X-ray image converter, device and method for recording, processing and illustrating images using X-rays and other rays

Abstract

An X-ray image converter ( 2 ) for recording and evaluating information gained from X-ray investigations of persons ( 3 ), animals or objects and other purposes is suggested, which comprises a carrier ( 4 ) of a material in which the impinging X-ray radiation causes detectable changes, as well as a method for recording X-ray images, wherein changes in charge carriers on the surface of a carrier ( 4 ) are determined for evaluation of the radiation from the object ( 3 ) being observed.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An X-ray image converter for recording and evaluating information which can be detected within suitable radiation regions, e.g X-ray examination of persons ( 3 ), animals or objects or for scientific and technical purposes such as e.g. analysis or controls, comprising a carrier ( 4 ) on which the X-ray radiation impinges and effects characteristic changes, characterized in that the carrier ( 4 ) is a sheet, in particular a plastic sheet and that for detecting the characteristic change, a detector device is provided which scans the surface of the sheet during relative motion with respect to the sheet or which detects the information in a different fashion.  
     
     
         2 . The X-ray image converter according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the sheet has useful properties to detect the changes such as e.g. electrically conducting surfaces (electrodes) on one or both surfaces or also in between, which are electrostatically charged before exposition and which are scanned after exposition to measure the charge or voltage differences caused by irradiation or in that a magnetic effect is utilized for detection or that physical methods are combined.  
     
     
         3 . The X-ray image converter according to  claim 1 , characterized in that rollers ( 5 ) or cylinders are provided for retaining and moving the sheet ( 4 ) in a direction relative to the detector device ( 6 ) by means of which the sheet is moved over the detector device after exposition.  
     
     
         4 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 3 , characterized in that the detector device, and/or a charger, is integrated in one or both of the above-mentioned rollers.  
     
     
         5 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 1 , characterized in that the detector device ( 6 ) can be moved over the carrier ( 4 ) in one or two directions in dependence on the number and arrangement of the measuring points of the detector device.  
     
     
         6 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 1 , characterized in that more than one sheet plane, disposed one behind another with respect to the path of the rays, are exposed simultaneously and subsequently scanned and evaluated to receive more information and calculate improved image results, wherein both sheet regions between the rollers and both rollers can be simultaneously utilized, if rollers are provided for retaining and moving the sheet.  
     
     
         7 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 2 , characterized in that one side of the sheet is provided with an electrically conducting coating.  
     
     
         8 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 2 , characterized in that one side of the sheet is provided with many electrically conducting insulating surfaces which form pixels, i.e. individual image points, wherein should a conducting surface already be used, the other opposing side of the sheet is used for the pixels.  
     
     
         9 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 2 , characterized in that the two surfaces of the sheet or the electrodes or pixels are charged with an electric voltage before irradiation, that the charge or voltage difference is reduced through irradiation and that after irradiation, the electric voltage or voltage difference between the two sheet sides is measured (scanned) at the individual image points and evaluated.  
     
     
         10 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 2 , characterized in that the detector device ( 6 ) comprises a field effect transistor or an operation amplifier, having an FET input, as detector for scanning the pixel side.  
     
     
         11 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 1 , characterized in that, for recording spatially resolved information, several carriers are disposed at different spatial positions relative to the object to be recorded.  
     
     
         12 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 1 , characterized in that for recording spatially resolved information, several radiation sources are disposed simultaneously or sequentially at different spatial positions relative to the object to be recorded, wherein X-ray tubes having 2 or more effective anode regions (focal spots), mechanical movement of the tube or use of scattering means may be provided.  
     
     
         13 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 1 , characterized in that the information recorded by the detector device is evaluated and displayed by means of a computer.  
     
     
         14 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 13 , characterized in that the information recorded by the computer is locally stored, transported via data communication, printed onto transparent film or paper or other media or protected from unauthorized access, changes or abuse, either intentionally or unintentionally through cryptological methods and/or electronic authority checks.  
     
     
         15 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 13 , characterized in that the information processed into images is shown in color to increase the meaningfulness, facilitate interpretation, display additional information or for other reasons.  
     
     
         16 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 1 , characterized in that secondary radiation, stray radiation, “fluorescence responses”, diffraction, grid diffraction effects, certain spectral ranges selected from the object, afterglow or polarization effects are recorded from the examined objects, are evaluated and represented as an image or in a different fashion or integrated in other images or evaluations, as well as actual sources located in the object itself.  
     
     
         17 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 1 , characterized in that a shadow casting attachment may be mounted in front of the inventive X-ray image converter to calculate, through image processing, the direction of the impinging irradiation from the recorded images by means of the shadows cast by the attachment to obtain, after numerical calculation in the computer, i.a. a similar image representation as through a lens focussing the rays in front of the image converter and that additionally or instead of the attachment, other shadows from the field of view, in particular also shadows of the object are taken into consideration, wherein additional spatial information and information concerning physical response of the object to the radiation is very useful and essential for certain evaluations.  
     
     
         18 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 1 , characterized in that different spectral regions of the source or sources, e.g. the X-ray tube, are applied for the same examination, either simultaneously or immediately following one another to permit or improve detection of the properties of the examined object, e.g. a tumor or a defective location by combining the different information in most cases by a computer.  
     
     
         19 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 2 , characterized in that the detector device for scanning the image utilizes substantially the same electronics as a flat bed scanner for paper (e.g. format A4 or US letter) or a fax machine when scanning the inserted documents, the difference being that the first step of the input elements reacts not to light (light to dark) but to voltages or charges or to another physical effect such as e.g. magnetic fields or electromagnetic fields.  
     
     
         20 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 1 , characterized in that the carrier or the sheet may consist of several layers and that also more than one carrier may be used in cooperation with specialized functions, wherein the movements may be partly identical and partly different and that carriers may also contain other passive and active elements to effectively support the technical functions before, during and after irradiation.  
     
     
         21 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 2 , characterized in that an electret is used as carrier or part or layer thereof which independently creates D.C. voltage (polarization voltage).  
     
     
         22 . The X-ray image converter of  claim 1 , characterized in that the claims can be effectively combined to carry out basically novel or improved examinations and permit or facilitate detection and illustration of details.  
     
     
         23 . Method for recording X-ray images in X-ray examinations of persons, animals or objects, characterized by the following methods steps, that the object to be examined is irradiated with X-ray radiation, that the X-ray radiation emitted by the object or transmitted through the object is received by a carrier ( 4 ), and that the change of the charge carrier on the surface of the carrier ( 4 ) is detected for evaluation purposes.