Abstract: A binderless stimulable phosphor screen comprises a vapor deposited storage phosphor layer on a support and a protective layer wherein the vapor deposited phosphor is needle-shaped with voids between the needles, wherein the voids are partially filled with a polymeric compound.

Abstract: In a storage phosphor sheet, plate or panel, comprising a needle-shaped storage or photostimulable phosphor, said needle-shaped phosphor comprising a host or matrix compound and a dopant or activator compound or element in an amount of less than 0.01 mole % versus said host or matrix compound, said needle-shaped phosphor further comprises, as inclusions or precipitates, particles having a size in the range from 10?3 ?m up to 10 ?m, wherein said particles are present as ferroelectric particles, providing said panel with ferro-electric properties.

Abstract: A binderless storage phosphor screen comprises a vacuum deposited phosphor layer on a support, wherein the support includes a layer of amorphous carbon and, optionally, one or more auxilliary layers.

Abstract: A method of preparing a stimulable phosphor layer comprising a phosphor composed of a host or matrix compound and a dopant or activator compound or element wherein a precipitate or inclusion having a size in the range from 10?3 ?m up to 10 ?m is present in said matrix compound, proceeds by the steps of (1) providing one or more crucibles containing precursor compounds for said host, said dopant and said precipitate, by increasing the temperature of said crucible(s) up to a temperature provoking evaporation of all of said precursor compounds as a vaporized latent phosphor cloud, (2) depositing said vaporized latent phosphor cloud in form of a layer onto a temperature controlled substrate, (3) followed by cooling said substrate, and (4) further annealing said phosphor layer at a temperature in the range from 35° C. up to 200° C.

Abstract: An X-ray cassette for computed radiography is provided, said cassette having a form of a hollow box comprising top and bottom, front and rear, and lateral sides, said top and bottom sides having width dimensions, between said lateral sides, and depth dimensions, between said front and rear sides, which are substantially greater than the dimensions of said front, rear and lateral sides, between said top and bottom sides, wherein said bottom side and said front, rear and lateral sides have a higher material stiffness than the top side and wherein said top side is a deformable carrier or support material, supporting a storage or stimulable phosphor sheet layer.

Abstract: A phosphor or scintillator sheet, web or panel is provided, wherein a phosphor or a scintillator layer is coated onto a flexible substrate, the stiffness of which is lowered by presence of pits or grooves onto said substrate, preferably applied by a technique selected from the group consisting of mechanical, chemical, (laser) optical, electrical and photo-etching techniques.

Abstract: An image storage screen or panel, suitable for use in applications related with computed radiography comprises, on a support, a binderless needle-shaped stimulable CsBr:Eu phosphor layer, wherein, besides low amounts of a europium activator or dopant in favor of homogeneous distribution of said activator in the CsBr matrix, presence of well-defined amounts of rubidium halide and cesium chloride in said matrix, and, optionally, further presence of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and/or metal earth salts, and/or, optionally, other metal salts or oxides, provides a remarkable speed increase, without loss in sharpness.

Abstract: An image storage screen or panel, suitable for use in applications related with computed radiography comprises, on a support, a binderless needle-shaped stimulable CsBr:Eu phosphor layer, wherein, besides low amounts of a europium activator or dopant in favor of homogeneous distribution of said activator in the CsBr matrix, presence of well-defined amounts of rubidium halide and cesium chloride in said matrix, and, optionally, further presence of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and/or metal earth salts, and/or, optionally, other metal salts or oxides, provides a remarkable speed increase, without loss in sharpness.

Abstract: An image storage screen or panel, suitable for use in applications related with computed radiography has a binderless needle-shaped stimulable (storage) CsBr:Eu phosphor and a substrate, wherein the substrate has a surface roughness of less than 2 ?m and a reflectivity of more than 80%.

Abstract: Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu2+ storage phosphor crystal particles in form of a cylinder suitable for use in flat storage phosphor panels have been provided, wherein said particles have an average cross-section in the range from 1 ?m up to 30 ?m and an average length, measured along the casing of said cylinder, in the range from 100 ?m up to 1000 ?m.

Abstract: A system has been described for reading out stimulable phosphor screens, plates or panels, whether or not differing from each other in phosphor composition or phosphor layer arrangement, after exposing said screens to X-rays. Said system comprises at least one source of stimulating radiation, an array of transducer elements arranged for detecting light emitted upon stimulation and for converting said light into a signal representation of said image. Said system further comprises filtering means for preventing light, emitted by said source of stimulation light, from being detected by said transducer elements, wherein said filtering means transmits light with a high transmission efficiency for emitted blue light upon stimulation and low transmission for radiation from the stimulating laser source.

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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting a signal representation of a radiation image of an object wherein correction by means of correction values is performed simultaneously with image read out.

Abstract: A layer arrangement comprising, at least in a binderless layer thereof, one or more vapor deposited pigments like the preferred nanocrystalline ?-Cu-phthalocyanine nanocrystalline dye compound has been disclosed, wherein said layer arrangement is, in a preferred embodiment a photostimulable phosphor plate or panel having a binderless needle-shaped photostimulable alkali metal phosphor, and, more preferably, a CsBr:Eu2+ phosphor, showing besides a high image definition, an excellent preservation of color stability; and wherein the thus produced binderless photostimulable phosphor screen is overcoated with a strong protective layer in order to provide ability for easy transport through a scanning module, without jamming, in a diagnostic radiographic image reading system.

Abstract: Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu2+ storage phosphor crystal particles in form of a cylinder suitable for use in flat storage phosphor panels have been provided, wherein said particles have an average cross-section in the range from 1 ?m up to 30 ?m and an average length, measured along the casing of said cylinder, in the range from 100 ?m up to 1000 ?M.

Abstract: Storage phosphor particles suitable for use in coated layers of stimulable phosphor screens or panels, in favor of high relative sensitivity, advantageously contain at the surface of the phosphor particles and in their inner volume, as components composing the said phosphor, a matrix component and a dopant or activator element that is homogeneously incorporated, wherein preference is given to particles having an aspect ratio of more than 2:1 and less than 50:1, said aspect ratio being defined as a ratio of 2 largest sizes of said particles, said sizes being taken in 3 dimensions perpendicular to each other, provided that one of said 2 largest sizes is smaller than 10 ?m.

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.

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 makes use of starting compounds (precursors) or combinations of precursors for the synthesis of said CsX:Eu stimulable phosphors, said precursors (starting 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.

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.

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.