Patent ID: 7129511
Filing Date: 2006-10-31
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
1. A scanning module for emitting light to and collecting light from a photo-stimulable radiographic sheet, comprising: (a) a housing comprising a channel; a cylindrical center chamber in communication with the channel comprising a mirrored surface; a first opening communicating with the cylindrical chamber; and a second opening communicating with the cylindrical chamber; (b) a laser disposed in the housing and adapted to generate a beam of stimulating electromagnetic radiation through the channel and the first opening onto a stimulated area of the photo-stimulatable radiographic sheet, and wherein the stimulated area emits light and reflected light, both of which enter the first opening and the cylindrical chamber; (c) a light detector disposed in the second opening for receiving light emitted and reflected into the cylindrical chamber; (d) a filter disposed at the second opening of the housing for selectively passing only the emitted light from the stimulated area of the photo-stimulatable radiographic sheet to the light detector; and wherein the center chamber is an elliptical reflector comprising an overall length between 15 mm and 30 mm and a degree of curvature in the chamber between 20 degrees and 30 degrees.