Radiation image read-out apparatus using a fluorescent light guide

Claim 1

A radiation image read-out apparatus comprising: (i) a stimulating ray source for producing stimulating rays which excite a stimulable phosphor, (ii) a stimulating-ray main scanning means for scanning said stimulating rays on a stimulable phosphor sheet carrying a radiation image stored thereon, (iii) a fluorescent light guide member comprising a sheet-shaped material containing a phosphor disposed in such a direction that a main surface of said sheet-shaped material receives the light emitted by said stimulable phosphor sheet when said stimulable phosphor sheet is scanned by said stimulating rays, wherein said sheet-shaped material has a length, a width, and a thickness, said thickness being small in relation to said width, and said width being small in relation to said length, said main surface being defined by said length and width, (iv) a photodetector disposed for receiving fluorescence from an end face defined by said width and thickness of said sheet-shaped material of said fluorescent light sheet-shaped material upon exposure to the light emitted by said stimulable phosphor sheet, and (v) a sub-scanning means for moving said stimulable phosphor sheet with respect to said stimulating rays in a direction approximately normal to the direction of said scanning, wherein a filter for transmitting the fluorescence, and for intercepting said stimulating rays, is provided between said end face of said sheet-shaped material and said photodetector.