Patent EP0452570A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0452570A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Processing and digitizing apparatus for medical radiographic film
Assignee: Agfa Gevaert NV
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Filing: 1990-04-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-04-19
Abstract
Abstract An appaaratus comprising means for processing exposed photographic film and means for digitizing the processed photographic film is disclosed. According to a preferred mode, said apparatus comprises a driving mechanism catching the film and guiding said film at constant speed throughout the entire apparatus. According to a further preferred mode, said apparatus is integrated into a fully automated film handling system. This apparatus is particularly dedicated for the processing of medical radiographic film.
Inventors
- 👤 Henri August Primo
- 👤 Müller Jürgen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:40
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00127; H04N1/00249; H04N1/00259; H04N1/00567; H04N1/0057; H04N1/00588; H04N1/00591; H04N1/00596; H04N1/00599; H04N1/00602; H04N1/32; H04N1/32101; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/32; H04N2201/3201; H04N2201/3225; H04N2201/3274; H04N2201/3277
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
16 words
Apparatus comprising means for processing exposed photographic film, and means for digitizing the processed photographic film.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising driving mechanism catching the exposed film and guiding said film at constant speed first through the processing means, and then through the digitizing means in one and the same pass.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus of claim 1 or 2 wherein the means for processing the exposed photographic film comprises means for developing, fixing and drying of said film.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein the means for digitizing the processd film comprise means for projecting scanning radiation towards the processed film, means for sensing image-wise modulated scanning radiation, means for converting the image-wise modulated radiation into a digitized signal, and a digital signal storage device to which said convertor means is connected and which is adapted to be connected to a signal processor and which may serve as a buffer memory between the scanner and said processor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus of claim 4 wherein the radiation sensing means is composed of a linear array of CCD-elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus of any of the preceding claims wherein the digitizer further comprises an Optical Character Recognition module.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus of any of the preceding claims further characterised in that it is fully integrated into a film handling system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus of any of the preceding claims suitable for the processing, digitizing and/or handling of medical radiographic film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
86 words
Method for the treatment and/or processing of X-Ray films and Patient information data in an apparatus for the production and archival of X-Ray images, characterized in that, - the image captured in an exposed and processed X-Ray film is scanned pixel by pixel by means of a scanner, - the pixels of the scanned image and the corresponding patient information data are transmitted in an electronic image-archive with high access speed, - the image or a copy thereof is stored in a film and image archive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
Method of claim 9, characterized in that - the patient information data are illuminated onto the X-Ray film, - the illuminated patient information data and the image are scanned by means of a scanner, and - the pixels of the patient information data and the pixels of the scanned image are transmitted in the electronic image archive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
Method of claim 10, characterized in that - the patient information data are illuminated onto the X-Ray film, - the illuminated patient information data are read by means of a device for the automatic recognition of characters (OCR), and - the patient information data, as ASCII-data, together with the pixels of the scanned image are transmitted in the electronic image-archive.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
Method of claim 9, characterized in that - the patient information data are recorded in a semiconductormemory arranged on a X-Ray film cassette, - the patient information data in the memory of the X-Ray film cassette, together with the pixels of the scanned image are read into a transition memory, - the contents of the transition memory are transmitted to the electronic image-archive.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus for the performance of any of the methods as claimed in claims 9 to 12, characterized in that it comprises a developing apparatus for the development of exposed X-Ray films and a scanning apparatus, by means whereof the developed X-Ray films can be scanned.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for the performance of any of the methods as claimed in claims 9 to 12, characterized in that - the apparatus comprises an entrance tray for unexposed X-Ray film and a further entrance tray for developed X-Ray films, - the apparatus comprises a device by means whereof an unexposed X-Ray film can be exposed and a developed X-Ray film can be scanned, - the apparatus comprises two exit trays for receipt of the scanned resp. printed X-Ray films, and - the apparatus comprises means for the transport of X-Ray films, by means whereof the X-Ray films are transported between the entrance and exit trays and the scanner/printer device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus of claim 14, characterized in that the apparatus comprises a device for the development of exposed X-Ray films.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus of claim 15, characterizd in that the apparatus comprises a device for the loading, resp. unloading of an X-Ray film cassette.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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