Radiographic image reader

A radiographic image reader for acquiring electronic signals corresponding to a latent image of an object produced by radiation exposure of a photoreceptive medium within a cassette, comprising:

• a light-tight enclosure with at least one access port for inserting and removing the cassette;
• a scanning subsystem mounted within the light-tight enclosure for scanning the photoreceptive medium within the cassette to initiate the acquisition of the electronic signals representative of the latent image, the scanning subsystem comprising an optics module and a support stand;
• and
• a cassette registration and interface subsystem within the light-tight enclosure comprising an electronic interface structure for electronically connecting the photoreceptive medium within the cassette to an electronic component external of the cassette to obtain electronic signals corresponding to the latent image within the photoreceptive medium;
• wherein the cassette registration and interface subsystem is movable beneath a plane of the support stand and the electronic component external of the cassette is moveable adjacent to the plane during scanning of the photoreceptive medium.

A radiographic image reader for obtaining a high spatial resolution image by acquiring electronic signals corresponding to a latent image of an object produced by radiation exposure of a photoreceptive medium within a cassette, comprising:

• a light-tight enclosure with at least one access port for inserting and removing the cassette;
• a scanning subsystem mounted within the light-tight enclosure for scanning the photoreceptive medium within the cassette to initiate the acquisition of the electronic signals representative of the latent image, the scanning subsystem comprising an optics module and a support stand, the support stand comprising means for reducing undesired vibration to minimize the effect of distortion on the optical scanning beam;
• and
• a cassette registration and interface subsystem within the light-tight enclosure comprising:
• an electronic interface structure for electronically connecting the photoreceptive medium within the cassette to an electronic component external of the cassette to obtain electronic signals corresponding to the latent image within the photoreceptive medium;
• and
• an electrical interface structure for electrically connecting the photoreceptive medium within the cassette to an electrical power source external of the cassette;
• wherein the cassette registration and interface subsystem is movable beneath a plane of the support stand and the electronic component external of the cassette and the power source is movable beneath the plane during scanning of the photoreceptive medium.

A method for obtaining a high resolution image from acquisition of electronic signals corresponding to a latent image of an object produced by radiation exposure of a photoreceptive medium within a cassette in a radiographic image reader, comprising:

• providing a light-tight enclosure with at least one access port for inserting the cassette;
• configuring a scanning subsystem mounted within the light-tight enclosure for scanning the photoreceptive medium within the cassette to initiate the acquisition of the electronic signals representative of the latent image;
• and
• enabling a cassette registration and interface subsystem within the light-tight enclosure to electronically connect the photoreceptive medium within the cassette to an electronic component external of the cassette to obtain a high resolution image from electronic signals corresponding to the latent image within the photoreceptive medium.

A method for obtaining a high resolution image from acquisition of electronic signals corresponding to a latent image of an object produced by radiation exposure of a photoreceptive medium within a cassette in a radiographic image reader, comprising:

• providing a light-tight enclosure with at least one access port for inserting the cassette;
• configuring a scanning subsystem mounted within the light-tight enclosure for scanning the photoreceptive medium within the cassette to initiate the acquisition of the electronic signals representative of the latent image, the scanning subsystem comprising an optics module and a support stand, the support stand comprising vibration isolation means for reducing undesired vibration to minimize the effect of mechanical distortion on the scanning subsystem;
• providing a cassette registration and interface subsystem within the light-tight enclosure comprising:
• an electronic interface structure to electronically connect the photoreceptive medium within the cassette to an electronic component external of the cassette to obtain electronic signals corresponding to the latent image within the photoreceptive medium;
• an electrical interface structure for electrically connecting the photoreceptive medium within the cassette to an electrical power source external of the cassette;
• and
• connecting the electronic component and the power source to the cassette registration and interface subsystem for movement with the cassette registration and interface subsystem during scanning of the photoreceptive medium.