Method and apparatus for acquiring images by X-rays
OwnerStoichita Catalininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of acquisition of images by X-rays consisting in exposing the object to be visualized to X-rays and producing from these rays by means of a scintillator screen with a strong remanence and of a charge-coupled device, electrical signals representative of the object, placing the scintillator screen upon the light-sensitive surface of the charge-coupled device and causing the latter to acquire the visible image from the scintillator through integration during the post-luminescence phase of the scintillator.
Claims12
A method of acquiring a visible radiographic image of an object comprising the steps of:
- placing a scintillator upon a light-sensitive surface of a charge-coupled device, the scintillator having a strong remanence so as to present an extended post-luminescence phase;
- exposing the object to X-rays, thereby causing the scintillator to emit light;
- minimizing an electric field in the charge-coupled device during the exposing step thereby reducing the degradation of the charge-coupled device caused by the X-rays;
- integrating the light emitted by the scintillator during the post-luminescence phase of the scintillator;
- reading-out electrical signals from the charge-coupled device based on the integrating step, the signals being representative of the visible radiographic image;
- and
- converting the electrical signals to the visible radiographic image.
A method of acquiring a visible radiographic image of an object comprising the steps of:
- placing a scintillator upon a light-sensitive surface of a charge-coupled device, the scintillator having a strong remanence so as to present an extended post-luminescence phase;
- exposing the object to X-rays, thereby causing the scintillator to emit light;
- integrating the light emitted by the scintillator during the post-luminescence phase of the scintillator, thereby reducing the degradation of the charge-coupled device caused by the X-rays;
- reading-out electrical signals from the charge-coupled device based on the integrating step, the signals being representative of the visible radiographic image;
- and
- converting the electrical signals to the visible radiographic image;
- wherein each acquired image is corrected by subtraction therefrom of an image imprinted with the noise of the charge-coupled device, the noise-imprinted image being obtained by a preliminary reading-out of the charge-coupled device without radiation.
A device for acquiring a radiographic image of an object comprising:
- a source for emitting X-rays to which the object is exposed;
- a first charge-coupled device;
- a first scintillator, the first scintillator having a strong remanence so as to present an extended post-luminescence phase, the first scintillator emitting light in response to the X-rays, and the first scintillator being placed upon a light-sensitive surface of the first charge-coupled device;
- a controller for controlling the first charge-coupled device, the controller being adapted so as to cause an integration of the light emitted by the scintillator during the post-luminescence phase of the scintillator screen;
- and
- a radiographic imaging device, connected to the controller, for displaying the radiographic image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.