Abstract: The gain correction image is composed of a grid- free image regardless of the presence or absence of the grid or the kind thereof. The gain correction images are stored in the image memory unit, and, under the control of the pre-process unit and according to the result of the grid detection means, reference is made to the image process parameter table stored in the image process parameter memory unit and the matching gain correction image is downloaded from the image memory unit.

Abstract: A scanning electron microscope is integrated in a common measuring configuration with at least one device for the angle-dependent measuring of the scattering or diffraction of light. This measuring configuration includes a common transport system, which handles the distribution of semiconductor wafers that are to be measured. The measuring configuration also includes at least one loading and unloading station for providing semiconductor wafers in wafer transport containers. The joint configuration of the two-measuring devices for measuring the critical dimension of a feature allows a mostly contamination-free, rapid, and flexible exchange between the two measuring devices, and furthermore the measuring of lots can be planned in accordance with various measuring strategies. In particular, each semiconductor wafer of a lot can be measured without resorting to sampling strategies. Certainty is enhanced with respect to wafer-to-wafer uniformity, and a greater throughput is achieved.

Abstract: The gain correction image is composed of a grid-free image regardless of the presence or absence of the grid or the kind thereof. The gain correction images are stored in the image memory unit, and, under the control of the pre-process unit and according to the result of the grid detection means, reference is made to the image process parameter table stored in the image process parameter memory unit and the matching gain correction image is downloaded from the image memory unit.

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor film in which acicular particles of stimulable phosphor having an aspect ratio of 1.5 or more are oriented in the direction of depth of the phosphor film gives a reproduced radiation image having increased sharpness when it is employed in a radiation image recording and reproducing method.

Abstract: A radiation image read out method and apparatus including stimulating a divalent europium activated cesium halide phosphor screen wherein the halide is at least one of chloride and bromide, that has been exposed to a radiation image, detecting light emitted by the phosphor screen upon stimulation, and erasing the phosphor screen by exposing it to erasing light emitted by an erasing light source assembly having an electrical erasing energy not greater than Smax×1 Joule wherein Smax is the maximum surface area of the stimulable phosphor screen read out in a read out apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reading a radiation image that has been stored in a photostimulable phosphor screen including a divalent europium activated cesium halide phosphor wherein the halide is at least one of chloride and bromide. The screen is scanned by a laser spot having a diameter which is less than 100 micrometer.

Abstract: A radiation image conversion panel superior in luminance and sharpness is disclosed, comprising a support having thereon a stimulable phosphor layer containing a stimulable phosphor and a protective layer, wherein the stimulable phosphor layer exhibits a density of not less than 3.00 g/cm3, the stimulable phosphor layer being provided between the support and the protective layer.

Abstract: In a radiation image storage panel having a stimulable phosphor layer which is used in a radiation image recording and reproducing method composed of applying a stimulating light to one surface side of the phosphor layer and collecting stimulated emission from the phosphor layer on both surface sides, the phosphor layer preferably has a total optical transmittance, which is preferably within 2 to 20%, varying along depth of the phosphor layer at each of wavelengths of the stimulating light and the stimulated emission.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus including a lens array and a line sensor for reading an image recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet provides a read-out image of high quality which is free from a spurious pattern due to non-aperture regions of the lens array. A first memory stores an image signal representing the image recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet. Spurious pattern signal calculating means calculates a spurious pattern signal based on positions of the non-aperture regions on the lens array. The spurious pattern signal is stored in a second memory. Image modification means reads the image signal and the spurious pattern signal from the first and second memories to calculate a processed image signal free from any spurious pattern signal on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The spurious pattern signal may instead be obtained by causing the apparatus to read a uniform radiation image recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: A phosphor powder for producing a high resolution phosphor screen and a phosphor screen are provided. The phosphor screen comprises a substrate, an infrared-absorbing layer, and a phosphor layer coated on the infrared-absorbing layer, wherein the phosphor layer comprises a phosphor powder in which a substantial amount of particles in the powder have a particle size as measured in the longest dimension of greater than 0 and less than about 5 microns. The phosphor screen may also comprise a black, infrared-absorbing substrate with the phosphor layer coated on the substrate. The phosphor powder is formed by preparing a phosphor composition, sintering the composition to form ingots, grinding the ingots to form a powder wherein a substantial amount of particles in the powder have a particle size of greater than 0 and less than about 5 microns, reactivating the powder in an inert atmosphere to a temperature of from about 500° C. to about 550° C.

Abstract: The gain correction image is composed of a grid-free image regardless of the presence or absence of the grid or the kind thereof. The gain correction images are stored in the image memory unit, and, under the control of the pre-process unit and according to the result of the grid detection means, reference is made to the image process parameter table stored in the image process parameter memory unit and the matching gain correction image is downloaded from the image memory unit.

Abstract: A system for spectroscopic imaging of bodily tissue in which a scintillation screen and a charged coupled device (CCD) are used to accurately image selected tissue. An x-ray source generates x-rays which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches the scintillation screen. The scintillation screen reradiates a spatial intensity pattern corresponding to the image, the pattern being detected by a CCD sensor. The image is digitized by the sensor and processed by a controller before being stored as an electronic image. Each image is directed onto an associated respective CCD or amorphous silicon detector to generate individual electronic representations of the separate images.

Abstract: The gain correction image is composed of a grid-free image regardless of the presence or absence of the grid or the kind thereof. The gain correction images are stored in the image memory unit, and, under the control of the pre-process unit and according to the result of the grid detection means, reference is made to the image process parameter table stored in the image process parameter memory unit and the matching gain correction image is downloaded from the image memory unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10,60) for reading out information stored in a phosphor carrier (15) and to an X-ray cassette (70) which contains the phosphor carrier (15) and such a device. The inventive device (10,60) has a radiation source (11;20, . . . ,29,30 . . . 39; 50,53;61) that can emit a first radiation source (16) with which the phosphor carrier (15) can be exited such that the carrier emits a second radiation (17). This second radiation (17) comprises an image of the information stored in the phosphor carrier (15). The device (10,60) additionally has a receiving means (12,62) which contains a number of point elements (PD1, . . . PDn) in order to receive the second radiation (17) emitted from the phosphor carrier (15) in a point-by-point manner. The second radiation of a point of the phosphor carrier (15) can thus be received by each one of the point elements (PD1, . . . ,PDn).

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet for a radiation image recording and reproducing method comprising the steps of recording a radiation image as a latent image, irradiating the latent image with stimulating rays to release stimulated emission, and electrically processing the emission to reproduce the radiation image, has partitions that divide the phosphor sheet on its plane to give plural sections, and stimulable phosphor-incorporated areas in the sections, wherein the phosphor-incorporated areas have a light-scattering length of 20 to 100 &mgr;m and a light-absorption length of 1,000 &mgr;m or longer, while the partitions have a light-scattering length of 0.05 to 20 &mgr;m and a light-absorption length of 1,000 &mgr;m or longer, under the condition that a ratio of the light-scattering length of the phosphor-incorporated areas to that of the partitions is 3.0 or more.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to luminescence techniques for imaging radiation fields and, more specifically, to the use of experimental and mathematical methods to distinguish between dynamic irradiation and static—or other abnormal radiation—exposure conditions for applications in personnel and environ mental radiation dosimetry, or related fields. In more particular, the instant invention provides a rapid and reliable method of detecting abnormal dosimeter exposure conditions over a wide dynamic range of radiation doses, while avoiding significant background interference and stimulation light leakage. Additionally, the preferred embodiment of the instant invention uses a pulsed and synchronized luminescence detection scheme.

Abstract: A radiation image storage device composed of a fluorescent sheet which contains a phosphor which absorbs a radiation energy and emits a light of ultraviolet or visible region, and a radiation image storage panel having a fluorescent layer and a radiation image storage layer, in which the fluorescent layer contains a phosphor that absorbs a radiation energy and emits a light of ultraviolet or visible region, and the radiation image storage layer contains a phosphor that absorbs the light emitted by the phosphors of the fluorescent layer and the fluorescent sheet to store energy of the absorbed light and releases the stored energy in the form of a light upon irradiation with a light of visible or infrared region is favorably employed for a radiation image storing and reproducing method.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of inspecting influence of stray light which occurs in a radiation image reader. The inspection method comprises the steps of: preparing a storable fluorescent inspection sheet that has stored and recorded a radiation inspection image which has a density pattern in which one or more low-density and high-density regions having a contrast difference of at least 1:20 are arrayed in a horizontal scanning direction; obtaining an image inspection signal representing the radiation inspection image, by photelectrically reading the radiation inspection image from the storable fluorescent inspection sheet; and inspecting the influence of stray light, based on an image reproduced from the image inspection signal.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus has an imaging bed for placing a subject thereon, the imaging bed having a recording unit for temporarily recording radiation image information of the subject on a stimulable phosphor sheet, a housing accommodating therein a reading unit for photoelectrically reading the radiation image information from the stimulable phosphor sheet, and an erasing assembly for erasing remaining radiation image information from the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a lifting/lowering mechanism for lifting and lowering the imaging bed with respect to the housing. The subject can easily be put onto the imaging bed, and the imaging bed can easily be operated.

Abstract: An apparatus housing and a controller are separate from each other, and opposite sides of a second casing of the apparatus housing have respective first and second cable ports defined therein for extending a cable connected to the controller. With the cable extended through the first cable port or the second cable port, the layout of the apparatus housing and the controller can easily be changed. Therefore, the apparatus housing and the controller can be installed in any of various layout patterns.

Abstract: A method of ascertaining imaging quality in a computed radiography (CR) system includes providing a substrate having fluorescent test pattern disposed thereon. The substrate is disposed in place of the standard storage-phosphor screen and scanned as if reading out a storage screen. The detected signals form a read-out image which is then compared against the test pattern to judge image quality.

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, is scanned with stimulating rays in a main scanning direction and moved in a sub-scanning direction, which is approximately normal to the main scanning direction. A read-out device photoelectrically detects the light, which is emitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet when the stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with the stimulating rays in the main scanning direction, to obtain an image signal representing the radiation image. A light guiding mirror for reflecting the emitted light toward the read-out device is located to extend in the main scanning direction at a position in the vicinity of a position on the stimulable phosphor sheet, which position is scanned with the stimulating rays in the main scanning direction. The light guiding mirror is supported by a support member, which is formed from a metallic material and is electrically isolated from a ground, or which is formed from an electrical insulating material.

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet giving a high sensitivity and a high sharpness in a radiation image recording and reproducing method is composed of a stimulable phosphor-containing partition which divides the phosphor sheet along its plane into small sections, and stimulable phosphor-incorporated area which is divided with the partition and which has a reflectivity with respect to stimulating rays differing from a reflectivity with respect to the stimulating rays of the partition.

Abstract: A single sheet photostimulable phosphor screen, characterized in that the screen contains in consecutive order (1) a support, (2) a continuous phosphor-containing layer, and permanently and contiguously united therewith (3) a grid structured phosphor-containing layer containing a phosphor different from the phosphor contained in the continuous phosphor-containing layer (2), the grid structured layer (3) containing parallel rows of phosphor-containing stripes or dots, and the different phosphors having a different X-ray absorption capacity with respect to different energy levels of X-ray radiation.

Abstract: A radiation image recording and reproducing system includes a conveyor which conveys a stimulable phosphor sheet along a predetermined circulation passage in an image recording section which is disposed on the circulation passage and records a radiation image of an object on the stimulable phosphor sheet by exposing the stimulable phosphor sheet to radiation through the object. At least one grid is provided in the image recording section and the position of the stimulable phosphor sheet in the image recording section relative to the grid with respect to the projecting direction in which the radiation is projected onto the stimulable phosphor sheet upon recording of the radiation image of the object is changed according to the amount of radiation to be scattered by the object.

Abstract: Radiation having a high energy level is irradiated to an object, and high energy image information corresponding to the radiation having a high energy level, which radiation carries image information of the object, is thereby stored on a stimulable phosphor sheet, which allows light detection from its front surface that stands facing the object, and from its back surface. Primarily the image information, which has been stored at a portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet on the front surface side, is erased. Thereafter, radiation having a low energy level is irradiated to the object, and low energy image information corresponding to the radiation having a low energy level, which radiation carries image information of the object, is thereby stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: A radiation image is recorded on a plurality of photostimulable phosphor screens of a size that is smaller than the size of the elongate body. The screens are exposed to a radiation image of a grid of threads of attenuating material and a radiation image of the elongate body so that each of the screens stores part of the image of the body and superimposed thereon, part of the image of the grid. The screens are read out individually. Reconstruction of the image of the elongate body is performed on the basis of the reconstructed image of the grid.

Abstract: A method for reading an electron beam image that has been stored in a photostimulable phosphor screen wherein the photostimulable phosphor screen is scanned with stimulating radiation and wherein light emitted upon stimulation is converted in to a digital image signal. Enhanced sensitivity is obtained by heating the screen in between exposure to the electron beam image and stimulation of the screen.

Abstract: A system for spectroscopic imaging of bodily tissue in which a scintillation screen and a charged coupled device (CCD) are used to accurately image selected tissue. An x-ray source generates x-rays which pass through a region of a subject's body, forming an x-ray image which reaches the scintillation screen. The scintillation screen reradiates a spatial intensity pattern corresponding to the image, the pattern being detected by a CCD sensor. The image is digitized by the sensor and processed by a controller before being stored as an electronic image. Each image is directed onto an associated respective CCD or amorphous silicon detector to generate individual electronic representations of the separate images.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for scanning in a bow-tie pattern, where such pattern is effectuated by either directing a beam or aiming a laser. Methods are provided for correcting errors in movement of the beam. One such method includes the use of a calibration grating on a recording media, with the data derived from the calibration table being used to generate a lookup table. The lookup table providing correction factors that serve to diminish variations in the beam path.

Abstract: By means of a read/write terminal patient identification data stored in a touch memory, an EEPROM, a bar code label or an RF tag are read or identification data are retrieved from a hospital identifictaion system (HIS). On the read/write terminal an examination type is selected from a displayed list of examination types. The patient identification data and the identifier of the selected examination type are associated, stored and transferred onto an RF tag provided on a cassette conveying a photostimulable phosphor screen or onto an RF tag that is attachable to the cassette. After exposure of the screen to X-rays, the RF tag and the photostimulable phosphor screen are read out and the radiation image read out of the screen is processed in accordance with processing parameters associated with the selected examination type.

Abstract: A radiographic image read out system having on-line performance verification. A number of parameters to be used in a test program are stored together with (a) limiting value(s) for (a) characteristic value(s) resulting from application of the test program. An image signal of a phantom is processed according to the test program to determine at least one characteristic value. At least one limiting value for each determined characteristic value is retrieved from storage and a hard copy of the image of the phantom along with the at least one characteristic value in relation to the limiting value(s) is produced.

Abstract: A chemiluminescent detecting method includes the steps of uniformly irradiating with radiation a stimulable phosphor sheet formed with a stimulable phosphor layer containing a stimulable phosphor which can store an energy of radiation and be stimulated by visible light to emit the energy of radiation in a form of light, thereby storing energy of radiation uniformly therein, selectively labeling a biopolymer with a labeling substance which can produce chemiluminescent light by contact of itself and a chemiluminescent substance, causing the biopolymer labeled with the labeling substance and the chemiluminescent substance to come into contact with each other, and exposing the stimulable phosphor sheet to chemiluminescent light produced by the contact of the biopolymer labeled with the labeling substance and the chemiluminescent substance.

Abstract: A calibration technique for a storage phosphor reader which calibrates the storage phosphor reader to the exposure value of the x-ray source measured at the time that the storage phosphor to be read is exposed.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for generating 3-dimensional radiation images and, more particularly, a method for generating 3-dimensional radiation images capable of aligning completely registered 3-dimensional positions thereof. At least one 2-dimensional radiation image of a subject carried by a radiant ray which has passed through a subject is obtained by irradiating a radiant ray from a plurality of positions, which differ from one another, toward said subject, 2-dimensional pixel data which denotes pixel values at respective points on said 2-dimensional radiation image is obtained by repeatedly scanning an image in a main scanning direction which intersects a sub-scanning direction while sequentially moving in said specified sub-scanning direction on this 2-dimensional radiation image, and 3-dimensional pixel data which denotes the pixel values corresponding to 3-dimensional points inside said subject are obtained based on the 2-dimensional pixel data.

Abstract: A system and method for performing a rapid, automatic, quantitative assessment of the image quality of a radiographic image is disclosed. The present invention utilizes a stepped calibration target made of differentially attenuating disks that is exposed to a beam of radiation simultaneously with the exposure of an object of examination. The recording medium is developed, if necessary, and the image of at least the calibration target is read, as with a laser scanner or a CCD. The optical density characteristics of the image of the calibration target are then analyzed with respect to reference optical density criteria associated with the type of recording medium used and indicative of an optimal signal pattern. If the optical density characteristics of the calibration target image meet the reference criteria, then an indication is made to show that the radiographic image has been approved as meeting the quality assurance threshold.

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor having a plasma-deposited protective coating comprising a substantially continuous, protective coating which conforms substantially to the surface of the stimulable phosphor. In a preferred embodiment, the coating has a thickness of between about 0.10 and about 1.0 .mu.m, and provides a thinner coating having greater sensitivity to radiation emitted from weak radioactive labels than conventional screen protective coatings, but with effective protection from moisture and physical damage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining .beta.-ray emitters to determine radioactivity of tritium with a high sensitivity and without contamination of a radiation recording plate with radioactivity, wherein a plastic microplate is provided having a number of flat bottomed wells interconnected by a plurality of shallow vent channels having a depth ranging from about 2 mm to 6 mm formed therein. The radiation recording plate is disposed facing tile microplate through a spacer. A metal exposure container which is sealed accommodates the resulting assembly of the microplate, spacer and the radiation recording plate.

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to radiation carrying image information of an object, and a radiation image of the object is thereby stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet. The stimulable phosphor sheet is then exposed to stimulating rays, which cause the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to the radiation. The emitted light is photoelectrically detected, and an image signal representing the radiation image is thereby obtained. When the stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to the radiation, the stimulable phosphor sheet is located such that it may make an angle falling within the range of 5 degrees to 60 degrees with respect to a plane, which is normal to the direction of travel of the radiation carrying the image information of the object. The image signal, which has been obtained by photoelectrically detecting the light emitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet, is corrected in accordance with the angle.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and reading a radiographic image formed by exposing a subject with radioactive rays includes a cooling device to cool a photostimulable phosphor containing iodine to a range of 250K to 300K. The cooled photostimulable phosphor is irradiated with radioactive rays so that radiographic energies corresponding to said radioactive rays are stored on the cooled photostimulable phosphor. The cooled photostimulable phosphor is stimulated with an exciting light so as to emit lights corresponding to the stored radiographic energies.

Abstract: An automated method for analyzing the photometric calibration and image quality performance characteristics of a high resolution storage phosphor reader. A custom fabricated, lead mask test target is secured to a storage phosphor and exposed using a standard medical x-ray source. A storage phosphor reader, to be calibrated, reads the exposed storage phosphor to produce a digital x-ray image. The digital x-ray image is analyzed by means of a computer algorithm which presents analytic results in text and graphical form to isolate reader problems and to quantify calibration status of the reader.

Abstract: A radiation image recording apparatus comprises a sheet housing section, which supports and houses at least a single stimulable phosphor sheet therein and which is exposed to radiation carrying image information of an object, a radiation image of the object being thereby stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet, which is housed in the sheet housing section. The sheet housing section is divided into at least three sheet housing compartments by a radiation energy distribution separating filter, which has good absorption characteristics with respect to low energy components of radiation and which is located in a direction approximately normal to the direction of travel of the radiation carrying image information of the object, and at least a single radiation transmitting member, which has good radiation transmitting characteristics and which is located parallel to the radiation energy distribution separating filter and at a position closer to the object than the radiation energy distribution separating filter is.

Abstract: In a radiation image read-out apparatus, a phosphor sheet (70), represented by the formula Gd.sub.2 O.sub.2 S:Tb.sup.3+, is located facing a stimulable phosphor sheet (10) in such a manner that when it is exposed to x-rays (44) it produces fluorescence (71) having a wavelength that fall within the stimulation wavelength range of the stimulable phosphor. When the stimulable phosphor sheet (10) is exposed to the fluorescence (71), part of the energy stored on the layer of stimulable phosphor during its exposure to the x-rays (44) is released. In this manner, the stimulable phosphor sheet (10) is approximately simultaneously subjected to the operation for recording the radiation image and the operation for slightly erasing the energy store thereon during its exposure to the x-rays (44).

Abstract: In a radiation image read-out apparatus, a stimulable phosphor sheet, which has been exposed to radiation which has passed through an object whose radiation absorptivity is basically distributed with predetermined characteristics, is exposed to stimulating rays which cause the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to the radiation. The light, which is emitted by the portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the stimulating rays, is detected with a photoelectric read-out device, and an image signal representing a radiation image of the object is thereby obtained. An optical filter is located between the stimulable phosphor sheet and the photoelectric read-out device such that the position of the optical filter corresponds to the position of the radiation image of the object stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: A computed radiography patient identification system which matches a patient with an X-ray image of the patient stored in a stimulable storage phosphor. The system includes a patient identifying bar code uniquely identifying a patient; a stimulable storage phosphor identifying bar code uniquely identifying a stimulable storage phosphor and a portable bar code scanner. The bar code scanner is used to scan the patient bar code and the storage phosphor bar code when a patient is exposed to an X-ray which is stored on the stimulable storage phosphor. Preferably, a mobile X-ray source has an associated set of bar codes identifying X-ray examination types (chest, head, limb, etc.) and/or X-ray exposure conditions. The bar code scanner scans the examination type bar code at the time the X-ray of the patient is taken. The system includes a storage phosphor reader for converting an X-ray image stored in a storage phosphor into an X-ray image signal.

Abstract: A simplified layered imaging stack capable of bearing a latent photostatic image comprising only a single segmented electrode on one side of the stack, rather than plate electrodes on each side of the stack. Appropriate sizing of the segmented electrodes enables individual electrodes to serve at different times as either the ground reference formerly provided by the electrode on the other side of the stack, or the collector of charge carriers representing the latent photostatic image. The imaging stack may be used with a variety of types of imaging systems, and in flat or cylindrical configurations.

Abstract: In energy subtraction processing, a filter for filtering out radiation having a low energy level is located between first and second recording media. Radiation, which has passed through an object, is irradiated from the side of the first recording medium such that only the radiation having a high energy level may impinge upon the second recording medium, radiation images of the object being thereby recorded on the two recording media. Image signals representing the radiation images are subtracted from each other, and an image signal representing an energy subtraction image is thereby obtained. The subtraction process is not carried out on high frequency components of the image signals representing the radiation images and is carried out only on low frequency components of the image signals such that an image signal representing an energy subtraction image having improved graininess may be obtained. A stimulable phosphor sheet is utilized as the filter for filtering out radiation having a low energy level.

Abstract: Multiple x-ray images are encoded onto a single storage phosphor screen detector for later scanning, processing, and viewing. The x-ray images are encoded using spatial frequency multiplexing onto high frequency carriers. The encoding process relies only on light with no mechanical motion. The light erases selected portions of the image data but leaves sufficient information to reconstruct the original images. The reconstruction process relies on conventional sampling theory with the additional step of solving a system of equations for the individual x-ray image information.

Abstract: A radiographical image reader for photoelectrically reading a radiographical image of an object. The image reader comprises a radioactive ray irradiator; a radiographical image converting panel which is a radioactive ray absorbent for absorbing the radioactive ray transmitted through through the object so that a radiographical image information is obtained; a scanner to scan the converting panel with exciting light so that the converting panel is subjected to stimulated emission; a reader to read the stimulated emission of the converting panel so that the radiographical image is obtained; a first memory to store at least one of a radioactive ray irradiating condition, object information, and image identification code; a second memory to store a radiographical image information; and a circuit to control the functions of the reader, the first memory, and the second memory in accordance with said irradiation of the radioactive ray by the irradiator.

Abstract: A novel fiber optic cable having a bifurcated bundle of optical fibers comprised of emitter fiber(s) and collecting fiber(s), a means for focusing light into the proximal end of the emitter fiber(s), a means for focusing light out of the distal end of the emitter fiber(s), and a means for collecting light in the distal end of the collecting fiber(s) is used to increase the sensitivity and specificity of storage phosphor imaging plate scanning. The novel fiber optic cable is used in a storage phosphor imaging plate scanner to transmit light from a light source to the phosphors on the storage phosphor imaging plate and to collect any phosphorescence induced by the light. Use of the bifurcated fiber bundle with the means for focusing light into the emitter fiber(s), focus light out of the emitter fiber(s), and collect light in the collecting fiber(s) provides a method to scan storage phosphor imaging plates with high sensitivity and specificity.