Radiation image storage panel suitable for use in mammographic applications

Abstract

In a photostimulable storage phosphor screen or panel wherein said screen comprises storage phosphor particles dispersed in a binder and wherein said particles have a particle size distribution having a d 99 which is not more than 15 μm, said d 99 expressing a grain size limit above which not more than 1% by weight of phosphor powder particles is present in said phosphor powder, its structure noise parameter DQE2 rel exceeds a value of 0.70 and a ratio of d 99 (expressed in μm) and DQE2 rel is not more than 25:1, wherein DQE2 rel is the ratio of the DQE2 obtained at a dose of 22 mR to the DQE2 obtained at a dose of 3 mR, as expressed in formula (I) DQE 2 rel=DQE 2(22 mR))/ DQE 2(3 mR)  (I) which is representative for an amount of screen-structure noise produced by said screen or panel in the complete spatial frequency range.

1 . A photostimulable storage phosphor screen or panel, wherein said screen comprises storage phosphor particles dispersed in a binder, wherein said particles have a particle size distribution having a d 99  which is not more than 15 μm, said d 99  expressing a grain size limit above which not more than 1% by weight of phosphor powder particles is present in said phosphor powder, wherein its structure noise parameter DQE2 rel  exceeds a value of 0.70 and wherein a ratio of d 99  (expressed in μm) to DQE2 rel  is not more than 25:1, DQE2 rel  being the ratio of the DQE2 obtained at a dose of 22 mR to the DQE2 obtained at a dose of 3 mR, as expressed in formula (I)
     DQE 2 rel   =DQE 2(22 mR))/ DQE 2(3 mR)  (I)   
     which is representative for an amount of screen-structure noise produced by said screen or panel in the complete spatial frequency range. 
   
   
       2 . A photostimulable storage phosphor screen or panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said screen comprises storage phosphor particles having a d 99  which is not more than 10 μm, and wherein its ratio of d 99  (expressed in μm) to DQE2 rel  is not more than 15:1. 
   
   
       3 . A photostimulable storage phosphor screen or panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said d 99  is in the range from 5 μm up to less than 10 μm. 
   
   
       4 . A photostimulable storage phosphor screen or panel, according to  claim 1 , wherein a storage phosphor powder dispersed therein has a median particle size in its weight particle size distribution which is more than 2 μm. 
   
   
       5 . A photostimulable storage phosphor screen or panel, according to  claim 1 , wherein a storage phosphor powder dispersed therein has a median particle size in its weight particle size distribution which is more than 4 μm. 
   
   
       6 . A photostimulable storage phosphor screen or panel, according to  claim 1 , wherein a storage phosphor powder dispersed therein has a median particle size in its weight particle size distribution which is more than 6 μm. 
   
   
       7 . A photostimulable storage phosphor screen or panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said storage phosphor is a lanthanide activated alkaline earth metal fluoro halide type phosphor. 
   
   
       8 . A photostimulable storage phosphor screen or panel according to  claim 7 , wherein said storage phosphor is a BaFBr:Eu-type phosphor. 
   
   
       9 . A photostimulable storage phosphor screen or panel according to  claim 7 , wherein said storage phosphor is a Ba(Sr)FBr:Eu-type phosphor. 
   
   
       10 . A photostimulable storage phosphor screen or panel according to  claim 7 , wherein said storage phosphor is a (Ba,Sr)F 1+x X 1−x  phosphor, wherein 0<x<0.1 and wherein X is one of Br or I or a combination thereof. 
   
   
       11 - 13 . (canceled)