Radiation image read-out apparatus and radiation image convertor panel

Abstract

A radiation image read-out apparatus includes a condenser optical system which converges stimulated emission emitted from a radiation image convertor panel upon exposure to stimulating light. A photodetector receives the stimulated emission converged by the condenser optical system and has a sensitivity to light longer in wavelength than the stimulating light and a stimulating light cut filter is disposed in the optical path of the stimulated emission between the photodetector and the radiation image convertor panel to transmit the stimulated emission and to cut the stimulating light. A longer wavelength light cut filter which transmits the stimulated emission and attenuates the intensity of light components longer in wavelength than the stimulating light is provided in the optical path of the stimulated emission between the photodetector and the radiation image convertor panel.

What is claimed is;  
     
         1 . A radiation image read-out apparatus which comprises a condenser optical system which converges stimulated emission emitted from a radiation image convertor panel upon exposure to stimulating light, a photodetector which receives the stimulated emission converged by the condenser optical system for photoelectric conversion and has a sensitivity to light longer in wavelength than the stimulating light and a stimulating light cut filter which is disposed in the optical path of the stimulated emission between the photodetector and the radiation image convertor panel to transmit the stimulated emission and to cut the stimulating light, and reads out a radiation image recorded on the radiation image convertor panel, wherein the improvement comprises that 
 a longer wavelength light cut filter which transmits the stimulated emission and attenuates the intensity of light components longer in wavelength than the stimulating light is provided in the optical path of the stimulated emission between the photodetector and the radiation image convertor panel.    
     
     
         2 . A radiation image read-out apparatus as defined in  claim 1  in which the longer wavelength light cut filter is disposed between the condenser optical system and the photodetector.  
     
     
         3 . A radiation image read-out apparatus as defined in  claim 1  in which the longer wavelength light cut filter attenuates the intensity of the light components in the range not shorter than 800 nm and not longer 900 nm in wavelength to not higher than {fraction (1/100)}.  
     
     
         4 . A radiation image read-out apparatus as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a correction means which subtracts an image signal component which represents a light component longer in wavelength than the stimulating light passing through the longer wavelength light cut filter and is included in an image signal obtained by photoelectric conversion of the stimulated emission by the photodetector from the image signal, thereby correcting the image signal.  
     
     
         5 . A radiation image convertor panel which emits stimulated emission upon exposure to stimulating light, wherein the improvement comprises that 
 a longer wavelength light cut filter which transmits the stimulating light and the stimulated emission and attenuates the intensity of the light components longer in wavelength than the stimulating light is provided on the side of the radiation image convertor panel from which the stimulated emission emitted from the radiation image convertor panel is detected.    
     
     
         6 . A radiation image convertor panel as defined in  claim 5  in which the longer wavelength light cut filter attenuates the intensity of the light components in the range not shorter than 800 nm and not longer 900 nm in wavelength to not higher than {fraction (1/100)}.