Needle-shaped cylindrical storage phosphor crystals

1. Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles in form of a cylinder having an average cross-section diameter in the range from 1 to 30 μm and an average length, measured along the casing of said cylinder, in the range from 100 μm up to 1000 μm.

2. Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles according to claim 1 , wherein said average cross-section diameter is in the range from 2 to 15 μm and wherein said average length is in the range from 100 μm up to 500 μm.

3. Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles according to claim 2 , wherein said phosphor particles have an average aspect ratio of length to cross-section diameter in the range from 5 to 200.

4. A radiation image storage phosphor screen or panel emitting radiation after stimulation of phosphor particles having stored energy from X-rays having impinged upon said screen or panel, said panel comprising a substrate having a planar surface; a multiplicity of cylindrical needle-shaped phosphors extending onto the surface of the substrate, said phosphors being the needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles in form of a cylinder, according to claim 3 .

5. Radiation image storage phosphor screen according to claim 4 , wherein a light reflective coating is disposed along the walls of said cylinders, arranged in order to reflect, at least partially, radiation emitted by said phosphors after having performed stimulation thereupon.

6. Use of a radiation image storage phosphor panel according to claim 4 in an image forming method for storing and reproducing a radiation image comprising the steps of exposing said radiation image storage panel with radiation energy having passed through an object or having been emitted by said object and storing said radiation energy in form of a latent image on said image storage panel; releasing the stored energy in form of light upon irradiation with stimulating rays of the visible or infrared region, thereby emitting light from the ultraviolet or visible wavelength region; collecting said light released from the storage panel by light-collecting means and converting the collected light into a series of electric signals; producing an image corresponding to the latent image from the electric signals.

7. Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles according to claim 2 , wherein said phosphor particles have an average aspect ratio of length to crosssection diameter in the range from 20 to 100.

8. A radiation image storage phosphor screen or panel emitting radiation after stimulation of phosphor particles having stored energy from X-rays having impinged upon said screen or panel, said panel comprising a substrate having a planar surface; a multiplicity of cylindrical needle-shaped phosphors extending onto the surface of the substrate, said phosphors being the needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles in form of a cylinder, according to claim 7 .

9. Radiation image storage phosphor screen according to claim 8 , wherein a light reflective coating is disposed along the walls of said cylinders, arranged in order to reflect, at least partially, radiation emitted by said phosphors after having performed stimulation thereupon.

10. Use of a radiation image storage phosphor panel according to claim 8 in an image forming method for storing and reproducing a radiation image comprising the steps of exposing said radiation image storage panel with radiation energy having passed through an object or having been emitted by said object and storing said radiation energy in form of a latent image on said image storage panel; releasing the stored energy in form of light upon irradiation with stimulating rays of the visible or infrared region, thereby emitting light from the ultraviolet or visible wavelength region; collecting said light released from the storage panel by light-collecting means and converting the collected light into a series of electric signals; producing an image corresponding to the latent image from the electric signals.

11. Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles according to claim 2 , wherein variation coefficients upon average cross-section diameter and average casing length are in the range from 0.05 up to 0.30.

12. A radiation image storage phosphor screen or panel emitting radiation after stimulation of phosphor particles having stored energy from X-rays having impinged upon said screen or panel, said panel comprising a substrate having a planar surface; a multiplicity of cylindrical needle-shaped phosphors extending onto the surface of the substrate, said phosphors being the needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles in form of a cylinder, according to claim 11 .

13. Radiation image storage phosphor screen according to claim 12 , wherein a light reflective coating is disposed along the walls of said cylinders, arranged in order to reflect, at least partially, radiation emitted by said phosphors after having performed stimulation thereupon.

14. Use of a radiation image storage phosphor panel according to claim 12 in an image forming method for storing and reproducing a radiation image comprising the steps of exposing said radiation image storage panel with radiation energy having passed through an object or having been emitted by said object and storing said radiation energy in form of a latent image on said image storage panel; releasing the stored energy in form of light upon irradiation with stimulating rays of the visible or infrared region, thereby emitting light from the ultraviolet or visible wavelength region; collecting said light released from the storage panel by lightcollecting means and converting the collected light into a series of electric signals;.producing an image corresponding to the latent image from the electric signals.

15. Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles according to claim 2 , wherein variation coefficients upon average cross-section diameter and average casing length are in the range from 0.05 up to 0.20.

16. A radiation image storage phosphor screen or panel emitting radiation after stimulation of phosphor particles having stored energy from X-rays having impinged upon said screen or panel, said panel comprising a substrate having a planar surface; a multiplicity of cylindrical needle-shaped phosphors extending onto the surface of the substrate, said phosphors being the needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles in form of a cylinder, according to claim 15 .

17. Radiation image storage phosphor screen according to claim 16 , wherein a light reflective coating is disposed along the walls of said cylinders, arranged in order to reflect, at least partially, radiation emitted by said phosphors after having performed stimulation thereupon.

18. Use of a radiation image storage phosphor panel according to claim 16 in an image forming method for storing and reproducing a radiation image comprising the steps of exposing said radiation image storage panel with radiation energy having passed through an object or having been emitted by said object and storing said radiation energy in form of a latent image on said image storage panel; releasing the stored energy in form of light upon irradiation with stimulating rays of the visible or infrared region, thereby emitting light from the ultraviolet or visible wavelength region; collecting said light released from the storage panel by lightcollecting means and converting the collected light into a series of electric signals; producing an image corresponding to the latent image from the electric signals.

19. A radiation image storage phosphor screen or panel emitting radiation after stimulation of phosphor particles having stored energy from X-rays having impinged upon said screen or panel, said panel comprising a substrate having a planar surface; a multiplicity of cylindrical needle-shaped phosphors extending onto the surface of the substrate, said phosphors being the needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles in form of a cylinder, according to claim 2 .

20. Radiation image storage phosphor screen according to claim 19 , wherein a light reflective coating is disposed along the walls of said cylinders, arranged in order to reflect, at least partially, radiation emitted by said phosphors after having performed stimulation thereupon.

21. Use of a radiation image storage phosphor panel according to claim 19 in an image forming method for storing and reproducing a radiation image comprising the steps of exposing said radiation image storage panel with radiation energy having passed through an object or having been emitted by said object and storing said radiation energy in form of a latent image on said image storage panel; releasing the stored energy in form of light upon irradiation with stimulating rays of the visible or infrared region, thereby emitting light from the ultraviolet or visible wavelength region; collecting said light released from the storage panel by light-collecting means and converting the collected light into a series of electric signals; producing an image corresponding to the latent image from the electric signals.

22. Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles according to claim 1 , wherein said phosphor particles have an average aspect ratio of length to cross-section diameter in the range from 5 to 200.

23. Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles according to claim 22 , wherein variation coefficients upon average cross-section diameter and average casing length are in the range from 0.05 up to 0.30.

24. Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles according to claim 22 , wherein variation coefficients upon average cross-section diameter and average casing length are in the range from 0.05 up to 0.20.

25. A radiation image storage phosphor screen or panel emitting radiation after stimulation of phosphor particles having stored energy from X-rays having impinged upon said screen or panel, said panel comprising a substrate having a planar surface; a multiplicity of cylindrical needle-shaped phosphors extending onto the surface of the substrate, said phosphors being the needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles in form of a cylinder, according to claim 22 .

26. Radiation image storage phosphor screen according to claim 25 , wherein a light reflective coating is disposed along the walls of said cylinders, arranged in order to reflect, at least partially, radiation emitted by said phosphors after having performed stimulation thereupon.

27. Use of a radiation image storage phosphor panel according to claim 25 in an image forming method for storing and reproducing a radiation image comprising the steps of exposing said radiation image storage panel with radiation energy having passed through an object or having been emitted by said object and storing said radiation energy in form of a latent image on said image storage panel; releasing the stored energy in form of light upon irradiation with stimulating rays of the visible or infrared region, thereby emitting light from the ultraviolet or visible wavelength region; collecting said light released from the storage panel by light-collecting means and converting the collected light into a series of electric signals; producing an image corresponding to the latent image from the electric signals.

28. Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles according to claim 1 , wherein said phosphor particles have an average aspect ratio of length to cross-section diameter in the range from 20 to 100.

29. Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles according to claim 28 , wherein variation coefficients upon average cross-section diameter and average casing length are in the range from 0.05 up to 0.30.

30. Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles according to claim 28 , wherein variation coefficients upon average cross-section diameter and average casing length are in the range from 0.05 up to 0.20.

31. A radiation image storage phosphor screen or panel emitting radiation after stimulation of phosphor particles having stored energy from X-rays having impinged upon said screen or panel, said panel comprising a substrate having a planar surface; a multiplicity of cylindrical needle-shaped phosphors extending onto the surface of the substrate, said phosphors being the needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles in form of a cylinder, according to claim 28 .

32. Radiation image storage phosphor screen according to claim 31 , wherein a light reflective coating is disposed along the walls of said cylinders, arranged in order to reflect, at least partially, radiation emitted by said phosphors after having performed stimulation thereupon.

33. Use of a radiation image storage phosphor panel according to claim 31 in an image forming method for storing and reproducing a radiation image comprising the steps of exposing said radiation image storage panel with radiation energy having passed through an object or having been emitted by said object and storing said radiation energy in form of a latent image on said image storage panel; releasing the stored energy in form of light upon irradiation with stimulating rays of the visible or infrared region, thereby emitting light from the ultraviolet or visible wavelength region; collecting said light released from the storage panel by light-collecting means and converting the collected light into a series of electric signals; producing an image corresponding to the latent image from the electric signals.

34. Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles according to claim 1 , wherein variation coefficients upon average cross-section diameter and average casing length are in the range from 0.05 up to 0.30.

35. A radiation image storage phosphor screen or panel emitting radiation after stimulation of phosphor particles having stored energy from X-rays having impinged upon said screen or panel, said panel comprising a substrate having a planar surface; a multiplicity of cylindrical needle-shaped phosphors extending onto the surface of the substrate, said phosphors being the needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles in form of a cylinder, according to claim 34 .

36. Radiation image storage phosphor screen according to claim 35 , wherein a light reflective coating is disposed along the walls of said cylinders, arranged in order to reflect, at least partially, radiation emitted by said phosphors after having performed stimulation thereupon.

37. Use of a radiation image storage phosphor panel according to claim 35 in an image forming method for storing and reproducing a radiation image comprising the steps of exposing said radiation image storage panel with radiation energy having passed through an object or having been emitted by said object and storing said radiation energy in form of a latent image on said image storage panel; releasing the stored energy in form of light upon irradiation with stimulating rays of the visible or infrared region, thereby emitting light from the ultraviolet or visible wavelength region; collecting said light released from the storage panel by light-collecting means and converting the collected light into a series of electric signals; producing an image corresponding to the latent image from the electric signals.

38. Needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles according to claim 1 , wherein variation coefficients upon average cross-section diameter and average casing length are in the range from 0.05 up to 0.20.

39. A radiation image storage phosphor screen or panel emitting radiation after stimulation of phosphor particles having stored energy from X-rays having impinged upon said screen or panel, said panel comprising a substrate having a planar surface; a multiplicity of cylindrical needle-shaped phosphors extending onto the surface of the substrate, said phosphors being the needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles in form of a cylinder, according to claim 38 .

40. Radiation image storage phosphor screen according to claim 39 , wherein a light reflective coating is disposed along the walls of said cylinders, arranged in order to reflect, at least partially, radiation emitted by said phosphors after having performed stimulation thereupon.

41. Use of a radiation image storage phosphor panel according to claim 39 in an image forming method for storing and reproducing a radiation image comprising the steps of exposing said radiation image storage panel with radiation energy having passed through an object or having been emitted by said object and storing said radiation energy in form of a latent image on said image storage panel; releasing the stored energy in form of light upon irradiation with stimulating rays of the visible or infrared region, thereby emitting light from the ultraviolet or visible wavelength region; collecting said light released from the storage panel by light-collecting means and converting the collected light into a series of electric signals; producing an image corresponding to the latent image from the electric signals.

42. A radiation image storage phosphor screen or panel emitting radiation after stimulation of phosphor particles having stored energy from X-rays having impinged upon said screen or panel, said panel comprising a substrate having a planar surface; a multiplicity of cylindrical needle-shaped phosphors extending onto the surface of the substrate, said phosphors being the needle-shaped CsBr:Eu 2+ storage phosphor particles in form of a cylinder, according to claim 1 .

43. Radiation image storage phosphor screen according to claim 42 , wherein a light reflective coating is disposed along the walls of said cylinders, arranged in order to reflect, at least partially, radiation emitted by said phosphors after having performed stimulation thereupon.

44. Use of a radiation image. storage phosphor panel according to claim 42 in an image forming method for storing and reproducing a radiation image comprising the steps of exposing said radiation image storage panel with radiation energy having passed through an object or having been emitted by said object and storing said radiation energy in form of a latent image on said image storage panel; releasing the stored energy in form of light upon irradiation with stimulating rays of the visible or infrared region, thereby emitting light from the ultraviolet or visible wavelength region; collecting said light released from the storage panel by light-collecting means and converting the collected light into a series of electric signals; producing an image corresponding to the latent image from the electric signals.