Abstract: In a radiation image read-out system wherein a stimulable phosphor sheet carrying a radiation image stored therein is exposed to stimulating rays which cause it to emit light in proportion to radiation energy stored therein, and the emitted light is photoelectrically read out, preliminary read-out is conducted to investigate the image input information in the stimulable phosphor sheet by use of stimulating rays having a wavelength different from the wavelength of stimulating rays employed in final read-out.

Abstract: In a radiation image recording system in which a radiation image is once recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet and then read out and reproduced into a visible radiation image, a high-power light source is built in the system to erase the noise due to the previously stored radiation image and the fog in the phosphor sheet by a single erasing operation immediately before the phosphor sheet is to be used to record thereon a radiation image. The light source has an exposure amount of at least 500,000 1x.multidot.sec. and is positioned between a phosphor sheet feeding section and a section where a radiation image is recorded on the sheet. The system is also provided with a mechanism for sending the phosphor sheet from the recording section to a sheet receiver or radiation image read out and reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: In a radiation image recording system in which a radiation image is once recorded on a stimulable phosphor and then read out to reproduce a visible radiation image, at least one recording material formed of a phosphor layer and fixed on a supporting material is circulated and reused to record radiation images thereon. The system comprises a mechanism for circulating the recording material with respect to the image read-out section by repeatedly moving the supporting material and the image read-out section with respect to each other, and an erasing apparatus for eliminating the radiation energy remaining on the recording material after the read-out step. The supporting material is an endless belt, a rotatable drum or a plate, and the recording material is a continuous phosphor layer or a phosphor sheet.

Abstract: A data recording system records data on a part of a radiation image storage panel using a stimulative phosphor by exposing that part to an X-ray beam generated by an X-ray beam generator. An input device is provided for entering into the system information associated with an image to be stored in the mentioned part of the radiation image storage panel. A control unit controls the X-ray beam generator in response to the entered information so that the intensity of the X-ray beam is varied and the X-ray beam is caused to scan the mentioned part of the radiation image storage panel. The information is thus recorded in the part of the panel and will be read out therefrom in the same way as a radiation image of an object stored in the remaining part of the panel.

Abstract: An apparatus for erasing the noise due to the previously stored radiation image and the fog in a stimulable phosphor sheet used for a radiation image recording and reproducing system in which a radiation image is once recorded in the stimulable phosphor sheet and then read out and reproduced on a recording material. The apparatus erases the noise by a single erasing operation when stimulable sheets are taken up one at a time out of their reservoir and each is loaded into a cassette used for the recording of a radiation image. It comprises a high-power light source for erasing the noise, which is provided between the aperture of the reservoir from which the stimulable phosphor sheets are taken up and the section at which the sheets are loaded into the cassettes.

Abstract: A radiation image recorded in a stimulable phosphor is read out by stimulating the phosphor with a stimulating ray to have the phosphor emit light and detecting the emitted light with a photodetector. A radiation image information thus obtained is read out by a photodetector by way of a light guide member which collects the light emitted by the phosphor and guides the collected light to a photodetector. The light guide member is made of a transparent sheet having smooth surfaces for effecting total reflection. The light guide member has a linear or arcuate end to be located adjacent to a scan line of the stimulable phosphor to receive and guide the light emitted by the phosphor and an annular end to be located adjacent to the light receiving face of the photodetector. The light entering the light guide member through the flat end is guided to the annular end by repeated total reflection.

Abstract: Many two-dimensional X-ray projection distribution images obtained by exposing an object to X-rays in various directions are once stored in positions different from one another in a stimulable phosphor sheet or respectively in many stimulable phosphor sheets. The stimulable phosphor sheet or sheets are then scanned with stimulating rays, and the light emitted thereby from the stimulable phosphor sheet or sheets is photoelectrically read out to obtain electric signals representing the X-ray projection distribution images. The electric signals are processed to obtain a tomographic image of an arbitrary tomographic layer of the object.

Abstract: In an image scanning system in which a light beam is deflected by an optical deflector to effect the main scanning across a recording medium while the subscanning is effected by mechanically moving the recording medium, the optical components for scanning the light beam across the recording medium and the mechanical components for moving the recording medium in the sub-scanning direction are all mounted on a single frame. The single frame is mounted by way of a vibration insulator on an outer frame structure of the system on which means for feeding the recording medium to the scanning position and for discharging it therefrom is mounted.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for processing a radiation image in a radiation image recording system in which a stimulable phosphor is stimulated with a scanning stimulating ray and the light emitted from the stimulable phosphor upon stimulation by the stimulating ray is detected by a detector which gives an output to be processed and used for recording a visible image on a recording material. In the processing of the detected output, an operation represented by a formulaS'=Sorg+F(X)is conducted at every scanning point, where Sorg is the original image signal detected by the detector, Sus is an unsharp mask signal corresponding to a super-low spatial frequency, X is Sorg-Sus, and F(X) is a monotonically increasing function which satisfies the condition of F'(X.sub.1).gtoreq.F'(X.sub.2).gtoreq.0 for arbitrary values X.sub.1, X.sub.2 of X (.vertline.X.sub.1 .vertline.<.vertline.X.sub.2 .vertline.) and in which there exists at least one certain value X.sub.0 of X which satisfies the condition of F'(X.sub.

Abstract: In a radiation image recording system in which a stimulable phosphor plate is exposed to an imagewise radiation to store the energy of the radiation and record a latent image of a radiation image, the stimulable phosphor plate is then exposed to stimulating rays to emit light according to the stored energy of radiation, and the emitted light is detected to obtain an image signal, a radiation image read out device is provided with a gain setting device for selecting or presetting the gain of the read out system to obtain a final radiation image of desirable density and contrast. The gain setting device includes a means for taking out a part of the stimulating rays and introducing the taken out part of the stimulating rays into a photodetector. The output of the photodetector is compared with a standard signal level and the gain of the read out system is controlled to make the output equal to the standard signal level.

Abstract: In a radiation image recording system using a stimulable phosphor in which a radiation image is once recorded and then read out by use of stimulating rays impinging thereupon, the gradation of the image is processed by setting the read out level of the read out system and by setting the gain of the read out system. Among the image signal read out from the stimulable phosphor, the maximum Smax, the minimum Smin and the average S are determined. When logSmax-logSmin is less than a predetermined value, Smin is made a standard input signal. When it is more than the predetermined value, S or (logSmax+logSmin)/2 is made a standard input signal. The standard input signal is read out as a predetermined level of a standard output signal. Further, the gain of amplification in the image read out system is controlled to be .DELTA.s/(logSmax-logSmin) in the former case, and is fixed in the latter case, where .DELTA.s is a reproduced signal region.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for processing a radiographic image in a radiographic image recording system in which an image on a radiographic film is scanned and read out by a detector which gives an output to be processed and used for recording a visible image on a recording material. In the processing of the detected output, an operation represented by a formulaD'=Dorg+F(X)is conducted at every scanning point, where Dorg is the original density detected by the detector, X is Dorg-Dus, Dus is an unsharp mask density corresponding to a super-low spatial frequency, and F(X) is a monotone increasing function which satisfies the condition of F'(X.sub.1).gtoreq.F'(X.sub.2).gtoreq.0 for arbitrary values X.sub.1, X.sub.2 of X (.vertline.X.sub.1 .vertline.<.vertline.X.sub.2 .vertline.) and in which there exists at least one certain value X.sub.0 of X which satisfies the condition of F'(X.sub.1)>F'(X.sub.2) when .vertline.X.sub.1 .vertline.<.vertline.X.sub.0 .vertline.<.vertline.X.sub.2 .vertline..

Abstract: A radiation image recorded in a stimulable phosphor is read out by stimulating the phosphor with a stimulating ray to have the phosphor emit light and detecting the emitted light with a photodetector. A radiation image information thus obtained is read out by a photodetector by way of a light guide member which collects the light emitted by the phosphor and guides the collected light to a photodetector. The light guide member is made of a transparent sheet having smooth surfaces for effecting total reflection. The light guide member has a linear or arcuate end to be located adjacent to a scan line of the stimulable phosphor to receive and guide the light emitted by the phosphor and an annular end to be located adjacent to the light receiving face of the photodetector. The light entering the light guide member through the flat end is guided to the annular end by repeated total reflection.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for processing a mammogram in a mammogram copying system in which an original mammogram is scanned with a scanning light beam and the light transmitted through the mammogram is detected by a photodetector which gives an output to be processed and used for recording a visible image on a recording medium. The image gradation of the mammogram is processed. The gradation processing is characterized in that the minimum density of the glandular tissue of the mammogram is lowered down to the level of the fog density to raise the contrast of the mammogram.

Abstract: In a radiation image recording system in which a stimulable phosphor sheet is exposed to an imagewise radiation to record a latent image of a radiation image in the form of stored energy of radiation, the stimulable phosphor sheet is then exposed to stimulating rays to emit light according to the stored energy of radiation, and the emitted light is detected to obtain an image signal, light spontaneously emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon exposure to the imagewise radiation is detected. Then, image processing data such as the maximum value, the minimum value and/or the average value of the stored energy level over the entire area of the image are calculated based on the amount of the light, and is recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet or the cassette thereof. The image processing data are used for processing the image signal when recording a final image on a recording material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a radiation image in a radiation image recording system in which a stimulable phosphor is stimulated with a scanning stimulating beam and the light emitted from the stimulable phosphor upon stimulation by the stimulating beam is detected by a detector which generates an output which is processed and used for recording a visible image on a recording material. In the processing of the detected output, an operation represented by a formulaS'=Sorg+.beta. (Sorg--Sus)is conducted, where Sorg is the original image signal detected by the detector, .beta. is an emphasis coefficient, and Sus is an unsharp mask signal corresponding to a super-low spatial frequency at every scanning point. The unsharp masking process may be performed together with a gradation process, reduction of image size, smoothing process and the like. Further, the emphasis coefficient may be varied with either the original image signal Sorg or the unsharp mask signal Sus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a radiation image in a radiation image recording system in which a stimulable phosphor is stimulated with a scanning stimulating ray and the light emitted from the stimulable phosphor upon stimulation by the stimulating ray is detected by a photodetector which gives an output to be processed and used for recording a visible image on a recording medium. The radiation image of the frontal chest is gradation processed. The gradation processing is characterized in that the density at the boundary of the heart and the lungs of the image on the recording medium is lowered to lower the contrast of the heat and raise the contrast of the lungs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a frontal chest radiograph in a radiographic image copying system in which an original radiograph is scanned with a scanning light beam and the light transmitted through the radiograph is detected by a photodetector which gives an output to be processed and used for recording a visible image on a recording medium. The frontal chest radiograph is gradation processed. The gradation processing is characterized in that the density at the boundary of the heart and the lungs of the image on the recording medium is lowered to lower the contrast of the heart and raise the contrast of the lungs.

Abstract: A radiation image recorded in a stimulable phosphor is read out by stimulating the stimulable phosphor by use of stimulating rays such as visible light or infrared rays. Upon stimulated, the stimulable phosphor emits light which is detectable by a photosensor. The radiation image readout device includes a photosensor for detecting the light emitted by the phosphor, and a reflecting optical element like a mirror located between the phosphor and the photodetector for reflecting stimulating rays advancing between the phosphor and the photosensor toward the phosphor. The reflecting optical element has a very small size not to intercept the light emitted by the phosphor and detected by the photosensor as much as possible.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a radiation image in a radiation image recording system in which a stimulable phosphor is stimulated with a scanning stimulating ray and the light emitted from the stimulable phosphor upon stimulation by the stimulating ray is detected by a photodetector which gives an output to be processed and used for recording a visible image on a recording medium. The radiation image of the frontal chest is gradation processed. The gradation processing is characterized in that the density between the densities of the spine and the heart of the image on the recording medium is lowered to lower the contrast of the spine and raise the contrast of the heart and the lungs.