Patent ID: 6495849
Filing Date: 2002-12-17
Classification: G01T

Abstract:
A radiation image read-out apparatus in which (1) a stimulable phosphor sheet storing thereon a radiation image is exposed to stimulating light, (2) stimulated emission emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet upon stimulation by the stimulating light is detected, and (3) an image signal representing the radiation image stored on the stimulable phosphor sheet is obtained by photoelectrically converting the stimulated emission, the radiation image read-out apparatus comprising:a read-out system with a plurality of read-out heads arranged in an array that extends in a first direction, each read-out head having (1) a stimulating light source which projects the stimulating light onto the stimulable phosphor sheet, and (2) a photodetector which detects the stimulated emission, wherein the stimulating light source moves the stimulating light relative to the photodetector along a scanning line that extends in the first direction; and a conveyor system which conveys the stimulable phosphor sheet and the read-out system relative to each other in a second direction intersecting the first direction.