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US4101781A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Stable fiber optic scintillative x-ray screen and method of production
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1977-06-27
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Granted: 1978-07-18
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Expires: 1997-06-27
Abstract
Abstract An X-ray intensifying screen pair comprising a thin screen and a fiber optic thick screen is disclosed, together with a method for producing the fiber optic thick screen, which method includes the steps of evaporation and vacuum deposition. The thin screen comprises a gadolinium oxysulphide rare earth scintillator capable of providing good image resolution, and the fiber optic thick screen comprises a thallium doped cesium iodide scintillator that is capable of high speed (i.e., good X-ray photon-stopping and photon-conversion) operation, that is stable under ambient conditions, and that requires low patient dosage.
Inventors
- 👤 Armand Paul Neukermans
- 👤 William Paul Kruger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:36
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K11/00; C09K11/08; C09K11/77; C09K11/7701; C09K11/62; C09K11/626; C09K11/628; G; G21; G21K; G21K4/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A method of producing a fiber-optic scintillator that is stable under ambient conditions, the method comprising the steps of: evaporating a first material; evaporating a second material; and vacuum depositing the evaporated materials onto a selected backing material to produce a scintillator having uniformly shaped optical fibers that are stable under ambient conditions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
53 words
A method of producing a fiber-optic scintillator that is stable under ambient conditions, the method comprising the steps of: evaporating a first material; evaporating a second material; and vacuum depositing the evaporated materials onto a selected backing material to produce a scintillator having uniformly shaped optical fibers that are stable under ambient conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 where the first material is vacuum-deposited cesium iodide and the step of evaporating this first material includes the steps of: placing solid cesium iodide in a container; vacuum depositing the cesium iodide onto a selected member; and heating the deposited cesium iodide to a first selected temperature to produce cesium iodide vapor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 2 where the container has a porous bottom and the step of vacuum depositing includes the steps of: heating the solid cesium iodide in the container to a second selected temperature until the cesium iodide melts and filters through and accumulates on the outside of the bottom of the container; maintaining the member at a selected first coolest temperature; and evacuating an area between the bottom of the container and the member, causing the accumulated cesium iodide to evaporate and deposit on the member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 2 where the step of heating includes the step of outgasing the deposited cesium iodide at a selected temperature lower than the first selected temperature to remove gaseous impurities from the deposited cesium iodide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 where the second material is solid thallium iodide and the step of evaporating this material includes the steps of: placing the solid thallium iodide in a container with an orifice; evacuating a selected area external to the container; and heating the solid thallium iodide to a third selected temperature to produce thallium iodide vapor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 5 where the method includes the step of mixing the evaporated first and second materials in selected amounts by leakage of the evaporated second material through the container's orifice.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 5 where the step of heating includes the step of outgasing the solid thallium iodide at a selected temperature lower than the third selected temperature to remove gaseous impurities from the thallium iodide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 where the step of depositing includes the step of maintaining the backing material at a selected second coolest temperature, permitting the mixed evaporated materials to deposit uniformly onto the backing material.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 where the method includes the step of co-evaporating with the first and second materials a selected metal for improving image resolution.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A fiber-optic scintillator, vacuum deposited on a backing material, the scintillator comprising: a first selected material; and a second selected material, the first and second materials being evaporated and vacuum deposited onto the backing material, forming a scintillator thereon having uniformly-shaped optical fibers that are stable under ambient conditions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A fiber-optic scintillator, vacuum deposited on a backing material, the scintillator comprising: a first selected material; and a second selected material, the first and second materials being evaporated and vacuum deposited onto the backing material, forming a scintillator thereon having uniformly-shaped optical fibers that are stable under ambient conditions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fiber optic scintillator of claim 10 wherein the first selected material is cesium iodide, the second selected material is thallium iodide, and the scintillator is a thallium doped cesium iodide scintillator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The fiber optic scintillator of claim 10 wherein the scintillator includes a metallic material co-evaporated and vacuum deposited with the first and second materials for improving image resolution.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
An X-ray screen pair comprising: a thin screen having a first selected particulate scintillative material; and a fiber optic thick screen having a second selected scintillative material which is stable under ambient conditions, the fiber optic thick screen being coupled to the thin screen for receiving a film therebetween.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
An X-ray screen pair comprising: a thin screen having a first selected particulate scintillative material; and a fiber optic thick screen having a second selected scintillative material which is stable under ambient conditions, the fiber optic thick screen being coupled to the thin screen for receiving a film therebetween.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The X-ray screen pair of claim 13 wherein the second scintillative material is a thallium doped cesium iodide scintillator formed by evaporating and vacuum depositing thallium doped cesium iodide onto a selected backing material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The X-ray screen pair of claim 13 wherein the first scintillative material is a high-resolution gadolinium oxysulphide rare-earth material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
The X-ray screen pair of claim 14 wherein the second scintillative material includes a metallic material co-evaporated and vacuum deposited with the thallium doped cesium iodide material for improving image resolution.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-07-17 | 1982-01-16 | 1982-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-07-17 | 1986-01-16 | 1986-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-07-17 | 1990-01-16 | 1990-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |