Patents Represented by Attorney J. Lanny Tucker
  • Patent number: 6689547
    Abstract: A photothermographic material that comprises a support having thereon one or more thermally-developable imaging layers comprising a binder and in reactive association, a photosensitive silver halide, a non-photosensitive source of reducible silver ions, and a reducing composition for the non-photosensitive source reducible silver ions. The thermally-developable layers further comprises one or more radiation absorbing compounds that provide a total absorbance of greater than 0.6 and up to and including 3 in the thermally-developable imaging layer(s). These photothermographic materials exhibit reduced mottle without significant loss in sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Bryan V. Hunt, Steven H. Kong, William D. Ramsden, Gary E. Labelle
  • Patent number: 6689546
    Abstract: Thermally developable materials that comprise a support have at least two backside layers. One of these layers can be a protective layer comprising a film-forming polymer. The materials also includes a non-imaging backside conductive layer comprising non-acicular metal antimonate particles in a mixture of two or more polymers that includes a first polymer serving to promote adhesion of the backside conductive layer directly to the support or other layers, and a second polymer that is different than and forms a single phase mixture with the first polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Gary E. LaBelle, Kumars Sakizadeh, Thomas J. Ludemann, Aparna V. Bhave, Oanh V. Pham
  • Patent number: 6686119
    Abstract: A blue-sensitive, radiographic silver halide film comprises a silver halide emulsion layer comprising predominantly tabular silver halide grains that have an aspect ratio of from 8 to 14.5, a grain thickness of from about 0.15 to about 0.3 &mgr;m, and comprise at least 90 mol % bromide and up to 6 mol % iodide, based on total silver halide. The tabular silver halide grains are dispersed in a hydrophilic polymeric vehicle mixture comprising at least 0.5% of oxidized gelatin, based on the total dry weight of the polymeric vehicle mixture in the emulsion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark P. Pavlik, Joseph P. Pepe, Susan K. Mroczek
  • Patent number: 6686118
    Abstract: A blue-sensitive, radiographic silver halide film comprises a silver halide emulsion layer comprising predominantly tabular silver halide grains that have an aspect ratio of at least 15, a grain thickness of at least 0.1 &mgr;m, and comprise at least 90 mol % bromide and up to 4 mol % iodide, based on total silver halide. Substantially all of the iodide is present in an internal localized portion of the tabular silver halide grains that excludes the surface of the grains. The tabular silver halide grains are dispersed in a hydrophilic polymeric vehicle mixture comprising at least 0.5% of oxidized gelatin, based on the total dry weight of the polymeric vehicle mixture in the emulsion layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Richard F. Davis, Robert E. Dickerson, Susan K. Mroczek
  • Patent number: 6686117
    Abstract: A radiographic silver halide film has reduced yellow dye stain by including a blend of tabular silver halide grains in the emulsion layers. The blend of grains includes blue-sensitive tabular silver halide grains that have an aspect ratio of at least 15, a grain thickness of at least 0.1 &mgr;m, and comprise at least 90 mol % bromide and up to 4 mol % iodide, based on total silver halide. Substantially all of the iodide is present in an internal localized portion of the tabular silver halide grains that excludes the surface of the grains. The blend also includes green-sensitive tabular silver halide grains that have an aspect ratio of at least 20, a grain thickness of at least 0.07 &mgr;m, and comprise at least 90 mol % bromide, up to 1.5 mol % chloride, and up to 1.5 mol % iodide, based on total silver halide. The molar ratio of silver in the blue-sensitive silver halide grains to the silver in the green-sensitive silver halide grains is from about 2:1 to about 6:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, Richard F. Davis
  • Patent number: 6686115
    Abstract: A blue-sensitive, radiographic silver halide film comprises a silver halide emulsion layer comprising predominantly tabular silver halide grains that have an aspect ratio of at least 15, a grain thickness of at least 0.1 &mgr;M, and comprise at least 90 mol % bromide and from about 0.5 to about 2.75 mol % iodide, based on total silver halide. Substantially all of the iodide is present in an internal localized portion of the tabular silver halide grains that excludes the surface of the grains. The tabular silver halide grains are dispersed in a hydrophilic polymeric vehicle mixture comprising at least 0.5% of oxidized gelatin, based on the total dry weight of the polymeric vehicle mixture in the emulsion layer. In addition, the tabular grain emulsion includes a mercapto-substituted benzothiazole, benzoxazole, or benzimidazole to provide desired image tone and processability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, Richard F. Davis, Susan K. Mroczek
  • Patent number: 6686135
    Abstract: A black-and-white photographic developing composition or developing kit includes an ascorbic acid developing agent and is essentially free of hydroquinone and similar developing agents. The developing composition further includes a water-miscible hydroxy-containing organic solvent having a molecular weight of from about 50 to about 200. The weight ratio of the organic solvent to water is from about 0.1:1 to about 8:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Paul A. Schwartz, Susan M. Flavin
  • Patent number: 6686116
    Abstract: A blue-sensitive radiographic silver halide film comprises a silver halide emulsion layer comprising predominantly tabular silver halide grains that have an aspect ratio of at least 15, a grain thickness of at least 0.1 &mgr;m, and comprise at least 90 mol % bromide and up to 4 mol % iodide, based on total silver halide. Substantially all of the iodide is present in an internal localized portion of the tabular silver halide grains that excludes the surface of the grains. The tabular silver halide grains are dispersed in a hydrophilic polymeric vehicle mixture comprising at least 0.5% of oxidized gelatin, based on the total dry weight of the polymeric vehicle mixture in the emulsion layer. The tabular silver halide grains are spectrally sensitized using a combination of spectral sensitizing dyes to provide increased speed and reduced dye stain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, Anthony Adin, Stephen A. Hershey, Richard F. Davis
  • Patent number: 6682868
    Abstract: An imaging assembly includes a blue-sensitive, radiographic silver halide film comprises a silver halide emulsion layer comprising predominantly tabular silver halide grains that have an aspect ratio of at least 15, a grain thickness of at least 0.1 &mgr;m, and comprise at least 90 mol % bromide and up to 4 mol % iodide, based on total silver halide. The tabular silver halide grains are dispersed in a hydrophilic polymeric vehicle mixture comprising at least 0.5% of oxidized gelatin. The film is used in combination with one or more intensifying screens that absorb X-radiation and emit radiation having a wavelength of from about 300 to about 500 nm. In many embodiments, the intensifying screens include a “blue-light” emitting alkaline earth fluorohalide phosphor dispersed in a binder on a support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, Richard F. Davis, David J. Steklenski
  • Patent number: 6680154
    Abstract: An asymmetric radiographic silver halide film has two cubic grain silver halide emulsion layers on the frontside and a tabular grain silver halide emulsion layer on the backside. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer closer to the support also includes a crossover control agent to reduce crossover to the backside to less than 10% and is thinner than the outermost cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer. The backside of the support also includes an antihalation layer. These films are useful for imaging soft tissue as in mammography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Robert E. Dickerson
  • Patent number: 6673507
    Abstract: A radiographic silver halide film has improved processability because it includes a silver halide emulsion composed of cubic grains having a critical molar ratio of chloride, iodide, and bromide. In particular, the cubic grains comprise from about 1 to about 20 mol % of chloride and from about 0.25 to about 1.5 mol % of iodide, with the remainder being bromide. The cubic grains also have an ECD of from about 0.65 to about 0.8 &mgr;m. This film is particularly useful in mammography for imaging dense soft tissue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dickerson, Anthony Adin, Richard E. Beal, Anthony D. Gingello
  • Patent number: 6673528
    Abstract: A black-and-white photographic developing composition has improved stability and is more compatible with the environment when discarded. The composition includes one or more ascorbic acid developing agents and is essentially free of hydroquinone and similar developing agents. It comprises a mono- or disaccharide such as ribose, fructose, lactose, glucose or galactose as a stabilizing agent for the developing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Shirleyanne E. Haye, Janet M. Huston, Jacques Roussilhe
  • Patent number: 6667148
    Abstract: Thermally developable materials include an imaging layer containing a non-photosensitive source of reducible silver ions. Disposed over the imaging layer is a barrier layer that comprises inorganic filler particles that are intercalated or exfoliated with a hydrophilic or water-dispersible polymer. The particles have a length to thickness ratio of from about 10 to about 1000. The barrier layer can prevent migration of diffusible imaging components and by-products resulting from high temperature imaging and/or development. These thermally developable materials include both thermographic and photothermographic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: YuanQiao Rao, Jon A. Hammerschmidt, Charles L. Bauer, Robert J. Kress, Anne M. Miller
  • Patent number: 6664036
    Abstract: An aqueous, homogeneous, single-part color developing concentrate comprises a color developing agent in free base form and an N,N-dialkyl- or N,N-diarylhydroxylamine antioxidant that has at least one solubilizing substituent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas E. Lowe, Terrence R. O'Toole, Charles M. Darmon, Michael P. Youngblood
  • Patent number: 6660461
    Abstract: An amplified color developing composition is stabilized with a cyclicaminomethanediphosphonic acid or salt thereof alone of in combination with other stabilizing compounds. This composition also comprises a color developing agent, a redox oxidizing agent (such as hydrogen peroxide), and a hydroxylamine antioxidant for the color developing agent. The amplified color developing composition can be formulated using a two- or three-part processing kit. The composition can be used to provide images in various color photographic silver halide materials such as color photographic papers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Shirleyanne E. Haye, Janet M. Huston, Richard R. Horn, Anthony Jarkowski
  • Patent number: 6660449
    Abstract: An imaging member, such as a negative-working printing plate or on-press cylinder, comprises latex polymer-carbon black composite particles. Such imaging members can be prepared with a hydrophilic imaging layer comprised of a heat-sensitive hydrophilic polymer having ionic moieties and the latex polymer-carbon black composite particles as a photothermal conversion material. The latex polymer-carbon black composite particles can be formulated in water or water-miscible solvents without agglomeration with other components such as charged polymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Shiying Zheng, Xiaoru Wang, Jeffrey W. Leon, Edward Schofield
  • Patent number: 6652996
    Abstract: A radiographic phosphor panel exhibits provides increased photospeed and image sharpness in exposed radiographic films. This panel includes a phosphor layer that transmits actinic radiation in a range that is reflected by a transparent, polymeric multi-layer reflector used as part of a support. This polymeric multi-layer reflector exhibits a different level of reflectance of light depending upon the angle of light incidence that is greater than 0 and up to and including 90 degrees. On the opposing surface of the reflector is a light absorbing substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David J. Steklenski, Peter T. Aylward
  • Patent number: 6645709
    Abstract: Concentrated and working strength photographic color developing compositions are stabilized with the inclusion of two specific types of calcium ion sequestering agents. One of the sequestering agents is a polyelectrolyte such as a polycarboxylic acid or salt thereof having a molecular weight of from about 2000 to about 100,000. The other one is a non-polymeric aminocarboxylic acid, polyphosphonic acid, or a salt thereof. The weight ratio of the first calcium ion sequestering agent to the second calcium ion sequestering agent is from about 1:1 to about 20:1. These compositions can be used to process color photographic materials such as color photographic papers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Shirleyanne E. Haye, Janet M. Huston
  • Patent number: 6645706
    Abstract: Thermally developable materials include a reducing agent composition that can reduce silver ions and provide high contrast images. The reducing agent composition includes a) a hindered phenol reducing agent, an aromatic di- or tri-hydroxy compound, or mixtures thereof, and b) a thermally-releasable p-phenylenediamine co-developer that is represented by the following Structure I: R—NH-BLOCK  (I) wherein R—NH— is a p-phenylenediamine group and BLOCK is a blocking group that is cleaved upon exposure to at least 120° C. for at least 5 seconds and comprises one or more of the following thermally cleavable groups: —CONH—, —COO—, —CONHSO2—, —PO3—, —SO2—, —COCH2NHCO—, or —COS—, and BLOCK is directly linked to R—NH— through one of the thermally cleavable groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Sharon M. Simpson, Takuzo Ishida
  • Patent number: 6635601
    Abstract: A thermally imageable element can be imaged using heat alone without the need for photosensitivity or post-imaging processing. The element contains image-forming chemistry that comprises i) image precursor chemistry and ii) a catalyst or a catalyst precursor that upon imagewise heating is capable of promoting thermally induced image formation with the image precursor chemistry. The image-forming chemistry i) and ii) components are in reactive association and uniformly dispersed or dissolved within a binder in one or more layers of the element. Thus, the element is capable of being thermally addressed to provide a visible image as a result of thermally induced catalytic transformation of the image-forming chemistry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark Lelental, Henry J. Gysling, David F. Jennings