Method for processing radiation images

Claim 1

A method for processing radiation images, which comprises the steps of: i) locating a first stimulable phosphor sheet and a second stimulable phosphor sheet for storing energy from radiation thereon, wherein said first stimulable phosphor sheet may be closer to a radiation source than said second stimulable phosphor sheet is, and both said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet may stand facing said radiation source, ii) placing an object between said radiation source and said first stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) exposing said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet to radiation, which has been produced by said radiation source and which has then passed through said object, radiation images of said object being thereby stored respectively on said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet, iv) thereafter exposing each of said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet to stimulating rays, which cause each of said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during said exposure to the radiation, each of the light emitted by said first stimulable phosphor sheet and the light emitted by said second stimulable phosphor sheet being photoelectrically detected by a photodetector, whereby a read-out image signal A1, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said first stimulable phosphor sheet, and a read-out image signal A2, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said second stimulable phosphor sheet, are obtained, v) thereafter carrying out high frequency component eliminating processes respectively on said read-out image signal A1 and said read-out image signal A2, a read-out image signal A1us and a read-out image signal A2us being thereby obtained respectively from the high frequency component eliminating process carried out on said read-out image signal A1 and from the high frequency component eliminating process carried out on said read-out image signal A2, vi) thereafter carrying out a first operation on the image signal components of said read-out image signal A1us and said read-out image signal A2us, which image signal components represent corresponding picture elements in the radiation images, said first operation being expressed as B=A1us-α·A2us where α is a coefficient, and α>0, whereby an image signal B is obtained, vii) thereafter carrying out a second operation on the image signal components of said read-out image signal A1, said read-out image signal A2, and said image signal B, which image signal components represent corresponding picture elements in the radiation images and in the image represented by said image signal B, said second operation being expressed as C=(1-β)·A1+β·A2-γ·B where β and γ are coefficients, 0≦β≦1, and γ>0, whereby an image signal C is obtained, and viii) reproducing a visible radiation image from said image signal C.

Claim 2

A method for processing radiation images, which comprises the steps of: i) locating a first stimulable phosphor sheet and a second stimulable phosphor sheet for storing energy from radiation thereon, wherein said first stimulable phosphor sheet may be closer to a radiation source than said second stimulable phosphor sheet is, and both said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet may stand facing said radiation source, ii) placing an object between said radiation source and said first stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) exposing said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet to radiation, which has been produced by said radiation source and which has then passed through said object, radiation images of said object being thereby stored respectively on said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet, iv) thereafter exposing each of said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet to stimulating rays, which cause each of said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during said exposure to the radiation, each of the light emitted by said first stimulable phosphor sheet and the light emitted by said second stimulable phosphor sheet being photoelectrically detected by a photodetector, whereby a read-out image signal A1, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said first stimulable phosphor sheet, and a read-out image signal A2, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said second stimulable phosphor sheet, are obtained, v) thereafter carrying out high frequency component eliminating processes respectively on said read-out image signal A1 and said read-out image signal A2, a read-out image signal A1us and a read-out image signal A2us being thereby obtained respectively from the high frequency component eliminating process carried out on said read-out image signal A1 and from the high frequency component eliminating process carried out on said read-out image signal A2, vi) thereafter carrying out a first operation on the image signal components of said read-out image signal A1us and said read-out image signal A2us, which image signal components represent corresponding picture elements in the radiation images, said first operation being expressed as B=A1us-α·A2us where α is a coefficient, and α>0, whereby an image signal B is obtained, vii) thereafter carrying out a second operation on the image signal components of said read-out image signal A1, said read-out image signal A2, and said image signal B, which image signal components represent corresponding picture elements in the radiation images and in the image represented by said image signal B, said second operation being expressed as C=(1-β)·A1+β·A2-γ·B where β and γ are coefficients, 0≦β≦1, and γ>0, whereby an image signal C is obtained, and viii) reproducing a visible radiation image from said image signal C.

Claim 6

A method for processing radiation images, which comprises the steps of: i) locating a double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet having front and rear surfaces, from which radiation images are read out, wherein said front surface stands facing a radiation source, ii) placing an object between said radiation source and said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) exposing said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet to radiation, which has been produced by said radiation source and which has then passed through said object, radiation images of said object being thereby stored respectively on said front surface and said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, iv) thereafter exposing each of said front surface and said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet to stimulating rays, which cause each of said front surface and said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during said exposure to the radiation, each of the light emitted by said front surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet and the light emitted by said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet being photoelectrically detected by a photodetector, whereby a read-out image signal A1, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said front surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, and a read-out image signal A2, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, are obtained, v) thereafter carrying out high frequency component eliminating processes respectively on said read-out image signal A1 and said read-out image signal A2, a read-out image signal A1us and a read-out image signal A2us being thereby obtained respectively from the high frequency component eliminating process carried out on said read-out image signal A1 and from the high frequency component eliminating process carried out on said read-out image signal A2, vi) thereafter carrying out a first operation on the image signal components of said read-out image signal A1us and said read-out image signal A2us, which image signal components represent corresponding picture elements in the radiation images, said first operation being expressed as B=A1us-α·A2us where α is a coefficient, and α>0, whereby an image signal B is obtained, vii) thereafter carrying out a second operation on the image signal components of said read-out image signal A1, said read-out image signal A2, and said image signal B, which image signal components represent corresponding picture elements in the radiation images and in the image represented by said image signal B, said second operation being expressed as C=(1-β)·A1+β·A2-γ·B where β and γ are coefficients, 0≦β≦1, and γ>0, whereby an image signal C is obtained, and viii) reproducing a visible radiation image from said image signal C.

Claim 7

A method for processing radiation images, which comprises the steps of: i) locating a double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet having front and rear surfaces, from which radiation images are read out, wherein said front surface stands facing a radiation source, ii) placing an object between said radiation source and said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) exposing said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet to radiation, which has been produced by said radiation source and which has then passed through said object, radiation images of said object being thereby stored respectively on said front surface and said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, iv) thereafter exposing each of said front surface and said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet to stimulating rays, which cause each of said front surface and said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during said exposure to the radiation, each of the light emitted by said front surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet and the light emitted by said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet being photoelectrically detected by a photodetector, whereby a read-out image signal A1, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said front surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, and a read-out image signal A2, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, are obtained, v) thereafter carrying out high frequency component eliminating processes respectively on said read-out image signal A1 and said read-out image signal A2, a read-out image signal A1us and a read-out image signal A2us being thereby obtained respectively from the high frequency component eliminating process carried out on said read-out image signal A1 and from the high frequency component eliminating process carried out on said read-out image signal A2, vi) thereafter carrying out a first operation on the image signal components of said read-out image signal A1us and said read-out image signal A2us, which image signal components represent corresponding picture elements in the radiation images, said first operation being expressed as B=A1us-α·A2us where α is a coefficient, and α>0, whereby an image signal B is obtained, vii) thereafter carrying out a second operation on the image signal components of said read-out image signal A1, said read-out image signal A2, and said image signal B, which image signal components represent corresponding picture elements in the radiation images and in the image represented by said image signal B, said second operation being expressed as C=(1-β)·A1+β·A2-γ·B where β and γ are coefficients, 0≦β≦1, and γ>0, whereby an image signal C is obtained, and viii) reproducing a visible radiation image from said image signal C.

Claim 11

A method for processing radiation images, which comprises the steps of: i) locating a stimulable phosphor sheet for storing energy from radiation thereon, wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet stands facing a radiation source, ii) placing an object between said radiation source and said stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) exposing said stimulable phosphor sheet to radiation, which has been produced by said radiation source and which has then passed through said object, a radiation image of said object being thereby stored on said stimulable phosphor sheet, iv) thereafter exposing said stimulable phosphor sheet twice to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to the radiation, each of the light emitted by said stimulable phosphor sheet during its first exposure to said stimulating rays and the light emitted by said stimulable phosphor sheet during its second exposure to said stimulating rays being photoelectrically detected by a photodetector, whereby a read-out image signal A1 and a read-out image signal A2, each of which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said stimulable phosphor sheet, are obtained respectively during said first exposure of said stimulable phosphor sheet to said stimulating rays and during said second exposure of said stimulable phosphor sheet to said stimulating rays, v) thereafter carrying out high frequency component eliminating processes respectively on said read-out image signal A1 and said read-out image signal A2, a read-out image signal A1us and a read-out image signal A2us being thereby obtained respectively from the high frequency component eliminating process carried out on said read-out image signal A1 and from the high frequency component eliminating process carried out on said read-out image signal A2, vi) thereafter carrying out a first operation on the image signal components of said read-out image signal A1us and said read-out image signal A2us, which image signal components represent corresponding picture elements in the radiation image read out during said first exposure of said stimulable phosphor sheet to said stimulating rays and in the radiation image read out during said second exposure of said stimulable phosphor sheet to said stimulating rays, said first operation being expressed as B=A1us-α·A2us where α is a coefficient, and α>0, whereby an image signal B is obtained, vii) thereafter carrying out a second operation on the image signal components of said read-out image signal A1, said read-out image signal A2, and said image signal B, which image signal components represent corresponding picture elements in the radiation images read out during said first and second exposures of said stimulable phosphor sheet to said stimulating rays and in the image represented by said image signal B, said second operation being expressed as C=(1-β)·A1+βA2-γ·B where β and γ are coefficients, 0≦β≦1, and γ>0, whereby an image signal C is obtained, and viii) reproducing a visible radiation image from said image signal C.

Claim 12

A method for processing radiation images, which comprises the steps of: i) locating a stimulable phosphor sheet for storing energy from radiation thereon, wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet stands facing a radiation source, ii) placing an object between said radiation source and said stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) exposing said stimulable phosphor sheet to radiation, which has been produced by said radiation source and which has then passed through said object, a radiation image of said object being thereby stored on said stimulable phosphor sheet, iv) thereafter exposing said stimulable phosphor sheet twice to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to the radiation, each of the light emitted by said stimulable phosphor sheet during its first exposure to said stimulating rays and the light emitted by said stimulable phosphor sheet during its second exposure to said stimulating rays being photoelectrically detected by a photodetector, whereby a read-out image signal A1 and a read-out image signal A2, each of which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said stimulable phosphor sheet, are obtained respectively during said first exposure of said stimulable phosphor sheet to said stimulating rays and during said second exposure of said stimulable phosphor sheet to said stimulating rays, v) thereafter carrying out high frequency component eliminating processes respectively on said read-out image signal A1 and said read-out image signal A2, a read-out image signal A1us and a read-out image signal A2us being thereby obtained respectively from the high frequency component eliminating process carried out on said read-out image signal A1 and from the high frequency component eliminating process carried out on said read-out image signal A2, vi) thereafter carrying out a first operation on the image signal components of said read-out image signal A1us and said read-out image signal A2us, which image signal components represent corresponding picture elements in the radiation image read out during said first exposure of said stimulable phosphor sheet to said stimulating rays and in the radiation image read out during said second exposure of said stimulable phosphor sheet to said stimulating rays, said first operation being expressed as B=A1us-α·A2us where α is a coefficient, and α>0, whereby an image signal B is obtained, vii) thereafter carrying out a second operation on the image signal components of said read-out image signal A1, said read-out image signal A2, and said image signal B, which image signal components represent corresponding picture elements in the radiation images read out during said first and second exposures of said stimulable phosphor sheet to said stimulating rays and in the image represented by said image signal B, said second operation being expressed as C=(1-β)·A1+βA2-γ·B where β and γ are coefficients, 0≦β≦1, and γ>0, whereby an image signal C is obtained, and viii) reproducing a visible radiation image from said image signal C.

Claim 15

A method for processing radiation images, which comprises the steps of: i) locating a first stimulable phosphor sheet and a second stimulable phosphor sheet for storing energy from radiation thereon wherein first stimulable phosphor sheet may be closer to a radiation source than said second stimulable phosphor sheet is, and both said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet may stand facing said radiation source, ii) placing an object between said radiation source and said first stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) exposing said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet to radiation, which has been produced by said radiation source and which has then passed through said object, radiation images of said object being thereby stored respectively on said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet, iv) thereafter exposing each of said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet to stimulating rays, which cause each of said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during said exposure to the radiation, each of the light emitted by said first stimulable phosphor sheet and the light emitted by said second stimulable phosphor sheet being photoelectrically detected by a photodetector, whereby a read-out image signal A1, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said first stimulable phosphor sheet, and a read-out image signal A2, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said second stimulable phosphor sheet, are obtained, v) thereafter passing said read-out image signal A1 through a low frequency component reducing filter, a read-out image signal A1f being thereby obtained, vi) passing said read-out image signal A2 through a high frequency component reducing filter, which has a characteristic such that the sum of said characteristic and the characteristic of said low frequency component reducing filter may be approximately flat, a read-out image signal A2f being thereby obtained, vii) thereafter adding said read-out image signal A1f and said read-out image signal A2f to each other, an image signal C' being thereby obtained, and viii) reproducing a visible radiation image from said image signal C'.

Claim 16

A method for processing radiation images, which comprises the steps of: i) locating a first stimulable phosphor sheet and a second stimulable phosphor sheet for storing energy from radiation thereon wherein first stimulable phosphor sheet may be closer to a radiation source than said second stimulable phosphor sheet is, and both said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet may stand facing said radiation source, ii) placing an object between said radiation source and said first stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) exposing said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet to radiation, which has been produced by said radiation source and which has then passed through said object, radiation images of said object being thereby stored respectively on said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet, iv) thereafter exposing each of said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet to stimulating rays, which cause each of said first stimulable phosphor sheet and said second stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during said exposure to the radiation, each of the light emitted by said first stimulable phosphor sheet and the light emitted by said second stimulable phosphor sheet being photoelectrically detected by a photodetector, whereby a read-out image signal A1, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said first stimulable phosphor sheet, and a read-out image signal A2, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said second stimulable phosphor sheet, are obtained, v) thereafter passing said read-out image signal A1 through a low frequency component reducing filter, a read-out image signal A1f being thereby obtained, vi) passing said read-out image signal A2 through a high frequency component reducing filter, which has a characteristic such that the sum of said characteristic and the characteristic of said low frequency component reducing filter may be approximately flat, a read-out image signal A2f being thereby obtained, vii) thereafter adding said read-out image signal A1f and said read-out image signal A2f to each other, an image signal C' being thereby obtained, and viii) reproducing a visible radiation image from said image signal C'.

Claim 20

A method for processing radiation images, which comprises the steps of: i) locating a double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet having front and rear surfaces from which radiation images are read out, wherein said front surface stands facing a radiation source, ii) placing an object between said radiation source and said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) exposing said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet to radiation, which has been produced by said radiation source and which has then passed through said object, radiation images of said object being thereby stored respectively on said front surface and said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, iv) thereafter exposing each of said front surface and said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet to stimulating rays, which cause each of said front surface and said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during said exposure to the radiation, each of the light emitted by said front surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet and the light emitted by said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet being photoelectrically detected by a photodetector, whereby a read-out image signal A1, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said front surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, and a read-out image signal A2, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, are obtained, v) thereafter passing said read-out image signal A1 through a low frequency component reducing filter, a read-out image signal A1f being thereby obtained, vi) passing said read-out image signal A2 through a high frequency component reducing filter, which has a characteristic such that the sum of said characteristic and the characteristic of said low frequency component reducing filter may be approximately flat, a read-out image signal A2f being thereby obtained, vii) thereafter adding said read-out image signal A1f and said read-out image signal A2f to each other, an image signal C' being thereby obtained, and viii) reproducing a visible radiation image from said image signal C'.

Claim 21

A method for processing radiation images, which comprises the steps of: i) locating a double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet having front and rear surfaces from which radiation images are read out, wherein said front surface stands facing a radiation source, ii) placing an object between said radiation source and said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) exposing said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet to radiation, which has been produced by said radiation source and which has then passed through said object, radiation images of said object being thereby stored respectively on said front surface and said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, iv) thereafter exposing each of said front surface and said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet to stimulating rays, which cause each of said front surface and said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during said exposure to the radiation, each of the light emitted by said front surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet and the light emitted by said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet being photoelectrically detected by a photodetector, whereby a read-out image signal A1, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said front surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, and a read-out image signal A2, which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said rear surface of said double-faced stimulable phosphor sheet, are obtained, v) thereafter passing said read-out image signal A1 through a low frequency component reducing filter, a read-out image signal A1f being thereby obtained, vi) passing said read-out image signal A2 through a high frequency component reducing filter, which has a characteristic such that the sum of said characteristic and the characteristic of said low frequency component reducing filter may be approximately flat, a read-out image signal A2f being thereby obtained, vii) thereafter adding said read-out image signal A1f and said read-out image signal A2f to each other, an image signal C' being thereby obtained, and viii) reproducing a visible radiation image from said image signal C'.

Claim 25

A method for processing radiation images, which comprises the steps of: i) locating a stimulable phosphor sheet, which is capable of storing energy from radiation thereon, wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet stands facing a radiation source, ii) placing an object between said radiation source and said stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) exposing said stimulable phosphor sheet to radiation, which has been produced by said radiation source and which has then passed through said object, a radiation image of said object being thereby stored on said stimulable phosphor sheet, iv) thereafter exposing said stimulable phosphor sheet twice to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to the radiation, each of the light, emitted by said stimulable phosphor sheet during said first exposure to said stimulating rays and the light emitted by said stimulable phosphor sheet during said second exposure to said stimulating rays and the light emitted by said a photodetector, whereby a read-out image signal A1 and a read-out image signal A2, each of which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said stimulable phosphor sheet, are obtained respectively during said first exposure of said stimulable phosphor sheet to said stimulating rays and during said second exposure of said stimulable phosphor sheet to said stimulating rays, v) thereafter passing said read-out image signal A1 through a low frequency component reducing filter, a read-out image signal A1f being thereby obtained, vi) passing said read-out image signal A2 through a high frequency component reducing filter, which has a characteristic such that the sum of said characteristic and the characteristic of said low frequency component reducing filter may be approximately flat, a read-out image signal A2f being thereby obtained, vii) thereafter adding said read-out image signal A1f and said read-out image signal A2f to each other, an image signal C' being thereby obtained, and viii) reproducing a visible radiation image from said image signal C'.

Claim 26

A method for processing radiation images, which comprises the steps of: i) locating a stimulable phosphor sheet, which is capable of storing energy from radiation thereon, wherein said stimulable phosphor sheet stands facing a radiation source, ii) placing an object between said radiation source and said stimulable phosphor sheet, iii) exposing said stimulable phosphor sheet to radiation, which has been produced by said radiation source and which has then passed through said object, a radiation image of said object being thereby stored on said stimulable phosphor sheet, iv) thereafter exposing said stimulable phosphor sheet twice to stimulating rays, which cause said stimulable phosphor sheet to emit light in proportion to the amount of energy stored thereon during its exposure to the radiation, each of the light, emitted by said stimulable phosphor sheet during said first exposure to said stimulating rays and the light emitted by said stimulable phosphor sheet during said second exposure to said stimulating rays and the light emitted by said a photodetector, whereby a read-out image signal A1 and a read-out image signal A2, each of which is made up of a series of image signal components representing picture elements in the radiation image stored on said stimulable phosphor sheet, are obtained respectively during said first exposure of said stimulable phosphor sheet to said stimulating rays and during said second exposure of said stimulable phosphor sheet to said stimulating rays, v) thereafter passing said read-out image signal A1 through a low frequency component reducing filter, a read-out image signal A1f being thereby obtained, vi) passing said read-out image signal A2 through a high frequency component reducing filter, which has a characteristic such that the sum of said characteristic and the characteristic of said low frequency component reducing filter may be approximately flat, a read-out image signal A2f being thereby obtained, vii) thereafter adding said read-out image signal A1f and said read-out image signal A2f to each other, an image signal C' being thereby obtained, and viii) reproducing a visible radiation image from said image signal C'.