° C., but not less than 100° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Paul Leblans
  • Publication number: 20080035857
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a radiation image storage phosphor plate, comprising in its phosphor layer a storage phosphor of the type having an alkali metal halide salt as a main component and a lanthanide as a dopant, the plate after having been manufactured is uniformly exposed, i.e., exposed with a constant intensity and with a homogeneous energy distribution over its whole surface area, in order to absorb an X-ray dose in the range from 1 to 10 Gy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Luc Struye, Paul Leblans, Jean-Pierre Tahon
  • Publication number: 20080035867
    Abstract: In a method of reading a radiation image, stored in a CsBr:Eu type binderless needle-shaped photostimulable or storage phosphor screen after X-ray exposure of said screen, said method comprises the steps of: (1) erasing thermally stimulable energy by exposing said screen to infrared radiation in the wavelength range from 1000 nm to 1550 nm; (2) stimulating said phosphor screen by means of stimulating radiation in the range from 550 to 850 nm; (3) detecting light emitted by the phosphor screen upon stimulation and converting the detected light into a signal representation of said radiation image; (4) erasing said phosphor screen by exposing it to erasing light in the wavelength range of 300 nm to 1500 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Luc Struye, Paul Leblans, Jean-Pierre Tahon
  • Publication number: 20080035839
    Abstract: In a method of reading out energy stored in a CsBr:Eu stimulable phosphor plate, having been exposed to high energy radiation, said method is performed in two steps: a first read-out step while irradiating said phosphor plate with stimulating energy from an infrared radiation stimulation source, followed by a second read-out step, wherein said second read-out step proceeds while providing stimulation radiation having a higher energy than stimulation radiation energy provided during said first read-out step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Luc Struye, Paul Leblans, Jean-Pierre Tahon
  • Publication number: 20080026155
    Abstract: A photo- or electron beam curable composition comprising a polymer or copolymer and a (meth)acrylate type monomer having at least three (meth)acrylate group per monomer molecule and at least one ethyleneoxy group per (meth)acrylate group in said monomer is suitable for use in the top-coat layer of a photostimulable phosphor screen comprising a support, a storage phosphor layer and an outermost top-coat, more particularly when said top-coat comprises a cellulose ester polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Alexander Williamson, Paul Leblans
  • Publication number: 20070272867
    Abstract: In a radiation image phosphor or scintillator panel having as a layer arrangement of consecutive layers upon a support layer or a support, a phosphor or scintillator layer comprising needle-shaped phosphor or scintillator crystals, and a protective layer, the said support layer is a polished pure titanium sheet or titanium alloy sheet, or the said support comprises a polished pure titanium layer or titanium alloy layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Carlo Uyttendaele, Paul Leblans
  • Patent number: 7297294
    Abstract: A method for producing CsX:Eu stimulable phosphors and screens or panels provided with said phosphors as powder phosphors or vapor deposited needle-shaped phosphors suitable for use in image forming methods for recording and reproducing images of objects made by high energy radiation, wherein said CsX:Eu stimulable phosphors are essentially free from oxygen in their crystal structure, and wherein X represents a halide selected from the group consisting of Br, Cl and combinations thereof, and wherein the method further comprises the steps of mixing CsX with a compound or combinations of precursor compounds having as a composition CsxEuyX?x+?y, wherein the ratio of x to y exceeds a value of 0.25, wherein ??2 and wherein X? is a halide selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I and combinations thereof; heating said mixture at a temperature above 450° C.; cooling said mixture, and optionally annealing and recovering said CsX:Eu phosphor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Johan Lamotte, Paul Leblans
  • Patent number: 7288150
    Abstract: A method has been disclosed for manufacturing a storage phosphor for use in a photostimulable phosphor screen or panel comprising a support and a storage phosphor layer, wherein a dopant or activator is incorporated more homogeneously in amorphous and in crystalline phosphors as well, starting with a mixing step of said matrix component and activator component in stoechiometric ratios in order to provide a desired phosphor composition; and more particularly in order to prepare a CsBr:Eu2+ phosphor having an optimized sensitivity with respect to its particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: AGFA Gevaert
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Johan Lamotte, Paul Leblans
  • Patent number: 7288679
    Abstract: A device comprises at least one organophosphonium transition metal dye or is provided with a filter, comprising at least one organophosphonium transition metal dye, wherein, in a particular embodiment said device is selected from the group consisting of a scanner, a digitizer, a display and a photographic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert
    Inventors: Luc Vanmaele, Paul Leblans, Luc Struye
  • Publication number: 20070246660
    Abstract: In favor of lowering corrosion of a radiation image phosphor or scintillator panel comprising, as a layer arrangement of consecutive layers, an anodized aluminum support, a sublayer and a phosphor or scintillator layer having needle-shaped phosphor or scintillator crystals, said sublayer comprises an inorganic metal oxide or a metal compound and has a thickness in the range from 0.1 ?m to 2.5 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Paul Leblans, Carlo Uyttendaele
  • Publication number: 20070246663
    Abstract: In a radiation image phosphor or scintillator panel having as a layer arrangement of consecutive layers an anodized aluminum support layer, wherein chromium is present in said aluminum layer and/or said anodized layer, a phosphor or scintillator layer comprising needle-shaped phosphor or scintillator crystals, covered with a protective layer, in favor of less corrosion and acceptable adhesion between support layer and storage phosphor or scintillator layer, the said anodized aluminum support layer has a ratio of average surface roughness ‘Ra’ versus anodized layer thickness ‘t’ of at least 0.001; wherein ‘Ra’ is in the range from 0.01 ?m to less than 0.30 ?m and wherein said anodized layer has a thickness in the range from 1 ?m to 10 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Paul Leblans, Carlo Uyttendaele
  • Publication number: 20070246662
    Abstract: In favor of adhesion a radiation image phosphor or scintillator panel comprises as an arrangement of layers, in consecutive order, an anodized aluminum support, a precoat layer and a phosphor or scintillator layer comprising needle-shaped phosphor or scintillator crystals, wherein said precoat layer has a thickness in the range from 4 ?m to 15 ?m when consisting of an organic polymer selected from the group consisting of cellyte, poly-acrylate, poly-methyl-methacrylate, poly-methylacrylate, polystyrene, polystyrene-acrylonitrile, polyurethane, hexafunctional polyacrylate, poly-vinylidene-difluoride, epoxy functionalized polymers or wherein said precoat layer has a thickness in the range from 1 ?m to less than 5 ?m when consisting of an organo-silane based polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Paul Leblans, Carlo Uyttendaele, Alexander Williamson
  • Patent number: 7276182
    Abstract: In a method for producing CsX:Eu stimulable phosphors and screens or panels provided with said phosphors as powder phosphors or vapor deposited needle-shaped phosphors suitable for use in image forming methods for recording and reproducing images of objects made by high energy radiation, said CsX:Eu stimulable phosphors are essentially free from oxygen in their crystal structure, wherein X represents a halide selected from the group consisting of Br, Cl and combinations thereof; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of mixing CsX with a compound or combinations of compounds having as a composition CsxEuyX?x+?y, wherein the ratio of x to y exceeds a value of 0.25, wherein ??2 and wherein X? is a halide selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I and combinations thereof; heating said mixture at a temperature above 450° C.; cooling said mixture, and, optionally, annealing and recovering said CsX:Eu phosphor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Paul Leblans, Johan Lamotte
  • Publication number: 20070181824
    Abstract: In a radiation image storage panel, as a layer arrangement of consecutive layers, a support, a sublayer and a stimulable phosphor layer having needle-shaped stimulable phosphor crystals is comprised, said sublayer is a binderless non-vapor deposited layer, at least comprising as a halide compound an inorganic alkali halide salt selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, sodium chloride, sodium bromide, potassium fluoride, potassium chloride, potassium bromide, rubidium fluoride, rubidium chloride, rubidium bromide, cesium fluoride, cesium chloride and cesium bromide, thereby providing good adhesiveness between phosphor layer and support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Carlo Uyttendaele, Paul Leblans
  • Publication number: 20070170397
    Abstract: In a method for producing CsX:Eu stimulable phosphors and screens or panels provided with said phosphors as powder phosphors or vapor deposited needle-shaped phosphors suitable for use in image forming methods for recording and reproducing images of objects made by high energy radiation, said CsX:Eu stimulable phosphors are essentially free from oxygen in their crystal structure, wherein X represents a halide selected from the group consisting of Br, Cl and combinations thereof; and wherein the method further comprises the steps of mixing CsX with a compound or combinations of compounds having as a composition CsxEuyX?x+?y, wherein the ratio of x to y exceeds a value of 0.25, wherein ??2 and wherein X? is a halide selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I and combinations thereof; heating said mixture at a temperature above 450° C.; cooling said mixture, and, optionally, annealing and recovering said CsX:Eu phosphor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Tahon, Paul Leblans, Johan Lamotte
  • 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: 5030353
    Abstract: A secondary sewage treatment system is provided with vertically-aligned foam collecting, turbulent, mixing, settling, and sludge collecting zones. A grating defines the boundary between the turbulent and mixing zones. Beneath the grating, a bouyant media, such as hollow plastic spheres, are contained and occupy substantially all of the mixing zone. Air diffusers including elongated draft tubes extend from the turbulent zone down through the mixing zone for introduction of air to aerate waste water liquor and to cause the aerated liquor to recirculate up into the turbulent zone, thereby creating a circulation of waste water liquor from the turbulent zone, down through the mixing zone and around the bouyant media, and up through the draft tubes to the turbulent zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Inventor: William L. Stuth