# US 7,612,357 B2 · Apparatus for reading out X-ray information stored in storage phosphor layer and radiography module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,612,357 B2 - Document ID: US7612357B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/567,017 - Filed: 2006-12-05 - Published: 2007-07-05 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-12-29 - Assignees: Agfa-Gevaert HealthCare GmbH - Inventors: Stephen Mair; Jens Nissen; Stefan Stallmeister - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7612357B2 ## CPC - G01T 1/2014: {Reading out of stimulable sheets, e.g. latent image} - G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00) ## Abstract An apparatus (1) for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray image stored in a storage phosphor layer (4) is pivotable and includes acquiring unit (24) for acquiring an orientation of the apparatus (1). In this way, in a technically simple way, good image quality of an X-ray image read out can be guaranteed. Furthermore, the invention relates to a radiography module with this type of apparatus (1). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray image stored in a storage phosphor layer, the apparatus being pivotable, the apparatus comprising: an acquiring unit adapted to acquire an orientation of the apparatus; and a controller adapted to control the read-out of the X-ray information depending upon the orientation of the apparatus provided by the acquiring unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring unit is adapted to determine a direction of acceleration due to gravity relative to the apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring unit comprises at least one acceleration sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring unit comprises at least one rotation sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the at least one rotation sensor is disposed on an axis of rotation of the apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an irradiation device adapted to irradiate the storage phosphor layer with stimulation radiation and a detection device adapted to collect emission radiation which the storage phosphor layer emits as a result of irradiation by means of the stimulation radiation, the irradiation device and the detection device being rigidly associated with one another. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller is adapted to control the irradiation device depending upon the orientation of the apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an actuation device adapted to produce a relative movement between the storage phosphor layer on the one hand and a stimulation device and a detection device on the other hand. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controller is adapted to control the speed of the relative movement depending upon the orientation of the apparatus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the acquiring unit is adapted to acquire a speed of the relative movement. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the acquiring unit is adapted to determine at least an average speed of the relative movement, this average speed occurring during the read-out of the X-ray information between at least two relative positions between the storage phosphor layer on the one hand and the stimulation device and detection device on the other hand. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising at least two sensors which are allocated to the at least two relative positions and are adapted to determine a time required by relative movement when reading out the X-ray information between the at least two positions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the controller is adapted to process the X-ray information read out from the storage phosphor layer and process the X-ray information read out depending upon the orientation of the apparatus and pre-specify details for processing the X-ray information read out and select at least some of the pre-specified details depending upon the orientation of the apparatus and use the pre-specified details selected for processing the X-ray information, and compare the orientation of the apparatus and the speed to one another and modify pre-specified details for processing the X-ray information. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the controller is adapted to store pre-specified details for controlling the apparatus and select between the pre-specified details depending upon the orientation of the apparatus and use the pre-specified details selected for controlling the apparatus and wherein the controller is configured to compare the orientation of the apparatus acquired by the acquiring unit and the speed to one another and use this comparison with the pre-specified details for controlling the apparatus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to store pre-specified details for controlling the apparatus and select between the pre-specified details depending upon the orientation of the apparatus and use the details selected for controlling the apparatus. ### Claim 16 An apparatus for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray image stored in a storage phosphor layer, the apparatus being pivotable, the apparatus comprising: an acquiring unit adapted to acquire an orientation of the apparatus; and a controller adapted to process the X-ray information read out from the storage phosphor layer and process the X-ray information read out depending upon the orientation of the apparatus provided by the acquiring unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the controller has pre-specified details for processing the X-ray information read out and is adapted to select at least some of the pre-specified details depending upon the orientation of the apparatus provided by the acquiring unit and use the details selected for processing the X-ray information. ### Claim 18 An apparatus for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray image stored in a storage phosphor layer, the apparatus being pivotable, the apparatus comprising: an acquiring unit adapted to acquire an orientation of the apparatus; an irradiation device adapted to irradiate the storage phosphor layer with stimulation radiation; a detection device adapted to collect emission radiation which the storage phosphor layer emits as a result of irradiation by means of the stimulation radiation, the irradiation device and the detection device being rigidly associated with one another; and a controller adapted to control the detection device depending upon the orientation of the apparatus. ### Claim 19 A radiography X-ray cassette, comprising a housing; an apparatus adapted to read out X-ray information of an X-ray image stored in a storage phosphor layer in the housing, the apparatus including an acquiring unit adapted to acquire an orientation of the housing; and a controller adapted to process the X-ray information read out from the storage phosphor layer and process the X-ray information read out depending upon the orientation of the housing. ### Claim 20 A radiography X-ray cassette, comprising a housing; and an apparatus adapted to read out X-ray information of an X-ray image stored in a storage phosphor layer in the housing, the apparatus including an acquiring unit adapted to acquire an orientation of the housing, wherein the acquiring unit is adapted to determine a direction of acceleration due to gravity relative to the housing; and a controller adapted to process the X-ray information read out from the storage phosphor layer and process the X-ray information read out depending upon the orientation of the housing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The cassette according to claim 19, wherein the acquiring unit comprises at least one rotation sensor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The cassette according to claim 21, wherein the at least one rotation sensor is disposed on an axis of rotation of the housing. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The cassette according to claim 19, wherein the acquiring unit comprises at least one acceleration sensor. ### Claim 24 A method for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray image stored in a storage phosphor layer with a read out apparatus, the method comprising: acquiring an orientation of the read out apparatus; and controlling a processing of the X-ray image in response to the orientation. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein the step of acquiring the orientation comprises determining a direction of acceleration due to gravity relative to the apparatus. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein the step of acquiring the orientation comprises measuring a rotation of the apparatus. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein the step of controlling the processing comprises controlling an irradiation device for irradiating the storage phosphor layer with stimulation radiation and a detection device for collecting emission radiation which the storage phosphor layer emits as a result of irradiation by means of the stimulation radiation in response to the orientation. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein the step of controlling the processing comprises correcting distortion in the X-ray image due the orientation with respect to a direction of acceleration due to gravity relative to the apparatus. ### Claim 29 An apparatus for reading out X-ray information of an X-ray image stored in a storage phosphor layer, the apparatus being pivotable, the apparatus comprising: an acquiring unit adapted to acquire an orientation of the apparatus, wherein the acquiring unit is adapted to determine a direction of acceleration due to gravity relative to the apparatus, and a controller adapted to process the X-ray information read out depending upon the orientation of the apparatus provided by the acquiring unit to correct for distortion in the X-ray information due to changes in the orientation of the apparatus. ### Claim 30 A radiography X-ray cassette, comprising a housing; and an apparatus adapted to read out X-ray information of an X-ray image stored in a storage phosphor layer in the housing, the apparatus including an acquiring unit adapted to acquire an orientation of the housing, wherein the acquiring unit is adapted to determine a direction of acceleration due to gravity relative to the housing, wherein the acquiring unit is adapted to determine a direction of acceleration due to gravity relative to the housing, and a controller adapted to process the X-ray information read out depending upon the orientation of the housing provided by the acquiring unit to correct for distortion in the X-ray information due to changes in the orientation of the housing.