Abstract: A radiation image storage panel comprises at least a phosphor layer and a protective film. The protective film contains a film-forming resin, a reactive silicone, which has at least one hydroxyl group or at least one amino group at a terminal and has a number-average molecular weight falling within the range of 5,000 to 30,000, and a crosslinking agent capable of undergoing reaction with the hydroxyl group or the amino group of the reactive silicone. The reactive silicone has been crosslinked by the crosslinking agent. The film-forming resin may contain a fluorine type of resin, which is soluble in an organic solvent.

Abstract: A fiber optic switching system which includes an optical switch having a movable actuator and a light fiber coupled to the actuator which terminates at an end target surface thereof for conducting excitation light from a light source to the optical switch mechanism. A flexible film or other surface whose response is conditioned to provide at least two different fluorescent surfaces is positioned such that an end surface of the actuator abuts or is placed in close proximity to the film throughout its movement from one position to another. A detector detects light emitted from the film. The actuator is movable so as to direct excitation light from the light fiber from the one fluorescent surface of the film to another and the detector detects light emitted from the film so as to determine which fluorescent surface of the film from which light has been emitted.

Abstract: A radiation image storage panel comprises at least a substrate and a phosphor layer overlaid upon the substrate.

Abstract: A radiation image forming system utilizing a combination of a silver halide photographic material and radiographic intensifying screens is improved in its radiographic speed and sharpness of the resulting radiation image by employing a rare earth phosphor of the formula MwOwX:M′ (M is Y, La, Gd or Lu; X is a chalcogen atom or a halogen atom; M′ is a rare earth atom which activates M; and w is 2 when X is a chalcogen atom or w is 1 when X is a halogen atom), incorporating into the intensifying screen a fluorescent dye or pigment which absorbs a portion of luminescence emitted by the phosphor and then emits light in a visible region, and employing a photographic material showing a cross-over of 10% or less when it is exposed to radiation in combination with the intensifying screens.

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 radiation image information reading apparatus has a main assembly which incorporates an exposure unit, an image information reading unit, an erasing unit, and a circulatory feed system. The image information reading unit has an auxiliary scanning feed mechanism for feeding a stimulable phosphor sheet vertically in an auxiliary scanning direction, and a laser beam applying mechanism for applying a laser beam substantially horizontally to the stimulable phosphor sheet which is being fed in the auxiliary scanning direction and scanning the stimulable phosphor sheet with the laser beam in a main scanning direction. The radiation image information reading apparatus is relatively simple in structure and small in size.

Abstract: A radiation image storage panel having a rectangular shape comprises a transparent substrate and a stimulable phosphor layer over laid on a front surface side of the transparent substrate. The shape of the radiation image storage panel is asymmetric with respect to a center axis of the radiation image storage panel, which center axis extends in an antero-posterior direction of the radiation image storage panel, such that front and back surfaces of the radiation image storage panel can be clearly discriminated from each other.

Abstract: A luminescent material, such as phosphor, is radiated by energy propagated from the side of an optical fiber, causing the luminescent material to emit visible light. The luminescent material can be of a coincidentally-excited type, requiring the absorption of two wavelengths of radiation to emit visible light. In such a case, two side-emitting optical fibers can be used, with each optical fiber providing one of the needed radiation wavelengths. One embodiment of the invention involves a matrix of optical fibers forming an optical display panel made using coincidentally-excited phosphors. Side-emitting optical fibers are used to simultaneously stimulate a phosphor pixel located between the two fibers, allowing matrix addressing of each pixel individually. The optical display panel is constructed of only optical components. Another embodiment involves an optical switch with coincidentally-excited luminescent material. One radiation is provided by a side-emitting optical fiber.

Abstract: Images are formed by exposing optically transparent, optically stimulable luminescent glasses including luminescent centers and trapping centers, to patterned, ionizing radiation. The images may be read immediately, using scintillation, or may be stored in the glasses for subsequent reading using optically stimulated detrapping of stored charges.

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: A photostimulable phosphor screen comprising a photostimulable phosphor and a transparent outermost layer with a thickness, d, larger than 150 &mgr;m.

Abstract: A radiation image storage device composed of a fluorescent sheet which contains a phosphor which absorbs a radiation energy and emits a light of ultraviolet or visible region, and a radiation image storage panel having a fluorescent layer and a radiation image storage layer, in which the fluorescent layer contains a phosphor that absorbs a radiation energy and emits a light of ultraviolet or visible region, and the radiation image storage layer contains a phosphor that absorbs the light emitted by the phosphors of the fluorescent layer and the fluorescent sheet to store energy of the absorbed light and releases the stored energy in the form of a light upon irradiation with a light of visible or infrared region is favorably employed for a radiation image storing and reproducing method.

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: A method of ascertaining imaging quality in a computed radiography (CR) system includes providing a substrate having fluorescent test pattern disposed thereon. The substrate is disposed in place of the standard storage-phosphor screen and scanned as if reading out a storage screen. The detected signals form a read-out image which is then compared against the test pattern to judge image quality.

Abstract: Apparatus for reading information stored in a memory layer (15) which includes a shielding device (22), and an X-ray cassette and an X-ray table for use with the apparatus, are disclosed. The shielding device (22) serves to shield a reader device (10) from an information recording beam (25). The reader device (10) includes a receptor (12) to receive emission radiation (17) that contains an image of the information recorded in the memory layer (15). Instead of the shielding device (22), it is also possible to provide a converter (29) that serves to convert an information-recording beam (25) into converted radiation (28) that possesses less energy than the information recording beam (25).

Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet giving a high sensitivity and a high sharpness in a radiation image recording and reproducing method is composed of a stimulable phosphor-containing partition which divides the phosphor sheet along its plane into small sections, and stimulable phosphor-incorporated area which is divided with the partition and which has a reflectivity with respect to stimulating rays differing from a reflectivity with respect to the stimulating rays of the partition.

Abstract: In a radiation image storage panel having a stimulable phosphor layer of a stimulable phosphor, and a surface protective film, the surface protective film exhibits scattering with a scattering length of 5 to 80 &mgr;m observed at a main wavelength of stimulated emission from the stimulable phosphor.

Abstract: An optical fluorescent composite which controls fluorescence intensity comprises a solid layer containing fluorescent material (such as a phosphor) formed on an optically transparent base or substrate and optically coupled to a spectrally selective filter, also formed on the base or substrate, that modifies the intensity of either or both the excitation or emission spectra of the phosphor. Devices constructed in this manner serve as stable references for fluorescent measurements. Sets of such device is made with filters having different transmittance amplitudes, can characterize fluorescent measurement response over several orders of magnitude. In one of numerous alternative structure, the fluorescent layer can be formed on one substrate, the filter formed on a second substrate and the two substrates joined together.

Abstract: A dosimeter analysis system provides the capability to easily handle the radiochromic pieces of film which are commonly employed as dosimeters and make an accurate analysis of the amount of radiation received in an irradiation process. The dosimeter is constructed through use of one or more layers of a material such as paper, cardboard or non-woven material between which a piece of radiochromic film may be positioned. Through at least one of the layers, an aperture is formed which provides for the direct viewing of the radiochromic film. This dosimeter card may then be placed in a dosimeter card holder and placed in an analysis device such as a spectrophotometer. Also included on the dosimeter card may be a unique marking which provides a reference to unique information pertaining to the piece of radiochromic film employed in the dosimeter card.

Abstract: A radiation image storage panel has a phosphor layer which comprises a stimulable phosphor, and a protective film. The protective film is a coated layer containing at least 30% by weight of a fluorine-containing resin which is soluble in an organic solvent, such as a copolymer derived from a fluoroolefin and other copolymerizable monomer, polytetrafluoroethylene or a modified polytetrafluoroethylene.

Abstract: Objects are marked for identification by a luminescent label including an optically stimulable glass having trapping centers and luminescence centers. The objects are marked by exposing the luminescent label to a radiation flux to populate metastable trapping centers in the luminescent label. The labels are read by exposing the label to a second radiation flux of optical radiation, to stimulate the release of trapped charges, causing the label to luminesce. The labels may also be read without previously populating these metastable trapping centers, by stimulating prompt luminescence through exposure to a flux of UV radiation. The label is made from an optically stimulable glass, where this glass has a glass matrix with defects, where these defects may be: (i) an alkaline earth sulfide, activator Sm ions, and an additional coactivator dopant (Eu or Ce); (ii) ZnS and activator ions (Cu, Pb, Mn, Ce, Eu, Ag, Au, or Fe); or (iii) activator ions without metal sulfides.

Abstract: A cassette in which a radiographic image converting plate is accommodated, comprises a case having an opening; a tray on which the radiographic image converting plate is loaded; and a cap capable of being fitted with the opening, the cap connected with the tray so that the tray is moved together with the cap so as to be inserted into or drawn out from the case through the opening, the position of the cap capable of being displaced relative to the tray.

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.