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 method for reading a radiation image that has been stored in a photostimulable phosphor screen. The phosphor screen includes a divalent europium activated cesium halide phosphor wherein the halide is at least one of chloride and bromide. Light emitted by the phosphor screen upon stimulation is separated from stimulation light using a filter including a dye.

Abstract: A radiation image detector wherein a photostimulable phosphor screen, a source of stimulating light and an array of transducer elements are enclosed within an enclosure that is hermetically closed against humidity. In one embodiment the enclosure is flushed with an inert gas such as N2 gas.

Abstract: A device built-in in a housing and capable to determine a pressure force in a quantitative way has been provided, the device including a storage phosphor panel or plate having storage phosphors essentially having tribostimulable properties, thereby providing energy conversion of the phosphors by means of pressure force or pressure energy to be determined. The method of measuring the pressure energy has also been described.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a dose of penetrating radiation absorbed by an object, including the steps of providing the object with a device for absorbing penetrating radiation, including a storage phosphor for storing energy from the penetrating radiation; at predetermined intervals, coupling the storage phosphor to a source of stimulation light in such a way that the stimulation light impinges on the phosphor; activating the source of stimulation light so as to cause the storage phosphor to emit an amount of fluorescent light in proportion to an amount of stored energy; reading the amount of fluorescent light and converting it into an electric signal value; storing electric signal value(s) obtained at the predetermined intervals and processing them so as to evaluate a total amount of radiation absorbed by the object; comparing the total amount with a predefined threshold value for obtaining a difference value; and displaying the difference value on a decentralized display.

Abstract: A method has been provided of image formation, dosimetry or personal monitoring wherein said method comprises the steps of (a) storing energy in stimulable phosphors coated in one or more layers of said screen or panel; (b) converting said energy to emission energy and (c) detecting said energy, characterized in that said converting step proceeds by means of a source of pressure energy.

Abstract: A method for recording and reproducing a radiation image including the steps of (1) causing a radiation image storage panel containing a photostimulable phosphor to absorb penetrating radiation having passed through an object or having been radiated from an object, (2) exposing the image storage panel to stimulating rays to release the radiation energy stored therein as light emission and (3) detecting the emitted light, wherein the stimulating rays are emitted by an electroliuminescent element.

Abstract: A device (1) and a method for reading information stored in a phosphor layer (10) is disclosed. The device (1) includes a transparent carrier material (9) on which the phosphor layer (10) to be read is disposed. A radiation source (2) emits an excitation radiation (20) to excite the phosphor layer (10), which in turn emits an emission radiation (26). The emission radiation (26) can be received by a receiver (3). The radiation source (2) is arranged on one side of the transparent carrier material (9), whereas the receiver (3) is arranged on the other side of the transparent carrier material (9), thereby defining an optical path between the radiation source (2) and the receiver (3). According to the invention, a reflective layer (21, 22; 30, 31, 32) for reflecting at least a portion of the excitation radiation (20) is arranged in the optical path.

Abstract: A glass ceramic material for storing energy of X-rays and releasing said energy by photo-stimulation comprising a fluoride glass matrix containing micro-crystalline particles, said particles having an average particle size, d, so that d<2 &mgr;m and said glass ceramic shows in a XRD spectrum a continuous spectrum of said glass matrix and discrete peaks superimposed on said continuous spectrum. Said glass matrix contains preferably zirconium ions and ions selected from the group consisting of alkali ions and alkaline earth ions, at least 5 mole % of the fluoride ions is replaced by bromide and/or chloride ions and at least 0.01 mole % of cations selected from the group consisting of transition metal ions, rare earth metal ions, In+, Ga+, Tl+, and Pb2+ is present.

Abstract: Storage phosphors comprising an activated garnet host comprising oxygen and combined elements satisfying the relationship Ln3+&dgr;M5−&dgr;:cQ wherein Ln is an element selected from the group consisting of Gd, La, Lu, Y and combinations thereof; M is an element selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, Sc, Fe and combinations thereof; Q is selected from the group consisting of terbium, samarium, thallium, indium, europium, ytterbium and combinations thereof; &dgr; is greater lo than or equal to minus 0.5, but less than or equal to 0.5 (i.e., −0.5≦&dgr;≦0.5); and c is an amount sufficient to produce a phosphor that exhibits a higher luminescence emission intensity than said phosphor absent Q when, after first being exposed to penetrating radiaton, the phosphor is stimulated by light of a wavelength ranging from 600 to 1200 nm or thermally.

Abstract: A radiography system is disclosed of the type having means for irradiation of an object in order to form an image of the said object or in order to detect irradiation of said object, said radiography system comprising a sensor having an exposure response function, wherein the sensor is in form of a stimulable storage phosphor plate, comprising stimulable storage phosphors, preferably having a dark-decay of more than 24 hours, wherein energy of stimulation radiation is higher than energy of emission radiation upon stimulation of said storage phosphors.

Abstract: Method for readout of a radiation image stored in a stored energy releasing phosphor comprising the steps of:

Abstract: Method to determine in a quantitative way stored amounts of radiation energy making use therefor from a personal monitor storing absorbed incident radiation energy in a storage phosphor panel storing radiation energy originating from radiation having a wavelength of 350 nm or less, wherein the panel is covered with an optical filter absorbing radiation having a wavelength of 350 nm or more during exposure and present in a housing, and from an apparatus for readout of the storage phosphor panel by the steps of entering the personal monitor in a read-out apparatus, removing optical filter covering the storage phosphor panel, adding stimulating energy to the storage phosphor panel, digitally detecting energy released from the storage phosphor panel by a detector and erasing stored rest energy.

Abstract: A binderless storage phosphor screen with needle shaped crystals, wherein the phosphor is an alkalihalide phosphor and the needles show high [100] unit cell orientation in the plane of the screen.

Abstract: An elpasolite phosphor is provided corresponding to the general formula: A2−yB1+yMe3+X6:xD wherein: A=a monovalent ion B=a monovalent ion A is different from B Me3+=a trivalent ion D is a dopant X is at least one of F, Cl, Br and I 0≦y≦1 0≦x≦0.2 and wherein said phosphor has a specific gravity (sg)≧4. An elpasolite phosphor corresponding to the general formula above is especially useful in the production of prompt emitting X-ray screens and in the production of X-ray energy storage screens.

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 method for checking whether an article has been inspected by penetrating radiation is described, wherein the article is provided with a heat stimulable storage phosphor whereby penetrating radiation leaves a human- or machine-readable semi-permanent or permanent mark. The article is irradiated in order that both the article and the stimulable storage phosphor are irradiated. The article is checked by heating the storage phosphor, releasing flourescent light and detecting the flourescent light by human eye.

Abstract: There is provided a photostimulable phosphor according to formula (I)Ba.sub.1-x-y-p-3q-z Sr.sub.x M.sub.y.sup.2+ M.sub.2p.sup.1+ M.sub.2q.sup.3+ F.sub.2-a-b Br.sub.a I.sub.b :zEuwherein:M.sup.1+ is at least one alkali metal selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs;M.sup.2+ is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ca Mg and Pb;M.sup.3+ is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga, In, Tl, Sb, Bi, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu;0<x.ltoreq.0.30, 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.10, 0.ltoreq.p.ltoreq.0.3, 0.ltoreq.q.ltoreq.0.1, 0.05.ltoreq.a.ltoreq.0.76, 0.20.ltoreq.b.ltoreq.0.90, a+b<1.00 and 10.sup.-6 .ltoreq.z.ltoreq.0.2.

Abstract: A method of obtaining an electrical representation of a radiation image by means of at least one CCD sensor. A stimulable phosphor plate, the area of which is divided into at least two different portions, is exposed to a radiation image. Each of the portions is stimulated by light guided from a light source, the light having a wavelength within the stimulating wavelength range of the phosphor on the plate and causing the phosphor plate to emit stimulated light. The stimulated light from each phosphor plate portion is guided to at least one two-dimensional CCD sensor kept in a static position relative to the phosphor plate portion, such that the CCD detects the stimulated light. The detected stimulated light is converted into an electrical representation of the plate portion, and the electrical representation of each of the different plate portions is combined to form an electrical representation of the radiation image.