Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, is scanned with stimulating rays at predetermined read-out pitches in a main scanning direction and in a sub-scanning direction. Light emitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the stimulating rays is photoelectrically detected, and an image representing the radiation image is thereby obtained. The read-out pitch in the sub-scanning direction is set at a value falling within the range of approximately 20 .mu.m to approximately 30 .mu.m. A quick read-out device is provided which sets the read-out pitch in the main scanning direction at a value, that falls within the range of approximately 20 .mu.m to approximately 30 .mu.m, in accordance with the read-out pitch in the sub-scanning direction. The stimulable phosphor sheet is provided with a transparent protective layer having a thickness of at most 5 .mu.m and a stimulable phosphor layer having a thickness falling within the range of 10 .mu.m to 150 .mu.

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: An optical scanning image reader and an optical scanning image recorder are disclosed. The image reader is provided with a light source for emitting an optical beam that scans a recording material on which an image is recorded, a photodetector for reading an image by photoelectrically detecting light that has a wavelength differing from that of the optical beam and is emitted from the recording material as a result of the scanning of the recording material, and a photochromic material which increases transmissivity upon exposure to the optical beam but decreasing the transmissivity upon exposure to the emitted light. The photochromic material is positioned in proximity to, or in close contact with, the recording material, and the photodetector is positioned so as to receive the emitted light through the photochromic material.

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause it to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation. The light, which is emitted from the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and the light, which is emitted from the back surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet, are respectively detected. An image readout from the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet and an image readout from the back surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet are thus carried out independently of each other, two image signals being thereby obtained. An abnormal state in the image readout from each of the front and back surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet is detected.

Abstract: A system is provided for reading an image stored on a storage layer radiation screen. The system includes a carousel for holding a storage layer radiation screen and a screen scanning system. The screen scanning system includes a carousel mount on which the carousel may be mounted and a rotation mechanism for rotating the carousel mount, rotation of the carousel mount serving to rotate the carousel about a rotational axis which, in turn, causes the screens held on the carousel to move in a circular path about the rotational axis. The carousel is preferably removable from the carousel mount. The screen scanning system also includes an image acquisition optical system positioned adjacent the circular path of the screen, the image acquisition optical system including an excitation system for focusing an excitation beam on a portion of the screen to cause a light emission, and an emission collecting system for collecting the light emitted from the screen.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for reading an image from a stimulable phosphor sheet (1) carrying a radiation image thereon. The apparatus comprises exposing means (2) for exposing the sheet (1) to scanning stimulating radiation which causes the sheet (1) to emit light in the pattern of the stored image, the stimulating radiation being deflected into the trace direction by means of galvanometric deflection. Detecting means (13) photo-electrically detect the emitted light. Erasing means (22) progressively exposes the sheet (1) to erasing radiation during the retrace steps of the galvanometric deflection to erase any residual image on the sheet (1) to enable subsequent re-use thereof by exposure of the sheet (1) to erasing radiation.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus includes cassette support devices for releasably supporting at least two cassettes, each of which can house a single stimulable phosphor sheet therein. A read-out unit moves between at least two read-out positions, each of which corresponds to one of the cassettes supported by the cassette support devices, and at each of which a radiation image is read out from a stimulable phosphor sheet taken out of each cassette. An erasing device is located so as to correspond to each read-out position. A sheet conveyance system takes a stimulable phosphor sheet out of each cassette, conveys the stimulable phosphor sheet into the read-out unit and the erasing device, and then returns the stimulable phosphor sheet into the cassette. The waiting period of the read-out unit and the waiting period of the erasing device are kept short, and the cycle time for the image read-out and erasing operations is thereby kept short as a whole.

Abstract: A compact, movable scan head having multiple scanning modalities and capable of high speed, high resolution scanning of a variety of samples is disclosed. Stimulation and detection of storage phosphor screens and fluorescent samples are preferably achieved with a first and second channel in the optical path of the first side of the scan head. This first side preferably has a laser diode light source. Reading of reflective and transmissive signals is also possible. A third channel is available in the optical path of the second side of the scan head. This third channel preferably provides LED point scanning and reading of fluorescence, reflective, and transmissive signals received from the sample. The various modalities of the scan head of the present invention may or may not have coincident optical paths. Any two of the above channels, or additional channels similar to the above channels, may be incorporated into the scan head.

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet comprises a stimulable phosphor layer, and a colored layer, which is located on one side of the stimulable phosphor layer and contains a coloring agent. The coloring agent is capable of selectively absorbing stimulating rays, The stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned with the stimulating rays from the side opposite to the colored layer. The light, which is emitted by the two surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet during its scanning with the stimulating rays, is photoelectrically detected from the two surfaces of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and an image signal representing the radiation image is thereby obtained. The sharpness of an image reproduced from the image signal is thereby efficiently kept high. A second embodiment provides an optical layer on a stimulable phosphor sheet, wherein the optical layer transmits only light which is incident from a direction substantially normal to the surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, is exposed to stimulating rays, which cause it to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, and the emitted light is detected by a photodetector. A stimulating ray source for producing the stimulating rays comprises a laser diode, which produces a laser beam having a wavelength .lambda.1, a solid laser crystal, which is pumped by the laser beam having been produced by the laser diode and thereby produces a laser beam having a wavelength .lambda.2, and a nonlinear optical crystal for converting the laser beam having the wavelength .lambda.2 into a laser beam having a wavelength .lambda.3, which falls within a stimulation wavelength range for the stimulable phosphor sheet. A first filter is located in an optical path between the stimulable phosphor sheet and the photodetector. The first filter filters out the laser beam having the wavelength .lambda.

Abstract: A photo detecting apparatus comprises a photodetector for detecting light emitted or reflected by a scanning surface scanned with a light beam in main scanning and sub-scanning directions, and a light guide member, which has a light input end face extending along a main scanning line and propagates the emitted or reflected light to a light receiving face of the photodetector. When a point on the scanning surface, which point is being scanned with the light beam, is represented by O in a side view state taken from the main scanning direction, and an arbitrary point of incidence of the emitted or reflected light upon the light input end face is represented by A in the side view state, conditions .alpha./2.gtoreq..beta. and .theta..gtoreq.15.degree. are satisfied, where .alpha. represents the angle made between a line OA and the scanning surface, .beta.

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: A digital X-ray apparatus forms a latent image of an object on a photostimulable phosphor plate as an energy distribution pattern using X-ray energy and reads the latent image using an excitation light beam. A plate, of a material which does not transmit the excitation light beam, has holes formed therein with photostimulable phosphor positioned in the holes, the photostimulable phosphor emitting a fluorescent light when irradiated by the excitation light beam, the emitted light beam gathered and a corresponding signal produced. The excitation light beam reflected from the photostimulable phosphor plate is also gathered and a signal responsive thereto also is produced. A method of production by stacking and bonding plural metal sheets having appropriate patterns of holes therein with the photostimulable phosphor and a transparent protection film layer thereon provides the structure of the photostimulable phosphor plate.

Abstract: In a known method for radiographic imaging, a phosphor sheet capable of stimulation with radiation and carrying stored thereon an image pattern obtained e.g. by an X-ray exposure through a patient's body, is exposed to stimulating radiation, such as a laser beam, which causes the sheet to emit light in the pattern of the stored image and the emitted light is read-out photoelectrically. The stimulating radiation is applied to the sheet as a beam which is caused to scan the sheet linewise as the sheet undergoes relative movement in one direction with respect to the beam by means of galvanometric deflection which deflects the beam in one direction in a scanning step and then in the opposite direction in a retracing step to return the beam for the next scanning step.In the invention, the sheet is exposed to the beam at a significantly lower intensity level to cause the sheet to emit low level light corresponding to the image pattern.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus which comprises an optical system for exposing a stimulable phosphor plate (1) which contains a latent radiation image to a stimulating beam, and a light collector (3) for directing the stimulated light generated in the phosphor plate (1) to a photodetector (4), for example, a photomultiplier tube. Such read-out apparatuses often have the disadvantage that sufficient light cannot be collected into the photodetector. This problem has been solved by using a shiny mirror tube as the light collector.

Abstract: An area detection device for use with X-ray or ultraviolet radiation wherein light from an integrating device is passed through an optical fiber to fall on a phosphor-containing film which is capable of storing a diffraction pattern formed by the transmission of X-rays or ultraviolet radiation through a sample when the diffraction pattern is projected onto the film and also being capable of fluorescing in correspondence to the diffraction pattern. Fluoresced light from the film is directed back along the fiber and into the integrating device and is fed from the integrating device to a photomultiplier which sends a signal from which the diffraction pattern can be detected.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a device for holding a stimulable phosphor sheet along a cylindrical surface, an optical element for transmitting one of stimulating rays and light emitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet and reflecting the other thereof, and a spinner, which is provided with a deflection mirror and a condensing lens. The deflection mirror reflects the stimulating rays coming from the optical element toward the stimulable phosphor sheet. The condensing lens is located in the optical path of the stimulating rays having been reflected by the deflection mirror and converges the stimulating rays on the stimulable phosphor sheet. The condensing lens also converges the emitted light at a predetermined converging position. The deflection mirror and the condensing lens are rotated together to scan the stimulating rays on the stimulable phosphor sheet in a main scanning direction. The stimulable phosphor sheet is moved in a sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: In an image scanning apparatus, a recording material is scanned with a laser beam having been produced by a semiconductor laser which oscillates in a single longitudinal mode at any given time such that an image having been recorded on the recording material may be read out therefrom or such that an image may be recorded on the recording material. A single picture element read-out period or a single picture element recording period is defined in accordance with a predetermined picture element clock pulse. A radio-frequency current is superimposed upon a drive current for the semiconductor laser. The radio-frequency current has a frequency, which is higher than the reciprocal of the single picture element read-out period or the reciprocal of the single picture element recording period and which falls within a frequency range that does not cause the semiconductor laser to simultaneously oscillate in multiple longitudinal modes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to new phosphors for use in panels, apparatus and methods for recording and reproducing a high energy radiation image, including the steps of stimulating a phosphor image-wise exposed to radiation and detecting the fluorescent light emitted by said phosphor upon stimulation, said phosphor being a green emitting terbium activated alkali metal tantalate, doped with at least one element selected in the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Ge, Pb, Bi, transition elements and lanthanides.

Abstract: A photostimulable storage phosphor within the scope of following formula (I):M.sub.3 (PO.sub.4).sub.2 :xEu.sup.2+, yT.sup.3+, zZr.sup.4+wherein: M is at least one of the alkaline earth metals selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr and Ba, x corresponds with an atom fraction value 5.times.10.sup.-5 .ltoreq..times..ltoreq.10.sup.-1, y corresponds with an atom fraction value 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.10.sup.-1, T.sup.3+ is at least one member selected from the group consisting of La.sup.3+, Lu.sup.3+, y.sup.3+ and Gd.sup.3+, z corresponds with an atom fraction value 0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.10.sup.-1, and 5.times.10.sup.-5 .ltoreq.z+y.ltoreq.10.sup.-1.

Abstract: Laser imaging apparatus includes a laser which produces a laser beam. An image media is scanned with a laser beam in a raster pattern to produce a scanned image. A photodetector converts the scanned image into an image signal. An amplifier amplifies the image signal and has varying gain. A control circuit controls the laser beam scanning device to scan image media of different sizes with laser beam raster patterns of different sizes. The control circuit includes detectors for detecting the size of the image media. The control circuit varies the gain of the amplifier as a function of the detected size of the scanned image media.