Carl Zeiss Jena Gmbh

Agfa Healthcare Nv

Agfa-gevaert Healthcare Gmbh

Thomas Hartmann

Günther Schindlbeck

Alfons Kastl

Stephan Mair

Rudolf Loistl

Johannes Hölzl

Hans Ketterer

Otto Butz

Rudolf Werkstetter

Gerhard Doering

Franz Auer

Jürgen Heinz

Volkmar Voigtländer

Dirk Muehlhoff

Massimo Antonio Ghioni

Matthias Burkhardt

Anton Pirmann

Stefan Schmidt

Stefan Mack

Franco Zappa

Karlheinz Bartzke

Bernd Gerstlauer

Eberhard Derndinger

Horst Scherer

Robert Grub

Sergio Cova

Reinhard Steiner

Karl-Heinz Klopfleisch

Guenter Berthel

Markus Atzenbeck

Peter Dittrich

Guenther Rudolph

Heinz-Josef Romanski

A method and to a corresponding apparatus reads out X-ray information stored in a storage phosphor plate (), the storage phosphor plate () being irradiated with stimulation light () and so being stimulated into emitting emission light which is collected by a detector () during several measuring times and being converted into corresponding emission light signals (S, R). In order to guarantee high reliability when examining sensitivity fluctuations, in particular with different types of detectors, provision is made such that reference measurements are taken by the detector () during several reference measuring times and several reference signals are thus produced, the individual reference measuring times falling respectively between the measuring times, and the reference signals being used for examining the sensitivity of the detector () to emission light.

Method and apparatus for reading out X-ray information stored in storage phosphor plate

A process, and to a corresponding apparatus for reading out and erasing X-ray information stored in storage phosphor layers, comprising the following: irradiating the storage phosphor layer () with stimulation light () by means of which the storage phosphor layer () is stimulated to emit emission light, collecting the emission light emitted at different locations (x, y) of the storage phosphor layer () with a detector (), detector signal values (D(x, y)) being obtained for different locations (x, y) of the storage phosphor layer (), and irradiating the storage phosphor layer () with erasing light (), the quantity of erasing light () being determined by means of the detector signal values (D(x, y)). When determining the quantity of erasing light (), detector signal values (D(x, y)) obtained for different locations (x, y) in a first and second dimension (x or y) of the storage phosphor layer () are compared with comparison signal values (H(x), H'(x)) specified for different locations (x) in just one dimension (x) of the storage phosphor layer ().

Process and apparatus for reading out and erasing X-ray information stored in storage phosphor layers

An apparatus () for reading out X-ray information stored in storage phosphor plates with an input unit, () for inputting a plurality of cassettes () which can be stacked one behind the other in a direction of stacking (S) within the input unit (), has an oblong accommodation well () for accommodating one of the cassettes (), the accommodation well () being adjacent to the input unit (), a moving device () for horizontally moving the cassette () accommodated by the accommodation well () along a path of movement, and a deflection element () for deflecting a next cassette located within the input unit () which is adjacent to the cassette () accommodated by the accommodation well () and projects at least partially into the path of movement, the deflection element () being positioned and designed such that with horizontal movement of the cassette () located within the accommodation well (), due to contact between the cassette () located within the accommodation well () and the next cassette () located within the input unit () a force is exerted upon the latter in the direction of stacking (S) and thus moves out of the path of movement.

Apparatus for reading out X-ray information stored in storage phosphor plates

An apparatus () for reading out, in a time-saving and reliable way, X-ray information stored in storage phosphor plates with an input unit () in which a plurality of cassettes () in which a storage phosphor plate to be read out is respectively located, can be input. A read-out unit () is located beneath the input unit () and in which storage phosphor plates can be read out, it being possible to remove a storage phosphor plate from a cassette () located within the input unit () and to convey it to the read-out unit () located beneath the input unit () in order to read out the storage phosphor plate, and to convey it back into the cassette located within the input unit () after having read out the storage phosphor plate, an output unit () which is adjacent to the input unit () and in which cassettes () can be output, and a moving device for moving the cassette () located within the input unit () the storage phosphor plate of which has been read out in the read-out unit () located beneath the input unit () along a substantially horizontal path of movement to the output unit adjacent to the input unit ().

A cassette () for a storage phosphor plate () comprises a cassette housing () with an opening () and a support () disposed movably within the cassette housing (), wherein the storage phosphor plate () lies on the support (). In order to simplify the structure of the cassette () and of the corresponding removal mechanism, provision is made such that the support () can be moved, together with the storage phosphor plate () lying on top of it, through the opening () of the cassette housing (), at least partially from the inside of the cassette housing (), and the storage phosphor plate () lying on the support () can be taken from the support () when the support () is located, with the storage phosphor plate () lying on top of it, at least partially outside of the cassette housing ().

Cassette for storage phosphor plate and apparatus for removing storage phosphor plate from cassette

An apparatus and a corresponding method for reading out a storage phosphor plate () with an insertion device for inserting a cassette () in which a movably disposed support () is located, on top of which the storage phosphor plate () lies, a read-out device () for reading out the storage phosphor plate () and a conveyance device () which takes the storage phosphor plate () from the support () and conveys it in a first direction (R) to the read-out device (). In order to achieve the most precise and reliable alignment possible of the storage phosphor plate () relative to the read-out device () in a simple way, a positioning device () is provided for shifting the support (), on which the storage phosphor plate () lies, in a second direction (A) which is different from the first direction (R) so that the support () and the storage phosphor plate () are aligned relative to the read-out device ().

Apparatus and method for reading out storage phosphor plate

In a method for electronic image rectification in pixel-by-pixel scanning of a substrate by a bundled electromagnetic beam, the pixels are read out one after the other in readout intervals of constant predetermined duration. In order to improve image quality, the deviation between a reference scanning movement and an actual scanning movement carried out on the reference substrate is initially determined in a calibration process, for example, by a reference substrate with a known geometric surface structure. Depending on this deviation, a delay interval is determined for a pixel and the start of the readout interval of this pixel or of the subsequent pixel is delayed by this delay interval. The information about the delay interval is stored. In an analysis process for examining a substrate, the stored information about the delay interval is accessed for the pixel, and the delay interval is added before or after the readout interval.

Method for electronic image rectification in laser scanner devices

Photodetector device comprising a semiconductor substrate () of a first type of conductivity connected to a first electrode (). Said substrate comprises an active area () made up of different semiconductor regions of a second type of conductivity () insulated from each other and connected to respective second electrodes () so that each of them can be connected separately from the others to an appropriate bias voltage. By regulating the bias voltages applied to these regions the function of optic diaphragm of the device can be controlled. The device works without needing any form of optical insulation between the different regions of the active area and always uses the same single output electrode for the signal in all the different situations of diaphragm adjustment.

Ultrasensitive photodetector with integrated pinhole for confocal microscopes

In an adjusting device for displacing individual elements () of optical systems or of measuring systems in which the element to be displaced is movable on a base () along a predetermined direction (x) by means of a piezoelectric actuator arrangement () which is supported by the element () and which is constructed and controllable in such a way that it exerts shock pulses on the element () in order to carry out a stepwise movement of the element () on the base (), the element () is arranged in a body () which has an open or closed hollow cross section and is supported in a frictional engagement on this body, at least at one location, with the intermediary of a pretensioned spring device ().

Adjusting device for displacing individual elements of optical systems or of measuring systems

A method and an arrangement for detecting the position of the plane XY of an object, which plane XY is to be scanned, and for its positioning in the focal plane X&prime;Y&prime; of a laser scanner, preferably for a laser scanning microscope. According to the disclosure, it is provided in a method of the type described above that, after a rough orientation of the object carried out by placing on an object holder, a laser beam is directed successively in time to at least three different points P , P . . . P located in the scan plane XY of the object and, in doing so, each of the reflections proceeding from the points P , P . . . P is imaged on a position-sensitive detector, an actual position value is determined at the detector for each reflection and is compared with a stored reference position value, adjustment commands for changing the inclination of the object holder are obtained from the deviations of the actual position values from the reference position values, and the inclination of the object holder is changed on the basis of these adjustment commands until points P , P . . . P are located in the focal plane X&prime;Y&prime; of the laser scanner.

Method and array for detecting the position of a plane scanned with a laser scanner

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Uffing am Staffelsee, Germany

Thomas Hartmann