Radiation image read-out method and apparatus

A radiation image read-out method, comprising the steps of:

• i) irradiating stimulating rays, which have been produced by a surface light source, onto a front surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,
• ii) receiving light, which is emitted from the area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the stimulating rays, with an area sensor comprising a plurality of arrayed photoelectric conversion devices, the received light being subjected to photoelectric conversion performed by said area sensor, and
• iii) reading outputs of said photoelectric conversion devices constituting said area sensor,
• wherein said surface light source is constituted of an organic EL device.

A radiation image read-out apparatus, comprising:

• i) a line light source for linearly irradiating stimulating rays onto an area of a front surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,
• ii) a line sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from the linear area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the linear stimulating rays, and performing photoelectric conversion of the received light, said line sensor comprising a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices arrayed along a length direction of said linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet,
• iii) scanning means for moving the stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to said line light source and said line sensor and in a direction different from a length direction of said linear area of the stimulable phosphor sheet, and
• iv) reading means for successively reading outputs of said photoelectric conversion devices of said line sensor in accordance with said movement,
• wherein said line light source is constituted of an organic EL device.

A radiation image read-out apparatus, comprising:

• i) a surface light source for irradiating stimulating rays onto a front surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet, on which a radiation image has been stored, the stimulating rays causing the stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to an amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to radiation,
• ii) an area sensor for receiving light, which is emitted from the area of the front surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet exposed to the stimulating rays, and performing photoelectric conversion of the received light, said area sensor comprising a plurality of arrayed photoelectric conversion devices, and
• iii) reading means for reading outputs of said photoelectric conversion devices constituting said area sensor,
• wherein said surface light source is constituted of an organic EL device.