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Method for recording and reproducing a radiation image, apparatus using said method, panel for storing the radiation image and photostimulable phosphor

Assignee: Tulalip Consultoria Comercial SU
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Filing: 1993-09-30
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Granted: 1994-11-22
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Expires: 2013-09-30
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to new phosphors for use in panels, apparatus and methods for recording and reproducing a high energy radiation image, including the steps of stimulating a phosphor image-wise exposed to radiation and detecting the fluorescent light emitted by said phosphor upon stimulation, said phosphor being a green emitting terbium activated alkali metal tantalate, doped with at least one element selected in the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Ge, Pb, Bi, transition elements and lanthanides.

Inventors

  • 👤 Romano Morlotti

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 08:52
CPC Classifications
G; G21; G21K; G21K4/00; C; C09; C09K; C09K11/00; C09K11/08; C09K11/77; C09K11/7743; C09K11/7744; C09K11/7746; C09K11/7766; C09K11/7767; C09K11/7768; C09K11/7769; G21K2004/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 142 words
A method for recording and reproducing a radiation image comprising the steps of (i) causing a visible or infrared radiation stimulable phosphor to absorb a high energy radiation which has passed through an object, (ii) stimulating said phosphor with visible or infrared radiation to release energy stored as fluorescent light, and (iii) detecting said fluorescent light with light detecting means, characterized in that said phosphor is a green emitting terbium activated alkali metal tantalate, wherein said phosphor is represented by the following general formula: Li.sub.1-x A.sub.x TaO.sub.3.yMe:zTb wherein A is an element selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb, and Ce; Me is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Ge, Pb, Bi transition elements and lanthanides, and x, y and z are numbers satisfying the conditions 0≦x<1, 0≦y<0.1, and 0<z≦0.1.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 142 words
A method for recording and reproducing a radiation image comprising the steps of (i) causing a visible or infrared radiation stimulable phosphor to absorb a high energy radiation which has passed through an object, (ii) stimulating said phosphor with visible or infrared radiation to release energy stored as fluorescent light, and (iii) detecting said fluorescent light with light detecting means, characterized in that said phosphor is a green emitting terbium activated alkali metal tantalate, wherein said phosphor is represented by the following general formula: Li.sub.1-x A.sub.x TaO.sub.3.yMe:zTb wherein A is an element selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb, and Ce; Me is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Ge, Pb, Bi transition elements and lanthanides, and x, y and z are numbers satisfying the conditions 0≦x<1, 0≦y<0.1, and 0<z≦0.1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 83 words
The method for recording and reproducing a radiation image of claim 1, wherein said phosphor is represented by the following general formula: Li.sub.1-x A.sub.x TaO.sub.3.yMe:zTb wherein A is an element selected in the group consisting of Na, K, Rb and Ce; Me is at least one metal selected in the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Ge, Pb, Bi, Zr, W, Zn, Sm, Eu, and Gd, and x, y and z are number satisfying the conditions 0≦x<1, 0≦y<0.05 and 0<z≦0.01.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method for recording and reproducing a radiation image of claim 1, wherein said phosphor is stimulated with a radiation having a wavelength in the range of from 400 to 1100 nm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method for recording and reproducing a radiation image of claim 1, wherein said phosphor is stimulated with a radiation having a wavelength in the range of from 400 to 500 nm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 32 words
The method for recording and reproducing a radiation image of claim 1, wherein said phosphor is stimulated with a radiation having a wavelength in the range of from 600 to 800 nm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method for recording and reproducing a radiation image of claim 1, wherein said phosphor emits a fluorescent light having a wavelength higher than 500 nm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method for recording and reproducing a radiation image of claim 1, wherein said phosphor emits a fluorescent light having a wavelength of from 500 to 600 nm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 102 words
A radiation image storage panel having a fluorescent layer comprising a binder and a stimulable phosphor dispersed in said binder characterized in that said phosphor is a green emitting terbium activated alkali metal tantalate, wherein said phosphor is represented by the following general formula: Li.sub.1-x A.sub.x TaO.sub.3.yMe:zTb wherein A is an element selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb and Ce; Me is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Ge, Pb, Bi, transition elements and lanthanides, and x, y, and z are numbers satisfying the conditions 0≦x<1, 0≦y<0.1 and 0<z≦0.1
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 102 words
A radiation image storage panel having a fluorescent layer comprising a binder and a stimulable phosphor dispersed in said binder characterized in that said phosphor is a green emitting terbium activated alkali metal tantalate, wherein said phosphor is represented by the following general formula: Li.sub.1-x A.sub.x TaO.sub.3.yMe:zTb wherein A is an element selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb and Ce; Me is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Ge, Pb, Bi, transition elements and lanthanides, and x, y, and z are numbers satisfying the conditions 0≦x<1, 0≦y<0.1 and 0<z≦0.1
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 79 words
The radiation image storage panel of claim 8, wherein said phosphor is represented by the following general formula: Li.sub.1-x A.sub.x TaO.sub.3.yMe:zTb wherein A is an element selected in the group consisting of Na, K, Rb and Ce; Me is at least one metal selected in the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Ge, Pb, Bi, Zr, W, Zn, Sim, Eu, and Gd, and x, y and z are numbers satisfying the conditions 0≦x<1, 0≦y<0.05 and 0<z≦0.01.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 78 words
A photostimulable green emitting terbium activated alkali metal tantalate phosphor, wherein said phosphor is represented by the following general formula: Li.sub.1-x A.sub.x TaO.sub.3.yMe:zTb wherein A is an element selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb and Ce; Me is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Ge, Pb, Bi, transition elements and lanthanides, and x, y, and z are numbers satisfying the conditions 0≦x<1, 0≦y<0.1 and 0<z≦0.1.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 78 words
A photostimulable green emitting terbium activated alkali metal tantalate phosphor, wherein said phosphor is represented by the following general formula: Li.sub.1-x A.sub.x TaO.sub.3.yMe:zTb wherein A is an element selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb and Ce; Me is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Ge, Pb, Bi, transition elements and lanthanides, and x, y, and z are numbers satisfying the conditions 0≦x<1, 0≦y<0.1 and 0<z≦0.1.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 77 words
The photostimulable phosphor of claim 10, wherein said phosphor is represented by the following general formula Li.sub.1-x A.sub.x TaO.sub.3.yMe:zTb wherein A is an element selected in the group consisting of Na, K, Rb and Ce; Me is at least one metal selected in the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Ge, Pb, Bi, Zr, W, Zn, Sm, Eu, and Gd, and x, y and z are numbers satisfying the conditions 0≦x<1, 0≦y<0.05 and 0<z≦0.01.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 20 words
The photostimulable phosphor of claim 11, wherein said phosphor emits a fluorescent light having a wavelength higher than 500 nm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 22 words
The photostimulable phosphor of claim 10, wherein said phosphor emits a fluorescent light having a wavelength of from 500 to 600 nm.
Claim 17
Independent Claim 145 words
An apparatus for recording and reproducing a radiation image comprising (1) means for causing a visible or infrared radiation-stimulable phosphor contained therein to absorb high energy radiation which has passed through an object, (ii) means for stimulating said phosphor with visible or infrared radiation to release the energy stored as fluorescent light, and (iii) means for detecting said fluorescent light, said apparatus being characterized in that said phosphor is a green emitting terbium activated alkali metal tantalate, wherein said phosphor is represented by the following general formula: Li.sub.1-x A.sub.x TaO.sub.3.yMe:zTb wherein A is an element selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb, and Ce; Me is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Ge, Pb, Bi transition elements and lanthanides, and x, y and z are numbers satisfying the conditions 0≦x<1, 0≦y<0.1, and 0<z≦0.1.
Claim 18
Independent Claim 145 words
An apparatus for recording and reproducing a radiation image comprising (1) means for causing a visible or infrared radiation-stimulable phosphor contained therein to absorb high energy radiation which has passed through an object, (ii) means for stimulating said phosphor with visible or infrared radiation to release the energy stored as fluorescent light, and (iii) means for detecting said fluorescent light, said apparatus being characterized in that said phosphor is a green emitting terbium activated alkali metal tantalate, wherein said phosphor is represented by the following general formula: Li.sub.1-x A.sub.x TaO.sub.3.yMe:zTb wherein A is an element selected from the group consisting of Na, K, Rb, and Ce; Me is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Ge, Pb, Bi transition elements and lanthanides, and x, y and z are numbers satisfying the conditions 0≦x<1, 0≦y<0.1, and 0<z≦0.1.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 83 words
The apparatus for recording and reproducing a radiation image of claim 14, wherein said phosphor is represented by the following general formula Li.sub.1-x A.sub.x TaO.sub.3.yMe:zTb wherein A is an element selected in the group consisting of Na, K, Rb and Ce; Me is at least one metal selected in the group consisting of Mg, Ca Sr, Ba, Al, Ga, Ge, Pb, Bi, Zr, W, Zn, Sm, Eu, and Gd, and x, y and z are numbers satisfying the condition 0≦x<1, 0≦y<0.05 and 0<z≦0.01.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus for recording and reproducing a radiation image of claim 14, wherein said phosphor is stimulated with a radiation having a wavelength in the range of 400 to 1100 nm.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 26 words
The apparatus for recording and reproducing a radiation image of claim 14, wherein said phosphor emits a fluorescent light having a wavelength higher than 500 nm.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus for recording and reproducing a radiation image of claim 14, wherein said phosphor emits a fluorescent light having a wavelength of from 500 to 600 nm.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3459674A Cited
US4024069A Cited
US5120619A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-11-21 1998-05-23 1998-11-22 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-11-21 2002-05-23 2002-11-22 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-11-21 2006-05-23 2006-11-22 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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