Abstract:
There is disclosed an apparatus and process having positioning surface for a reusable storage film having information projected image-wise therein wherein the image-wise containing storage film is advanced by a transportation assembly through an information retrieval or interrogation assembly and thence introduced into a restoration collection chamber including a source of light at an energy level sufficient to remove residual image information thereby restoring the storage film to a condition of reuse.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Applicant claims the benefit of provisional application 60/496,860, filed Aug. 21, 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to radiographic imaging, and more particularly to an apparatus and process for digitally retrieving information projected onto a reusable radiographic film with subsequent restoration processing of such radiographic film to permit further use thereof.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     Traditional x-ray imaging systems using silver-based films are being replaced by radiographic imaging systems using photo-stimulable phosphor imaging films or substrates eliminating the need for physical storage of the imaged film since digital retrieval of the image information includes input and computer storage permitting viewing of such information on a viewer, such as CRT tube assembly. Additionally, such computer stored image information permits facile electronic transmission to any preselect location obviating physical transfer of the thus formed image on the imaging film. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,744 to Goodman, et al., assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, there is disclosed a process and apparatus for processing radiographic information from an anisotropic storage phosphor screen including an opto-electro-mechanical assembly to achieve faster scan of an interrogating beam and including detector and computer assembly, herein incorporated by reference.  
         [0006]     The prior art is replete with a plethora of radiographic imaging information assemblies for reading projected image-wise information from a stimuable phosphor sheet, film or substrate, e.g. see U.S. Pat. No. 6,624,457 to Kohada wherein excitation light emits photostimulated luminescent light from the stored energy of the projected image-wise information. In such disclosure, the plate, film, sheet or substrate is disposed on a horizontal support surface and interrogated by an excitation scanning assembly.  
         [0007]     In U.S. Pat. No. 6,599,004 to Thoms, there is disclosed a device for reading flexible storage foils wherein the flexible storage film having image-wise projected information is positioned on a cylindrically-shaped surface and is caused to be linearly moved there over while being interrogated or scanned via a slot by a light beam generated in a helical line in a continuous manner from a point disposed at the axis of the cylindrically-shaped surface. At the conclusion of the reading process, the flexible storage film is caused to be returned to its starting position with the thus read storage film being thereafter separately processed to remove any latent image by exposure to light to cause trapped charged electrons to be dissipated thereby restoring the storage film for use in a subsequent receiving projected imaging information process.  
         [0008]     In U.S. Pat. No. 6,762,430 to Alzner, et al. and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, there is described a plate guide system for dental imaging plates for use in the hereinabove described U.S. Pat. No. &#39;014 to Thoms.  
         [0009]     Restoration of a scanned image storage film in either disclosure obviously requires a separate and distinct restoration process. Any such two step procedure can very readily lead to the inadvertent non-processing of the storage film to a restoration process thereby resulting in the possible use of an image containing storage foil with concomitant unnecessary time and effort to rectify the use of an unrestored storage film. Consequently, there is a need for an apparatus and process for processing reusable storage films, plate and the like including the reading of latent images thereon with concomitant restoration of imaging capabilities in a manner to unequivocally ensure valid reuse of a storage film, plate or the like void of any latent image information.  
         [0010]     As used herein, the term “reusable storage film” is a flexible substrate formed with a layer of a photo-stimulable phosphors which is capable of imaging with ionizing radiation or x-rays which after imaging may be interrogated or scanned with a source of light energy to produce photo-stimulated luminescence information capable of being digitally read and stored.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and process for in seriatim reading and restoration of reusable storage films.  
         [0012]     Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and process for in seriatim reading and restoration of reusable storage film prior to reuse of the storage film.  
         [0013]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and process for in seriatim reading and restoration of reusable storage film substantially eliminating the possible use of an unrestored storage film.  
         [0014]     A still further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and process for in seriatim reading and restoration of reusable storage film facilely operated by a user.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by an apparatus and process having a positioning surface for a reusable storage film having image-wise projected information therein wherein the storage film is advanced by a transportation assembly through an information retrieval or interrogation assembly and thence introduced into a restoration chamber including a source of light at an energy level sufficient to remove residual image information thereby restoring the storage to a condition of use. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description thereof when taken with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout and wherein:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the apparatus of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a partial enlarged view of the positioning and transportation assembly of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  taken along a center line of the vertical axis of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 3  illustrating access to the restoration chamber of the apparatus of the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0021]     Referring now to the drawings and particularly  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a reading and restoration assembly for reusable storage films, generally indicated as  10 , comprised of lower housing or base portion, generally indicated as  12 , on which is mounted a scanning assembly, generally indicated as  14 . The lower housing portion  12  is comprised of a horizontally-mounted front door member  16 , also referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4  including a vertically and angularly-disposed bottom wall member  18  having inwardly extending vertical side walls  20  and an end wall  22  defining a collection drawer like chamber  24  for receiving scanned storage films, as more fully hereinafter discussed. The width dimension of the door member  16  is greater than the largest width size of any storage film to be processed.  
         [0022]     The lower housing portion  12  is provided with downwardly depending inner wall members  26  disposed inwardly from the side walls  18  to guide scanned storage films into the collection chamber  24 . A light source, generally indicated as  28 , is positioned in opposing relationship to the collection chamber  24 , at least co-extensive to the height and width dimension of the door member  16  and provides a source of light energy necessary to discharge trapped electrons in scanned storage films to restore imaging capability.  
         [0023]     The upper scanning assembly  14  is comprised of a cylindrically-shaped support surface  30  for positioning an imaged storage film thereabout and encloses a photomultiplier assembly, generally indicated as  32 . Disposed below the photomultiplier assembly  32 , there is provided a transportation assembly generally indicated as  34  including a plurality of roller and belt member assembly  34  for passing an imaged storage film downwardly passed a cylindrically-shaped slot (not shown) as described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. &#39;914 to Thoms, herein incorporated by reference, for interrogation or scanning by a focusing beam of photons, i.e. light to digitally generate photo-stimulated luminescence to be measured and stored in an appropriate computer assembly, such as described in the aforementioned patent to Goodman, et al.  
         [0024]     The assembly  10  is provided with a control panel, generally indicated as  40 , including a control member for initiating operation of the assembly  10  under the control of a CPU unit prior to positioning of an imaged storage film on the supporting surface. Such CPU unit includes programs to process the projected imaged storage film during passage through the assembly  10  and includes indicator lights providing status information on the storage film being processed through completion of the restoration process.  
         [0025]     In operation, the assembly  10  is activated and an imaged storage film (not shown) is positioned about the cylindrically-shaped support surface which is sensed to cause activation of the transportation assembly  32  whereby the roller and belt assemblies  34  are caused to rotate in a manner to effect downwardly displacement of the imaged storage film about the support surface  30  and thence linearly advanced passed the slot wherein a light beam is caused to interrogate and digitally generate photo-stimulated luminescent light which is evaluated and stored, such as disclosed in the aforementioned patent to Goodman, et al.  
         [0026]     During generation of the photo-stimulated luminescent light, the imaged storage film is being introduced into the lower housing portion  12  and guided by wall members towards the collection chamber  22 . A point is reached when the roller and belt assemblies  34  are no longer in contact with the imaged storage film whereupon the thus read storage film is caused to drop by gravity into the collection chamber  22  with a leading edge thereof causing to come to rest against the end wall of the door member of the lower housing portion  12  and sensed by an appropriate control member.  
         [0027]     Upon sensing the positioning of the thus read imaged storage film in the collection chamber, the light source  26  is activated and caused to remain activated for a preselect time to ensure discharge of trapped electrons in the storage film thereby restoring image capabilities of the storage film. An appropriate control member generates a signal on the control panel  40  at completion of the restoration process.  
         [0028]     It will be appreciated that a plurality of imaged storage films may be sequentially processed before a need to remove process storage film from the collection chamber of the door member  16  by causing the door member  16  to be rotated outwardly thereby permitting physical access to the collection chamber  22  and restored storage film.  
         [0029]     It is understood that should the interrogating of the storage film generate inadequate or invalid information, that the imaged storage plate is returned to a starting position and an error signal generated to alert user. Additionally, it will be understood that the assembly  10  may be used to process storage films which have been restored but not used for a time period and then subject to miscellaneous radiation.  
         [0030]     While the present invention has been described with respect to the exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications or changes can be achieved without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore it is manifestly intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the claims and the equivalence thereof.