Claims
- 1. Apparatus for radiographic imaging comprising:
an optical laser for generating light; a plurality of delivery optical fibers for delivering the light from the laser to a radiographic medium, the optical fibers having light receiving ends positioned in an arc about an axis; an optical collector for receiving phosphorescent light from the radiographic medium stimulated by the light from the laser; an optical receiver for receiving the phosphorescent light from the optical collector and producing an optical signal in response thereto; a processor for generating an image signal responsive to the optical signal from the optical receiver; and a drive for rotating the laser about the axis of the arc and for delivering light the light receiving ends of the optical fibers without the use of rotating mirrors.
- 2. An apparatus for radiographic imaging according to claim 1 wherein:
the optical fibers have an inlet ends arranged substantially in a circular array; and the optical fibers have outlet ends arranged in a linear array.
- 3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein:
the optical fibers deliver light generated by the laser in substantially a straight line without being sinusoidal in its path of travel across the linear array of outlet ends of the fibers.
- 4. An apparatus for radiographic imaging according to claim 2 wherein the optical fibers are positioned to receive an illumination light spot simultaneously across and illuminating several fiber ends, the light spot traveling across a portion of a first fiber end substantially fully across the central fiber end and leaving a trailing portion of a third fiber end.
- 5. An apparatus for radiographic imaging according to claim 4 wherein a signal is provided by integrating the illumination spot signal from the central fiber.
- 6. An apparatus for radiographic imaging according to claim 1 comprising:
an adjustment device for adjusting the position of the axis of the rotating laser so that the axis of rotation of the laser substantially matches the axis of the arc of the optical fibers.
- 7. An apparatus for radiographic imaging according to claim 1 comprising:
an adjustment device for shifting the optical laser along a path parallel to its rotational axis to provide focus of the illumination spot relative to the face of the optical fibers.
- 8. An apparatus for radiographic imaging according to claim 1 wherein an adjustment device is provided for holding the laser in three places while allowing radial adjustment in a direction parallel to the rotational axis to focus the illumination spot relative to the ends of the optical fibers.
- 9. An apparatus for radiographic imaging according to claim 1 wherein the optical collector comprises a light tube for receiving phosphorescent light from the radiographic medium and for delivering the light to the optical receiver.
- 10. An apparatus for radiographic imaging according to claim 9 wherein the light tube comprises:
internal reflective surfaces for reflecting the light emanating from the radiographic medium back and forth relative to the optical receiver.
- 11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein electrical power is delivered to the laser through a hollow shaft and is a brushed electrical contacting brushes in contact with the shaft.
- 12. A radiographic imaging system comprising:
an optical pump source for generating light; an optical device for delivering light from the optical pump source to a radiographic medium to cause stimulation of phosphorescent light; an optical collector for receiving phosphorescent light from the radiographic medium; an optical receiver fro receiving the phosphorescent light from the optical collector; the optical collector comprising a light guide having a forward inlet end disposed adjacent the radiographic medium for receiving photons of phosphorescent light which travel in a forward direction along paths toward a rearward end of the light guide; a rear reflective surface for reversing the reflecting forwardly traveling photons to travel rearwardly toward a forward end of the light guide; a forward reflective surface for reflecting photons traveling rearwardly to travel in a forward direction; and the optical receiver receiving light photons that have reversed their path of travel by reflections from the rearward and forward reflective surfaces.
- 13. A radiographic imaging system in accordance with claim 12 wherein the forward and rearward reflective surfaces comprises mirrored surfaces for reflecting the photons.
- 14. A radiographic imaging system in accordance to claim 12 wherein the rearward reflective surfaces are inclined to the forward traveling path of the photons to reflect the photons along a different path than their initial forward entry path through the light tube.
- 15. A radiographic imaging system in accordance with claim 12 wherein the forward reflective surface is at an angle so that it reflects the rearwardly traveling photons forwardly along a different angled path through the light tube than the rearward path traveled to the forward reflective surface.
- 16. A radiographic imaging system in accordance with claim 12 wherein the inlet end of the light tube has a relatively small area relative to the area of the forward and rearward reflective surfaces.
- 17. A radiograph imaging system in accordance with claim 12 wherein the optical receiver comprises a photomultiplier tube having a circular surface for receiving photons traveling along a straight line path directly from the inlet end of the light tube and for receiving photons having been reflected backwardly and forwardly before being received by the photomultiplier tube.
- 18. A radiographic imaging system in accordance with claim 16 wherein the photomultiplier tube has a circular inlet end which is positioned centrally relative to the rear reflective surface.
- 19. In an apparatus for radiographic imaging, the combination comprising:
a rotating optical laser for generating pumping light; a rotatable carrier for carrying the laser in a circular path about a rotational axis for the carrier; a plurality of optical fibers having ends disposed in an arc about the axis to receive pumping light and for delivering the pumping light to a radiographic medium; a laser mount on the rotatable carrier on which the laser is mounted; a first adjustment screw device extending between the rotatable carrier and the laser mount and mounting the carrier plate and turnable to shift the laser mount toward or from the optical fiber ends in order to adjust the focus of the laser beam on the optical fiber ends; and a second adjustment screw device extending between the rotatable carrier and the laser mount and turnable to shift the laser mount and the laser radially inwardly or outwardly to match the circular path of the laser beam to the arc defined by the optical fiber ends.
- 20. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19 when a first adjustment screw in the first adjustment screw device pivotally mounts the carrier for pivoting when turning the second adjustment screw device.
- 21. An apparatus in accordance with claim 19 wherein a second adjustment screw in the second adjustment screw device pivotally mounts the carrier for pivoting when turning the first adjustment screw device.
- 22. An apparatus in accordance with claim 21 wherein a first adjustment in the first adjustment device pivotally mounts the carrier for pivoting when turning the second adjustment device.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/281,822 filed Oct. 28, 2002, which 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 (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60214930 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
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60214930 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (4)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10281822 |
Oct 2002 |
US |
Child |
10302018 |
Nov 2002 |
US |
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 |