Patent ID: 7211785

Claim:
A scanning apparatus, comprising: a cylindrical member rotatable about a rotational axis and having an outer surface adapted to support a storage phosphor sample thereon; and an optical system disposed proximate the outer surface and translatable in a direction substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the cylindrical member to scan the sample, the optical system comprising: (a) an opening; (b) an excitation beam is directed along a first axis through the opening to impinge on a sample and cause light to be emitted from the sample, the first axis being orthogonal to the rotational axis; (c) an integrating member reflecting the emitted light, the integrating member having an interior three-dimensional polynomial surface providing diffuse reflection, the excitation beam being directed through the integrating member along the first axis through the opening to impinge the sample; and (d) a single detector disposed adjacent the integrating member for collecting the reflected emitted light, the single detector disposed along an axis substantially parallel to the rotational axis.