Computed radiography system for mammography

A computed radiography system, comprising a stimulating light source,

• a photostimulable glass imaging plate (PGIP) having nanocrystalline particles distributed therein substantially transparent to the stimulating light positioned such that the stimulating light impinges said PGIP perpendicularly thereto producing photostimulated luminescence light (PLL) having a wave length different from said stimulating light source,
• a hollow light collector having a light reflecting inner surface proximate said PGIP for collecting PLL emitted from said PGIP and having a hole or slot therein for admitting stimulating light into said hollow light collector and onto said PGIP,
• an optical filter in communication with said hollow light collector for blocking stimulating light waves and passing PLL therethrough,
• a light detector for receiving PLL from said optical filter and said hollow light collector,
• a mechanism providing relative movement in two orthogonal directions between said PGIP and said stimulating light source while maintaining the perpendicular relationship between the PGIP and the stimulating light, and
• a mechanism including an analog to digital converter for converting the collected and detected PLL to a diagnostic readout.

A computed radiography system for reading exposed mammography plates, comprising a source of laser light having a wavelength in the range from about 500 nm to about 750 nm,

• a photostimulable glass imaging plate (PGIP) having nanocrystalline particles distributed therein previously exposed to x-ray radiation and substantially transparent to the laser light positioned such that the laser light impinges said PGIP perpendicularly thereto producing photostimulated luminescence light (PLL) having a wave length different from and less than said laser light,
• a hollow light collector having a light reflecting inner surface proximate said PGIP for collecting PLL emitted from said PGIP and having a hole or slot therein for admitting laser light into said hollow light collector and onto said PGIP,
• an optical filter in communication with said hollow light collector for blocking laser light and passing PLL therethrough,
• a light detector receiving PLL from said optical filter and said hollow light collector,
• a mechanism providing relative movement in two orthogonal directions between said PGIP and said laser light while maintaining the perpendicular relationship between the PGIP and the laser light, and
• a mechanism including an analog to digital converter for converting the collected and detected PLL to a diagnostic readout.