With Optically-stimulated Phosphor Patents (Class 250/484.4)
  • Patent number: 6744056
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a radiation image conversion panel, in which a stimulable phosphor-containing coating solution that contains at least a stimulable phosphor and a binder is appiled to a support such that a film thickness of the coated stimulable phosphor-containing coating solution is uniform and is 100 &mgr;m or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6740897
    Abstract: In a radiation image storage panel composed of a support sheet and a phosphor layer formed on a surface of the support sheet by vapor-accumulating method, the phosphor layer is composed of prismatic crystals of phosphor aligned in the same direction, and each of the crystals has a convex surface at one end. The radiation image storage panel is favorably employed in combination with a line sensor in a radiation image recording and reproducing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Hosoi
  • Patent number: 6734441
    Abstract: A computed radiography cassette comprising: a shell including upper and lower panels joined to first and second side members and a front end member to form a five sided cavity having an open end; a storage phosphor assembly including a back end member, an insert plate having an upper face and being cantilevered from said back end member, and an x-ray storage phosphor disposed on said upper face of said insert plate, wherein said storage phosphor assembly is removably contained in said shell such that said back end member closes off said open end of said shell; wherein said upper panel is of x-ray transmissive material; and wherein said insert plate and said lower panel are made of x-ray opaque material having aligned sections thereof of x-ray transmissive material which allow x-rays to pass through said sections to an x-ray detector adapted to be located adjacent to said cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: William C. Wendlandt
  • Patent number: 6730919
    Abstract: A radiation image conversion panel comprising a phosphor sheet having a support and a stimulable phosphor layer provided on the support and a protective film covering the stimulable phosphor layer, wherein a transmittance of the protective film for stimulating light is not larger than 97% and a haze ration of the protective film is within the range of 5% to 60%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Takehiko Shoji, Satoshi Honda
  • Publication number: 20040075062
    Abstract: The stimulable phosphor sheet has a stimulable phosphor layer formed by a vacuum film forming technique. The stimulable phosphor layer contains a europium-activated cesium bromide based stimulable phosphor as a main ingredient. A maximum intensity of emission that is generated in a wavelength range of 490-510 nm when the stimulable phosphor layer is exposed to electron beams is lower than a maximum intensity of the emission generated in a wavelength range of 440-460 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Kashiwaya, Junji Nakada, Yasuo Iwabuchi
  • Publication number: 20040069955
    Abstract: A radiographic image conversion panel including a support; and at least one photostimulable phosphor layer provided on the support. The layer has a film thickness of 50 &mgr;m to 1 mm, and has not less than two luminescence wavelength peaks between 350 nm and 450 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Akihiro Maezawa, Noriyuki Mishina
  • Publication number: 20040061093
    Abstract: An europium activated cesium bromide phosphor having the formula of CsBr:xEu [0<x≦0.2], in which a relationship between an emission intensity (IE) of Eu2+ and a coloring intensity (IF) at F(Br−) center satisfies the condition of 0.2≦IE×IF, and/or in which a ratio of Eu2+ to Eu3+ contained in the phosphor in terms of emission intensity satisfies the condition of 5×10−5≦Eu3+/Eu2+≦0.1 gives an increased stimulated emission amount and is favorably employed for producing a radiation image storage sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Applicant: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuo Iwabuchi, Yuji Isoda
  • Patent number: 6713776
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20040056209
    Abstract: A radiation image converting panel comprising a support having thereon a stimulable phosphor layer comprising a polymer and a stimulable phoshor produced by sublimation of a CsBr:Eu precursor, the stimulable phosphor layer having a thickness of 50 &mgr;m to 1 mm, wherein the stimulable phosphor has a spherical shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Applicant: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Maezawa, Noriyuki Mishina
  • Patent number: 6710356
    Abstract: A phosphor panel with a protective coating divided in at least two layers, a layer A, being closest to said phosphor layer and a layer B farther away from said phosphor layer wherein the layer A is a layer of parylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert
    Inventors: Paul Leblans, Rudi Van den Bergh, Ludo Joly, Luc Struye
  • Patent number: 6707050
    Abstract: A radiation image storage panel composed of a phosphor film which has cracks extending in its depth direction and is formed by vapor-accumulating method shows particularly good image-forming characteristics having a good balance between its sensitivity and its image sharpness when the phosphor film has a thickness of 300 to 700 &mgr;m and has a relative density of 85 to 97%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Hosoi
  • Patent number: 6707057
    Abstract: A photostimulable phosphor screen including a photostimulable phosphor and a transparent outermost layer with a thickness, d, larger than 150 &mgr;m for providing enhanced sharpness of an image obtained in portions with a higher spatial frequency than 2 line pairs per mm by applying a method for reading a radiation image stored in a photostimulable storage phosphor screen with a thick transparent outermost layer when the screen is stimulated through the transparent outermost layer and the stimulated light is read through the transparent outermost layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert
    Inventors: Marc Cresens, Peter Willems
  • Publication number: 20040046129
    Abstract: A radiation image storage panel comprises a stimulable phosphor layer capable of emitting light when being exposed to stimulating rays, which cause the stimulable phosphor layer to emit the light in proportion to an amount of energy stored on the stimulable phosphor layer during exposure of the stimulable phosphor layer to radiation. The stimulable phosphor layer is adapted for radiating out the emitted light with an intensity distribution that is compressed in a direction, which is normal to a surface of the stimulable phosphor layer, and into an oblate distribution, which is flatter than a cos &thgr; distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuichi Hosoi, Satoshi Arakawa
  • Publication number: 20040041100
    Abstract: A radiation image conversion panel is disclosed, comprising on a support at least one stimulable phosphor layer comprising a stimulable phosphor, wherein the stimulable phosphor layer is a layer of vapor-deposited stimulable phosphor having a thickness of 50 &mgr;m to 20 mm, and the support exhibits a thermal conductivity of 0.1 to 20 W/mK. A preparation method thereof is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Maezawa, Noriyuki Mishina
  • Publication number: 20040041099
    Abstract: The invention relates to a storage layer (4) for storing x-ray information, comprising a large number of needle-shaped storage material areas (15A to 15L) for guiding light radiation (17 to 28, 30 to 36, 39). An absorption zone (14A to 14N), which contains absorption material for absorbing light radiation (17 to 23, 30 to 35, 39) lies between the individual needle-shaped storage material areas (15A to 15L). The invention also relates to a device for reading x-ray information from a storage layer of this type and to an x-ray cassette which has a device of this type for reading x-ray information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Herbert Gebele, Hans Schaller, Robert Fasbender
  • Patent number: 6696691
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David H. Foos, Xiaohui Wang, David J. Steklenski
  • Publication number: 20040026632
    Abstract: A stimulable phosphor screen or panel has been described, wherein said stimulable phosphor screen or panel comprises a phosphor layer and a support characterized in that an intermediate layer arrangement of an X-ray absorbing foil or layer and, farther from the support, a stimulated light reflecting foil is present between said support and said phosphor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Luc Struye, Paul Leblans
  • Publication number: 20040016890
    Abstract: A radiation image conversion panel is disclosed, comprising on a support a stimulable phosphor layer comprising a stimulable phosphor, wherein the stimulable phosphor layer is formed by vapor deposition on the support which is comprised of a polymer material. A preparation method thereof is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Maezawa, Noriyuki Mishina
  • Patent number: 6683315
    Abstract: An x-ray cassette having increased durability. The x-ray cassette comprises a shell and a storage phosphor assembly. The shell comprises an upper and lower panel, a first and second side member, and a front end member, with the first and second side members and front end member joining the upper and lower panels to define a cavity having an open end. The storage phosphor assembly comprises an insert plate having a first and second side, a back end member having two ends, and a first and second edge insert. The storage phosphor assembly is adapted to be removably contained within the shell such that the back end member closes off the open end of the shell. The first and second edge inserts are affixed to the first and second sides, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: William C. Wendlandt, Robert A. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 6682830
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20040007676
    Abstract: A radiation image storage panel comprises a substrate and a stimulable phosphor layer overlaid on the substrate. The substrate has a plurality of protruding regions over an entire surface of the substrate. The stimulable phosphor layer comprises a plurality of pillar-shaped structures of a stimulable phosphor, which pillar-shaped structures extend in a layer thickness direction of the stimulable phosphor layer, each of the pillar-shaped structures of the stimulable phosphor having been formed with one of the protruding regions of the substrate as a starting point of the pillar-shaped structure and with a vapor phase deposition technique. A surface of the stimulable phosphor layer is formed with only the pillar-shaped structures of the stimulable phosphor, which pillar-shaped structures extend respectively from the protruding regions of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Iwabuchi, Hiroshi Matsumoto, Yuichi Hosoi, Makoto Kashiwaya
  • Patent number: 6669363
    Abstract: A radiation cassette has a housing for accommodating a radiation image recording medium, a lid openably and closably mounted on a portion of the housing, a light-shielding plate disposed in a remaining portion of the housing, the lid being swingably mounted on the light-shielding plate, and a support mechanism for pressing the radiation image recording medium against and supporting the radiation image recording medium on an inner surface of the housing when a radiation is applied to the radiation image recording medium, and releasing the radiation image recording medium from being pressed when the radiation image recording medium is loaded into and unloaded out of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masakazu Nakajo
  • Publication number: 20030222224
    Abstract: A radiation image conversion panel is disclosed exhibiting superior homogeneity of an activator in a phosphor layer and enhanced luminance and improved sharpness, comprising on a support at least one phosphor layer, wherein the phosphor layer comprises a stimulable phosphor and is formed by a vapor deposition process so that the phosphor layer has a layer thickness of 50 &mgr;m to 1 mm, and the phosphor layer exhibits a pH between 0 and 7. There is also disclosed a preparation method of the radiation image conversion panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Akihiro Maezawa, Noriyuki Mishina
  • Publication number: 20030218139
    Abstract: A radiation image storage panel having a deposited phosphor layer, wherein the phosphor layer comprises an alkali metal halide stimulable phosphor containing a small amount of oxygen atom and is annealed after deposition has high-sensitivity and gives a reproduced radiation image of high quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Iwabuchi, Keiko Neriishi
  • Publication number: 20030209675
    Abstract: A radiation image converging panel comprising a support having thereon a stimulable phosphor layer produced by a vapor phase method so as to have a thickness of 50 &mgr;m to 10 mm, wherein the stimulable phosphor layer comprises:(i) a stimulable phosphor; and (ii) an alkaline metal compound or an alkaline earth metal compound each having a different crystal structure from the stimulable phosphor, and an amount of the alkaline metal compound or the alkaline earth metal compound being 10 to 1000 ppm by weight based on the total weight of the stimulable phosphor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: November 13, 2003
    Inventors: Akihiro Maezawa, Noriyuki Mishina
  • Patent number: 6633044
    Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet for radiation image recording and reproducing method is composed of at least two partitioned stimulable phosphor films laminated one or another [the partitioned stimulable phosphor film is composed of plural partitions that divide the stimulable phosphor film on a plane thereof to give plural stripe sections, and a stimulable phosphor layer placed in each stripe section] in such manner that the partitions of one stimulable phosphor film are arranged to cross the partitions of another stimulable phosphor film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Tasaki, Katsuhiro Kohda
  • Patent number: 6632379
    Abstract: A sialon type phosphor in the form of a powder comprising at least 40 wt % of &agr;-sialon represented by the formula (Cax,My)(Si,Al)12(O,N)16 (where M is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Eu, Tb, Yb and Er, 0.05<(x+y)<0.3, 0.02<x<0.27 and 0.03<y<0.3) and having a structure such that Ca sites of Ca-&agr;-sialon are partially substituted by other metal M, at most 40 wt % of &bgr;-sialon, and at most 30 wt % of unreacted silicon nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: National Institute for Materials Science
    Inventors: Mamoru Mitomo, Tadashi Endo, Kyouta Ueda, Masakazu Komatsu
  • Publication number: 20030189179
    Abstract: Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu2+ storage phosphor crystal particles in form of a cylinder suitable for use in flat storage phosphor panels have been provided, wherein said particles have an average cross-section in the range from 1 &mgr;m up to 30 &mgr;m and an average length, measured along the casing of said cylinder, in the range from 100 &mgr;m up to 1000 &mgr;M.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Paul Leblans, Luc Struye
  • Publication number: 20030183777
    Abstract: A layer arrangement comprising, at least in a binderless layer thereof, one or more vapor deposited pigments like the preferred nanocrystalline &bgr;-Cu-phthalocyanine nanocrystalline dye compound has been disclosed, wherein said layer layer arrangement is, in a preferred embodiment a photostimulable phosphor plate or panel having a binderless needle-shaped photostimulable alkali metal phosphor, and, more preferably, a CsBr:Eu2+ phosphor, showing besides a high image definition, an excellent preservation of color stability; and wherein the thus produced binderless photostimulable phosphor screen is overcoated with a strong protective layer in order to provide ability for easy transport through a scanning module, without jamming, in a diagnostic radiographic image reading system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Inventors: Luc Struye, Paul Leblans
  • Publication number: 20030186023
    Abstract: A radiation image storage panel composed of a support and a phosphor film of a stimulable europium activated cesium bromide phosphor having the formula (I):
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yuji Isoda, Yasuo Iwabuchi
  • Patent number: 6624436
    Abstract: A stimulable phosphor sheet comprises an intermediate layer constituted of a substance, which absorbs low energy components of radiation and transmits at least light having predetermined wavelengths, and stimulable phosphor layers, which are overlaid respectively on two surfaces of the intermediate layer. The substance contains a bismuth compound or at least one lead compound selected from the group consisting of PbF2, 2PbCO3.Pb(OH)2, PbTe, and PbWO4. The intermediate layer is chemically stable, has a high capability of separating energy distributions, and acts such that an energy subtraction image having good image quality is obtained from energy subtraction processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Kohda
  • Publication number: 20030168611
    Abstract: A binderless stimulable phosphor screen comprises a vapor deposited storage phosphor layer on a support and a protective layer wherein the vapor deposited phosphor is needle-shaped with voids between the needles, wherein the voids are partially filled with a polymeric compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Ludo Joly, Rudi Van den Bergh, Paul Leblans
  • Patent number: 6614032
    Abstract: A computed radiography cassette comprising: a five sided open-ended shell including upper and lower spaced panels, and first and second side members and a front end member which extend between and join said upper and lower panels on three sides, at least one of said first and second side members and said front end member being of x-ray transmissive material, and a storage phosphor assembly including a back end member, an insert plate having an upper face and being cantilevered from said back end member, and an x-ray storage phosphor disposed on said upper face of said insert plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: William C. Wendlandt
  • Publication number: 20030160187
    Abstract: The invention relates to a radiation image conversion panel comprising a substrate having thereon a stimulable phosphor layer and a protective layer. The stimulable phosphor layer is provided on the substrate by a vapor-phase deposition method. Further, a construction including the substrate and the protective layer has a flexibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Kuniaki Nakano, Satoshi Honda, Osamu Morikawa
  • Publication number: 20030160185
    Abstract: A scintillator panel 1 uses a glass substrate 5, having heat resistance, as a base member for forming a scintillator 10. Glass substrate 5 also functions as a radiation entry window. Also, a dielectric multilayer film mirror 6 is disposed as a light-reflecting film between the scintillator 10 and the glass substrate 5. Furthermore, a light-absorbing film 7 is disposed on the radiation entry surface of glass substrate 5 and this absorbs the light that has been emitted from scintillator 10 and has passed through the dielectric multilayer film mirror 6 and the glass substrate 5. Light components that are reflected by the radiation entry surface, etc., and return to the dielectric multilayer film mirror 7 and the scintillator 10 therefore do not occur and the optical output of the scintillator panel 1 is not subject to degrading effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventor: Takuya Homme
  • Publication number: 20030160186
    Abstract: A radiation image storage panel has been disclosed, said panel comprising a supported layer of storage phosphor particles dispersed in a binding medium, and adjacent thereto, between the said layer and a support having reflective properties, a layer arrangement of intermediate layers inbetween said layer and said support, characterized in that said layer arrangement consists of an antihalation undercoat layer containing one or more dye(s), said layer being situated more close to said support, and an adhesion improving layer situated more close to the said layer of storage phosphor particles, and wherein said adhesion improving layer is hardened to a lesser extent than said antihalation undercoat layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Rudi Van den Bergh, Thomas Cabes
  • Publication number: 20030160188
    Abstract: A stimulable phosphor panel comprises a substrate having rigidity, a stimulable phosphor layer, and a transparent water vapor proof cover, which are overlaid one upon another in this order. The stimulable phosphor layer is accommodated and sealed within an enclosed region, which is enclosed between the substrate and the transparent water vapor proof cover. An expansible and contractible buffer space is formed so as to be in communication with the enclosed region. The buffer space has a volume falling within the range of 1/10 times to two times as large as the volume of the space within the enclosed region. The transparent water vapor proof cover may be constituted of a deformable film, and the buffer space may be formed by the utilization of a certain area of the transparent water vapor proof cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seiji Tazaki
  • Publication number: 20030155529
    Abstract: A radiation image conversion panel is disclosed, comprising a support having thereon a stimulable phosphor layer comprising columnar stimulable phosphor crystals, wherein the tip of the columnar crystals have a tip exhibiting an average angle of 20° to 80° which a centerline in the direction of crystal growth makes with a line tangent to a section of the tip having the centerline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Osamu Morikawa, Satoshi Honda
  • Publication number: 20030151001
    Abstract: A radiation image conversion panel comprising a support provided thereon a stimulable phosphor layer and a protective layer including an alumina-evaporated layer, wherein the protective layer has a light transmittance of not more than 80% to light having a wavelength of not more than 400 nm and has a light transmittance of not less than 80% to light having a wavelength of not less than 410 nm, and the stimulable phosphor layer comprises a stimulable phosphor having a maximum emission in a wavelength of not less than 410 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: Satoshi Honda, Osamu Morikawa
  • Publication number: 20030146395
    Abstract: A radiation image storage panel comprises a stimulable phosphor layer, which contains a stimulable phosphor, and a transparent protective layer overlaid on the stimulable phosphor layer. The transparent protective layer has a layer thickness of at most 50 &mgr;m and comprises at least four layers formed on a transparent protective layer support for supporting the transparent protective layer, the at least four layers comprising transparent inorganic layers and organic layers, which are located alternately. Each of the transparent inorganic layers contains a compound selected from the group consisting of a metal oxide, a metal nitride, and a metal oxynitride, and is formed with a vacuum deposition technique. Each of the organic layers is formed with a coating technique or a vacuum deposition technique.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2003
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shinichiro Fukui
  • Patent number: 6603129
    Abstract: A preparation process of a particulate rare earth activated alkaline earth metal fluorohalide stimulable phosphor represented by formula (1) is disclosed, wherein precursor particles of the stimulable phosphor, prepared in the liquid phase process are covered with fine particles of at least two kinds of metal oxides and then subjected to calcination. A radiation image conversion panel containing the stimulable phosphor particles is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Kanae Kawabata, Takehiko Shoji, Kiyoshi Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20030143424
    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: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: David J. Steklenski, Peter T. Aylward
  • Publication number: 20030113580
    Abstract: A method for preparing a radiation image storage panel by heating an evaporation source of phosphor material or starting materials for the phosphor material under reduced pressure to produce a vapor of the phosphor material or starting materials and deposit the vapor on a substrate to form a phosphor layer is favorably performed by using an evaporation source having a water content of not more than 0.5 weight %, preferably under the conditions of a partial pressure of water of 7.0×10−3 Pa or lower and a partial pressure of hydrocarbon of 1.0×10−6 Pa or lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2002
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsunori Takasu, Hiroshi Matsumoto, Makoto Kashiwaya
  • Publication number: 20030102439
    Abstract: A computed radiography cassette comprising: a five sided open-ended shell including upper and lower spaced panels, and first and second side members and a front end member which extend between and join said upper and lower panels on three sides, at least one of said first and second side members and said front end member being of x-ray transmissive material; and a storage phosphor assembly including a back end member, an insert plate having an upper face and being cantilevered from said back end member, and an x-ray storage phosphor disposed on said upper face of said insert plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: William C. wendlandt
  • Publication number: 20030104245
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a radiation image storage panel comprises a self-supporting or supported layer of storage phosphor particles dispersed in a binding medium and, adjacent thereto, a protective coating characterized in that, besides a binder, the said protective coating comprises a white pigment having a refractive index of more than 1.6, which is present in the said binder, preferably further comprising a urethane acrylate, and wherein said protective coating has a surface roughness (Rz) between 2 and 10 &mgr;m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2001
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Rudolf Van den Bergh, Thomas Cabes
  • Patent number: 6572986
    Abstract: A radiation image storage panel comprises at least a substrate and a phosphor layer overlaid upon the substrate. The phosphor layer contains a binder, a phosphor, and at least one kind of organic phosphorus compound represented by Formula (1): (R)nPO(OM)3−n  (1) in which R represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, or a heterocyclic group, which may be optionally substituted by a substituent; M represents a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, or —N+(R1)4, where R1 represents an alkyl group having at most two carbon atoms; and n represents an integral number of 1 or 2. The radiation image storage panel exhibits enhanced dispersibility of phosphor particles and a high sensitivity and yields little noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ogawa, Shinichiro Fukui, Yasuo Iwabuchi, Shigeo Hirano, Noriyuki Inoue
  • Publication number: 20030098423
    Abstract: A computed radiography cassette comprising: a shell including upper and lower panels joined to first and second side members and a front end member to form a five sided cavity having an open end; a storage phosphor assembly including a back end member, an insert plate having an upper face and being cantilevered from said back end member, and an x-ray storage phosphor disposed on said upper face of said insert plate, wherein said storage phosphor assembly is removably contained in said shell such that said back end member closes off said open end of said shell; wherein said upper panel is of x-ray transmissive material; and wherein said insert plate and said lower panel are made of x-ray opaque material having aligned sections thereof of x-ray transmissive material which allow x-rays to pass through said sections to an x-ray detector adapted to be located adjacent to said cassette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2001
    Publication date: May 29, 2003
    Applicant: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: William C. Wendlandt
  • Patent number: 6565992
    Abstract: A pressure sensor comprising a stable polymer having a backbone containing nitrogen and one or more of sulfur or phosphorous, and including a phosphorescent dye agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventors: Ian Manners, Xijia Gu, Zhen Pang, Mitchell A. Winnik, Yizeng Ni
  • Patent number: 6561693
    Abstract: An infrared photo-detector focal plane array includes detectors with quantum well layers that are spectrally “tuned” to impinging radiation by modulating the voltage biases applied across each quantum well layer. Read out circuits, interfaced with each detector of the array, process the photo-currents received from each detector to determine the absolute temperature of the remote infrared source from which the impinging radiation originated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Martin
  • Publication number: 20030075689
    Abstract: A phosphor layer of a radiation image storage panel produced by vapor phase deposition method under such condition that the phosphor layer is composed of a phosphor of a cesium chloride crystalline structure which is grown on a crystal face of (110) or (100) shows an increased sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Iwabuchi, Makoto Kashiwaya