Abstract: A radiographic imaging assembly comprises a radiographic silver halide film having a film speed of at least 100 and a single fluorescent intensifying screen that has a screen speed of at least 200. This imaging assembly is particularly useful for mammography or imaging or other soft tissues.

Abstract: An element for ascertaining radiation dosage comprising: a support on which is disposed a coated layer, said coated layer comprising a binder and alanine; wherein the alanine, upon exposure to ionizing radiation, produces radicals that remain stable for long periods.

Abstract: Apparatus for radiographically imaging elongated objects comprising: a vertical main frame; a base mounted on said main frame; a first support on said base for supporting a first cassette containing a first storage phosphor imaging plate; a door hingedly mounted on said base for movement between open and closed positions; said door having a light-tight enclosure for supporting a second cassette containing a second storage phosphor imaging plate removably mounted within a cassette shell; and a first mechanism for removing said cassette shell from said second storage phosphor imaging plate which remains supported within said light-tight enclosure; such that, when said door is in said closed position, said second storage phosphor imaging plate overlaps said first storage phosphor imaging plate, whereby an elongated object can be radigraphically imaged onto said overlapping first and second storage phosphor imaging plates.

Abstract: A method of mammography imaging includes exposing a patient to a peak voltage greater than 29 kVp. The film used in this method comprises a cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer on one side of the support and a tabular grain silver halide emulsion layer on the other side. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer comprises a combination of first and second spectral sensitizing dyes that provides a combined maximum J-aggregate absorption on the cubic silver halide grains of from about 540 to about 560 nm. The first spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic benzimidazole-benzoxazole carbocyanine, the second spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic oxycarbocyanine. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer also includes a mixture of gelatin or a gelatin derivative and a second hydrophilic binder other than gelatin or a gelatin derivative. The cubic silver halide grains comprise from about 1 to about 20 mol % chloride and from about 0.25 to about 1.

Abstract: A method of mammography imaging includes exposing a patient to a peak voltage greater than 29 kVp using X-radiation generating equipment comprising rhodium or tungsten anodes. The film used in this method comprises a cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer on one side of the support and a tabular grain silver halide emulsion layer on the other side. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer comprises a combination of first and second spectral sensitizing dyes that provides a combined maximum J-aggregate absorption on the cubic silver halide grains of from about 540 to about 560 nm. The first spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic benzimidazole-benzoxazole carbocyanine, the second spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic oxycarbocyanine. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer also includes a mixture of gelatin or a gelatin derivative and a second hydrophilic binder other than gelatin or a gelatin derivative.

Abstract: A radiographic imaging assembly comprises a radiographic silver halide film having a film speed of at least 100 and a single fluorescent intensifying screen that has a screen speed of at least 200. This imaging assembly is particularly useful for mammography or imaging or other soft tissues.

Abstract: A radiographic silver halide film comprises a cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer on one side of the support and a tabular grain silver halide emulsion layer on the other side. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer comprises a combination of first and second spectral sensitizing dyes that provides a combined maximum J-aggregate absorption on the cubic silver halide grains of from about 540 to about 560 nm. The first spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic benzimidazole-benzoxazole carbocyanine, the second spectral sensitizing dye is an anionic oxycarbocyanine. The cubic grain silver halide emulsion layer also includes a mixture of gelatin or a gelatin derivative and a second hydrophilic binder other than gelatin or a gelatin derivative at a weight ratio of first to second hydrophilic binder of from about 2:1 to about 5:1. The cubic silver halide grains comprise from about 1 to about 20 mol % chloride and from about 0.25 to about 1.

Abstract: This invention provides an element comprising a wear-resistant coating wherein said coating comprises radiation-cured urethane acrylate polymers and micronized polytetrafluoroethylene particles.

Abstract: A storage phosphor cassette for use in recording radiographic images of elongated objects. The cassette includes first and second storage phosphor plates having first and second length dimensions; a shell having first and second opposite open ends; a first assembly for detachably mounting the first storage phosphor plate in the shell from the first open end; and a second assembly for detachably mounting the second storage phosphor plate in the shell from the second open end, wherein the first and second storage phosphor plates are mounted in the shell such that they form a substantially continuous storage phosphor composite for recording an elongated radiographic image. An elongated ruler is located on the inside or outside of the cassette, the ruler being x-ray translucent and opaque to produce an image of the ruler in the first and second storage phosphor plates.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A method of measuring an absorbed dose of ionizing radiation using a measuring device that bears an integral identification mark, comprising the steps of: providing a support; disposing on said support a first region capable of measuring an absorbed dose of ionizing radiation; disposing on said support a second region that bears integral identification mark; exposing at least the first region to a dose of ionizing radiation; and reading the signal from the first region.

Abstract: A dosimeter comprising: a support; at least one first region disposed on said support, the region containing amino acid and a binder; and at least one second region disposed on said support; wherein the first region is capable of measuring an absorbed dose of ionizing radiation and the second region bears an identification mark.

Abstract: An element for ascertaining radiation dosage comprising: a support on which is disposed a coated layer, said coated layer comprising a binder and alanine; wherein the alanine, upon exposure to ionizing radiation, produces radicals that remain stable for long periods.

Abstract: Apparatus for radiographically imaging elongated objects comprising: a vertical main frame; a base mounted on said main frame; a first support on said base for supporting a first cassette containing a first storage phosphor imaging plate; a door hingedly mounted on said base for movement between open and closed positions; said door having a light-tight enclosure for supporting a second cassette containing a second storage phosphor imaging plate removably mounted within a cassette shell; and a first mechanism for removing said cassette shell from said second storage phosphor imaging plate which remains supported within said light-tight enclosure; such that, when said door is in said closed position, said second storage phosphor imaging plate overlaps said first storage phosphor imaging plate, whereby an elongated object can be radigraphically imaged onto said overlapping first and second storage phosphor imaging plates.

Abstract: A radiographic phosphor panel includes a phosphor layer that transmits actinic radiation in a range that is reflected by a transparent, polymeric multi-layer reflector used as a support. The polymeric multi-layer reflector has numerous alternating layers of at least two different polymeric materials and reflects at least 50% of actinic radiation in the range of wavelengths to which the phosphor is sensitive. The use of this polymeric multi-layer reflector in the radiographic phosphor panel provides increased photographic speed when it is used in imaging assemblies with photosensitive recording materials such as radiographic silver halide films.

Abstract: A radiographic phosphor panel includes a phosphor layer that transmits actinic radiation in a range that is reflected by a transparent, polymeric multi-layer reflector used as a support. The polymeric multi-layer reflector has numerous alternating layers of at least two different polymeric materials and reflects at least 50% of actinic radiation in the range of wavelengths to which the phosphor is sensitive. The use of this polymeric multi-layer reflector in the radiographic phosphor panel provides increased photographic speed when it is used in imaging assemblies with photosensitive recording materials such as radiographic silver halide films.

Abstract: A method of forming a composite image from first and second digital images formed by recording first and second contiguous segments of a larger radiographic image in first and second overlapping storage phosphor members, exposed to a source of X-rays wherein the image content in the overlapped region is the same in both images and the end edge of the first member is present both on the first image and as a shadow edge in the second image, the method comprising: correcting for geometric distortion in the first and second digital images; determining any rotational displacement and any vertical displacement between the first and second images by matching the first member end edge in the first image to its shadow in the second image; correcting for image orientation based on any said rotational displacement; determining any horizontal displacement between the first and second images by correlating the image content in the overlapped region of the first and second images; and stitching said first and second images

Abstract: Imaging assemblies comprise thin metal screens adjacent fluorescent intensifying screens. Such assemblies can be included as part of radiographic imaging assemblies in which a radiographic film is positioned behind the metal and fluorescent intensifying screens. The metal screen is from about 0.01 to about 0.75 mm in thickness when composed of copper and from about 0.05 to about 0.40 mm when composed of lead. Photospeed and other imaging characteristics are not diminished with the use of these relatively thin metal screens.