Patent ID: 6768129
Filing Date: 2004-07-27
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
A radiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:i) linearly irradiating stimulating rays onto an area of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, with stimulating ray irradiating means, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation, ii) receiving the light, which has been emitted from the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, with one surface of a light guide device, which is located such that the one surface stands facing the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, the emitted light, which has thus been received, being guided through the light guide device toward end faces of the light guide device, iii) detecting the emitted light, which has been radiated out from at least one end face of the light guide device, with a line sensor, which comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along the at least one end face of the light guide device, and iv) moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to the stimulating ray irradiating means, the light guide device, and the line sensor and in a direction, which is approximately normal to a length direction of the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, wherein at least one line sensor is located at a region of one end face of the light guide device, such that the at least one line sensor is capable of detecting the light, which is emitted from a subarea of the linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, a region of the one end face of the light guide device, at which region no line sensor is located, is formed as a light reflecting surface, at least one line sensor is located at a region of a different end face of the light guide device, which different end face stands facing the one end face of the light guide device, such that the at least one line sensor stands facing the region of the one end face of the light guide device, which region is formed as the light reflecting surface, and a region of the different end face of the light guide device, at which region no line sensor is located, is formed as a light reflecting surface.