Light stimulating and collecting methods and apparatus for storage-phosphor image plates

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are described for retrieving information from a storage medium. A first portion of the surface of the storage medium is exposed to stimulating light which diffuses in the storage medium under a second portion of the surface adjacent the first portion. The second portion of the surface is shielded from exposure to the stimulating light. Stimulated light corresponding to the information is received with at least one detector positioned to receive the stimulated light via the second portion of the surface of the storage medium. The stimulated light is released from the storage medium in response to the stimulating light diffused under the second portion of the surface.

1 . A storage-phosphor plate operable to capture incident x-rays and release latent image energy in response to stimulating light having a first wavelength on the surface of the storage phosphor plate, the storage-phosphor plate having a thickness and including an energy-absorbing dye for absorbing electromagnetic energy having a wavelength in a range including the first wavelength, the energy-absorbing dye having a concentration in the storage-phosphor plate sufficient to attenuate the stimulating light by at least a factor of five through 75% of the thickness of the plate.  
   
   
       2 . The storage-phosphor plate of  claim 1  wherein the energy-absorbing dye comprises a red-absorbing dye.  
   
   
       3 . The storage-phosphor plate of  claim 1  wherein the energy-absorbing dye comprises an infrared-absorbing dye.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus operable to store and retrieve information, comprising: 
 a storage-phosphor plate operable to capture incident x-rays corresponding to the information, the storage-phosphor plate including a red-absorbing dye for absorbing electromagnetic energy having a wavelength in a range around 680 nm, the red-absorbing dye having a concentration in the storage-phosphor plate sufficient to attenuate stimulating light by at least a factor of five through 75% of the thickness of the plate;    a stimulating light source operable to expose the surface of the storage-phosphor plate to the stimulating light; and    at least one detector positioned to receive stimulated light via the surface of the storage-phosphor plate, the stimulated light being released in response to the stimulating light.    
   
   
       5 . A storage-phosphor plate operable to capture incident x-rays corresponding to an image, the storage-phosphor plate being for use with a scanning apparatus for reading the image, the storage-phosphor plate being disposed on a foam layer, the foam layer being for compressing the storage-phosphor plate against the scanning apparatus as the scanning apparatus moves across the storage-phosphor plate.  
   
   
       6 . The storage-phosphor plate of  claim 5  wherein the scanning apparatus comprises a linear scanning apparatus which effects one dimensional scanning of the storage-phosphor plate, the linear scanning apparatus being secured at opposing edges of the storage-phosphor plate during scanning, the foam layer increasing in thickness toward the center of the storage-phosphor plate.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus operable to store and retrieve information, comprising: 
 a storage-phosphor plate operable to capture incident x-rays corresponding to the information, the storage-phosphor plate being disposed on a foam layer;    a stimulating light source operable to expose the surface of the storage-phosphor plate to stimulating light; and    at least one detector positioned to receive stimulated light via the surface of the storage-phosphor plate, the stimulated light being released in response to the stimulating light;    wherein the stimulating light source and the at least one detector are part of a scanning apparatus for reading the information, the foam layer being for pressing the storage-phosphor plate against the scanning apparatus as the scanning apparatus moves across the storage-phosphor plate.    
   
   
       8 . A system for collecting electromagnetic energy, comprising: 
 an array of photodetectors for generating charge in response to incidence of the electromagnetic energy on the array;    an optical transmission medium in close proximity to the array of photodetectors for transmitting the electromagnetic energy to the array of photodetectors; and    an adhesive material for bonding the optical transmission medium to the array of photodetectors, the adhesive material including a dye for absorbing a portion of the electromagnetic energy corresponding to a first frequency.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the dye comprises a fluorescent material, the adhesive material further comprising additional material for absorbing fluorescent light from the fluorescent material.  
   
   
       10 . A radiographic cassette comprising a storage medium for capturing incident x-rays corresponding to an image, and a radio frequency detector for detecting radio frequency energy in close proximity to the cassette enclosure, the radio frequency energy corresponding to patient information to be associated with the image.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising a radio frequency transmitter disposed outside of the cassette enclosure for generating the radio frequency energy.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the radio frequency transmitter is included in one of a wrist band and a badge.  
   
   
       13 . An integrated x-ray image capture and readout system, comprising: 
 a cassette enclosure having a form factor corresponding to a standard radiographic film cassette;    a storage-phosphor plate operable to capture incident x-rays corresponding to an image;    a readout assembly for reading the image from the storage-phosphor plate and converting the image to electronic information; and    a transmission circuitry for transmitting the electronic information outside of the cassette enclosure;    wherein the storage-phosphor plate and the readout assembly are enclosed in the cassette enclosure.    
   
   
       14 . A method for capturing and reading an x-ray image using the system of  claim 13 , comprising: 
 placing the cassette enclosure in an x-ray apparatus for exposure to the incident x-rays;    exposing the storage-phosphor plate to the incident x-rays; and    while the cassette enclosure remains in the x-ray apparatus, reading the electronic information via the transmission circuitry.    
   
   
       15 . A charge-coupled device array for generating charge packets in response to electromagnetic energy incident on the array, a photosensitive area of the charge-coupled device comprising a plurality of first regions for storing the charge packets and a plurality of second regions for isolating the charge packets from each other, the second regions occupying at least 60% of the photosensitive area.  
   
   
       16 . A charge-coupled device array for generating charge in response to electromagnetic energy incident on the array, the array comprising an output register configured for multi-pinned phase operation and operable in four-phase mode and two-phase mode.  
   
   
       17 . A method for reading charge packets generated in a charge-coupled device array comprising a photosensitive area, an output register and a resettable output amplifier comprising: 
 reading a first charge packet as a first value;    comparing the first value to a threshold value;    where the first value exceeds the threshold value, resetting the output amplifier and reading a second charge packet; and    where the first value is less than the threshold value, combining the second charge packet with the first charge packet by reading the second charge packet without resetting the output amplifier after the first charge packet has been read.