Claims
- 1. Apparatus for radiographic imaging and erasing the radiographic image comprising:
an optical pump source for generating light; a plurality of optical fibers for delivering the light from the optical pump source to a radiographic medium; an optical collector for receiving phosphorescent light from the radiographic medium stimulated by the light from the optical pump source; an optical receiver for receiving the phosphorescent light delivered from the optical collector and producing an optical signal in response thereto; a processor for generating an image signal from the received signals from the second plurality of optical fibers; and a erasure device for exposing the latent image to predetermined wave lengths of light in the apparatus and then after a predetermined relaxation period for exposing the latent image a second time to erase the latent image from the sheet.
- 2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the erasure device comprises:
a first bulb source for illuminating and partially erasing the latent image; and a second bulb source spaced from the first bulb source illuminating the remainder of the latent image after a predetermined relaxation period to erase the image further.
- 3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 comprising:
a light seal between the first and second bulb source.
- 4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical pump source comprises devices for generating incoherent light.
- 5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the devices for generating incoherent light comprises light emitting diodes.
- 6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical pump source comprises:
a laser rotating in a circle at a constant speed and producing coherent light.
- 7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the optical fibers for delivering the light from the optical pump to the radiographic medium comprise:
first ends of the optical fibers fixed in position about the rotating laser to receive light therefrom.
- 8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 comprising:
a feed device for feeding the sheet at a constant speed past optical fibers and past the erasure device.
- 9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein:
the first ends of the light fibers are fixedly positioned by a potting material in an arcuate array about the rotating laser.
- 10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the optical pump source comprises:
a rotating laser rotating a constant speed; and a feed device feeds the sheet past the optical fibers at a constant speed.
- 11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein:
the optical pump source comprises a rotating laser; and a plurality of optical fibers for delivering the light to the sheet comprises first ends of these fibers arranged in a fiber optic ring about the rotating laser.
- 12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein the optical collector for receiving phosphorescent light comprises a light pipe; and
a photomultiplier is provided for receiving light from the light pipe.
- 13. An apparatus for radiographic imaging and erasing the radiographic image comprising:
a laser mounted for turning about a turning axis and for generating light; a drive for turning the laser at a constant speed; a plurality of optical fibers arranged arcuately about the turning axis for delivering the coherent light from the turning laser to a radiographic medium; a light pipe for receiving phosphorescent light from the radiographic medium; a feeder for feeding the plate past the optical fibers and light pipe; an optical receiver for receiving the phosphorescent light delivered by the light pipe and for producing an optical signal in response thereto; a processor for generating an image signal from the received signals from the second plurality of optical fibers; and an erasing device for erasing the latent image on one portion of the radiographic plate while another portion of the plate is still receiving light from the optical fibers.
- 14. Apparatus for radiographic imaging according to claim 13 wherein the laser rotates and the optical fibers for delivering the light from the laser to the radiographic medium are arranged in an optic ring about the rotating laser.
- 15. Apparatus for radiographic imaging according to claim 13 wherein the drive for turning laser about an axis comprises a motor driven feeder for rotating the laser at a constant speed; and wherein the feeder comprises a motor driven feeder for feeding the radiographic sheet at a constant speed past the optical fibers and in the erasing device.
- 16. A method for radiographic imaging comprising:
rotating a pumping light source about a rotational axis at a constant speed; arranging fiber ends in a ring about the rotating light source and receiving light and delivering light through the fibers to a radiographic medium; receiving phosphorescent light emitted from the radiographic medium and delivering the emitted light to an optical receiver; producing an optical signal in response to delivered emitted phosphorescent light at the optical receiver; generating an image signal from the received signals from the second plurality of optical fibers; and erasing a latent image from the radiographic medium.
- 17. A method for radiographic imaging according to claim 16, a method comprising:
rotating a laser to provide the pumping light source.
- 18. A method for radiographic imaging according to claim 16, a method comprising:
feeding the sheet at a constant speed past a station having the aligned ends of the light delivering optical fibers and the phosphorescence emitted light receiving optical fibers.
- 19. A method in accordance with claim 18 comprising:
providing an erasing station adjacent the station to erase the latent image from the plate.
- 20. A method of erasing a radiographic image formed on a phosphor-containing sheet by computer radiographic x-rays; the method comprising:
exposing a sample of an object to x-rays; forming a latent x-ray image from the object on the phosphor-containing sheet; imaging by exposing the sheet to light causing phosphoresce on the sheet and delivering emitted phosphorescent light to a processor for producing an image; erasing a latent image on the sheet by exposure to predetermined wave lengths of light; allowing the first erased image area to relax for a predetermined period of time; and performing at least one additional erasing by exposure to predetermined wavelengths of light after the relaxation period.
- 21. A method in accordance with claim 20 comprising:
moving the sheet relative to erasure bulbs and light filters for filtering the light to provide predetermined wave lengths; and providing a period of about three seconds or more before performing the additional erasing operation.
- 22. A method in accordance with claim 20 comprising:
providing a barium containing phosphor-containing sheet for forming the latent image and from which the image is erased.
- 23. Apparatus for radiographic imaging and erasing the radiographic image comprising:
an optical pump source for generating light; a plurality of optical fibers for delivering the light from the optical pump source to a radiographic medium; an optical collector for receiving phosphorescent light from the radiographic medium stimulated by the light from the optical pump source; an optical receiver for receiving the phosphorescent light delivered from the optical collector and producing an optical signal in response thereto; a processor for generating an image signal from the received signals from the second plurality of optical fibers; first ends of the optical fibers being arranged in an arcuate array; and second ends of the fibers being in a linear array to extend across the area of the radiographic medium to be imaged.
- 24. An apparatus in accordance with claim 23 wherein the diameter of the arcuate array is about 2.9 inches to provide a linear array extending about 8.1 inches.
- 25. An apparatus in accordance with claim 24 wherein a second arcuate array of fibers and a second fiber end array of fiber ends is provided side-by-side with the first ends of the first fibers for a medium of double the width of the linear extent of the first recited, second ends of the fibers.
- 26. An apparatus for radiographic imaging have an optical pumping source for delivering light to transmit optical fibers to deliver the light to areas on a radiographic medium, the improvement comprising:
a fiber support having an arcuate end; at least one thousand optical fibers having first ends disposed in an arcuate array on the arcuate support end with the fibers being precisely positioned side-by-side on the arcuate end of the support, a linear end on the support having the fiber ends arrayed in a linear array side-by-side and precisely positioned adjacent one another on the linear end of the support; an intermediate portion on the support extending between the arcuate and the linear ends of the support for supporting the fibers in precisely positioned relationship to one another between the arcuate and linear ends of the support; and a bonding material bonding the fibers and their respective ends to the support to prevent their shifting relative to one another on the support.
- 27. An apparatus in accordance with claim 26 wherein the support has a cylindrical end providing the arcuate support;
the support being in the form of a previously longitudinally cut drum having one cut end rearranged in a cylindrical and a fan-like intermediate position and the other cut end rearranged to extend linearly.
- 28. An apparatus in accordance with claim 26 wherein the bonding material is potting material to pot the fibers to the support.
- 29. A method of forming a fiber transmit head for transmitting light to cause phosphoresce of pixel areas on a radiographic medium comprising;
providing a cylindrical drum; winding at least one thousand fibers of a small diameter on the drum in side-by-side relationship and precisely positioned relative to one another; bonding the fibers to the drum with a bonding material to retain the fibers against shifting relative to another; cutting the drum longitudinally and cutting the fibers thereon; forming a first longitudinally cut end into a cylinder thereby positioning first cut ends of the fibers in an arcuate array; and forming a linear end with the other cut drum end to have the cut fiber ends arranged linearly on the linear end.
- 30. A method in accordance with claim 29 comprising:
polishing the first and other ends of the fibers.
- 31. A method of radiographic imaging having transmit fibers having first ends to receive light from a laser and second ends delivering light to a movable radiographic medium and having a light path from the laser light pumping source to an optical receiver, the method having the light path comprising only the following moving parts:
rotating the laser relative to first ends of the transmit fibers; and traveling the radiographic medium relative to opposite ends of the transmit fibers.
- 32. A method of radiographic imaging in accordance with claim 31 comprising:
rotating the laser at a constant speed; driving the radiographic medium past the other ends of the transmit fibers at a constant speed; and maintaining the respective speeds in synchronism with one another.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/990,164, filed Nov. 21, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of International Patent Application No. PCT/US01/20481, filed Jun. 27, 2001, designating the United States of America, which is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/721,014, filed Nov. 22, 2000, which claimed priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/214,930, filed Jun. 29, 2000. International Application No. PCT/US01/20481 also claimed priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/214,930, filed Jun. 29, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60214930 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (3)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09990164 |
Nov 2001 |
US |
Child |
10281822 |
Oct 2002 |
US |
Parent |
PCT/US01/20481 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
Child |
09990164 |
Nov 2001 |
US |
Parent |
09721014 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Child |
PCT/US01/20481 |
Jun 2001 |
US |