Methods and apparatus for protecting imaging media from contaminants
AssigneeOrex Computed Radiography Ltd.
InventorJacob Koren
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A protective cover for various image recording media, such as film and phosphor media, and for cassettes that encase said media. The protective cover is arranged to substantially enclose the cassette during storage and/or exposure to X-rays and then removed (and perhaps disposed of) during acquisition of the latent image stored on the image recording media, for example, by an image reader such as a laser scanning device. The protective cover prevents contaminants from contacting the cassette and/or image recording media, thus extending the lifetime of the equipment.
Claims46
A protective cover for a cassette adapted to handle at least one image recording medium responsive to and recording information related to electromagnetic energy impinging on the image recording medium, the protective cover comprising:
- a receptacle adapted to substantially enclose the cassette, the receptacle formed substantially by a material that reduces a possibility of at least one contaminant from contacting the cassette;
- an opening through which the cassette may be inserted into the receptacle;
- and
- a release through which the cassette may be removed from the receptacle.
An image recording apparatus comprising:
- an image recording medium responsive to and capable of storing information related to electromagnetic radiation impinging on the image recording medium;
- a cassette substantially enclosing the image recording medium;
- and
- at least one removable protective cover dimensioned to substantially enclose the cassette, the removable protective cover adapted to facilitate the prevention of at least one contaminant from contacting the cassette.
A method of protecting a cassette containing an image recording medium responsive to electromagnetic radiation from at least one contaminant, the method comprising acts of:
- inserting the cassette into a first protective envelope prior to a first exposure to the electromagnetic radiation;
- providing the first exposure of the image recording medium to the electromagnetic radiation;
- and
- removing the cassette from the first protective envelope subsequent to exposure to the electromagnetic radiation.
A protective cover for use with a cassette adapted to handle image recording media responsive to and capable of storing information in proportion to electromagnetic radiation impinging on a surface of the image recording media, wherein the use includes:
- covering the cassette containing an image recording medium with the protective cover prior to a first exposure to X-ray radiation;
- exposing the phosphor medium to X-ray radiation to record image information;
- and
- removing the protective cover from the cassette after exposing the image recording medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.