Patent ID: 6504169
Filing Date: 2003-01-07
Classification: A61B,C09K,G01T,G21K

Abstract:
Method of reading a radiation image that has been stored in a photostimulable phosphor screen having a surface area that is not greater than Smax comprising the steps of(1) stimulating said phosphor screen by means of stimulating radiation, (2) detecting light emitted by the phosphor screen upon stimulation and converting the detected light into a signal representation of said radiation image, (3) erasing said phosphor screen by exposing it to erasing light, (4) said photostimulable phosphor screen comprises a divalent europium activated cesium halide phosphor wherein said halide is at least one of chloride and bromide obtained by the following steps: mixing CsX with between 10âˆ’3and 5 mol % of a Europium compound selected from the group consisting of EuXâ€²2, EuXâ€²3 and EUOXâ€², Xâ€² being a member selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I, firing the mixture at a temperature above 450Â° C., cooling said mixture, and recovering the CsX:Eu phosphor, and (5) said erasing light is emitted by an erasing light source assembly emitting in the wavelength range of 300 nm to 1500 nm and having an electrical erasing energy not greater than SmaxÃ—1 J.