Process for the collection and presentation of an X-ray image stored in a phosphor layer

1. A process for the collection and presentation of an X-ray image stored in a phosphor layer, the process comprising the steps of:

collecting information in an area of the phosphor layer and in an area adjacent to, and outside of, the phosphor layer;

dividing the information collected into a number of lines;

determining a line limit for each of the lines, said line limit dividing the information in the respective line into line image information and line edge information, whereby each individual line limit is established at an intensity value which forms an average value between a maximum intensity and a minimum intensity in a selected section of the information of the respective line;

deducing, from the line limits determined for the individual lines, an image limit which divides the information collected into the image information and the edge information, whereby the image information corresponds to the information collected in the area of the phosphor layer, and the edge information corresponds to the information collected in the area adjacent to, and outside of, the phosphor layer; and

presenting the image information.

2. The process in accordance with claim 1 , whereby each individual line limit is tested for quality, and thereafter used for deducing the image limit when the individual line limit meets a pre-specified condition.

3. The process in accordance with claim 1 , whereby

for each individual line limit, a test determines whether a difference between maximum and minimum intensity exceeds a pre-specifiable minimum value; and

only line limits that exceed the pre-specifiable minimum value are used for deducing the image limit.

4. The process in accordance with claim 1 , whereby

the image limit corresponds to a straight line which is fitted to the line limits determined.

5. The process in accordance with claim 4 , whereby

for each of the line limits, a deviation of the respective line limit from the fitted straight line is calculated;

those line limits the deviation of which is less than a pre-specifiable top value are selected; and

a new straight line, which corresponds to the image limit, is fitted to the selected line limits.

6. The process in accordance with claim 1 , whereby the edge information is set at a pre-specifiable value.

7. The process in accordance with claim 6 , whereby the pre-specifiable value is chosen such that the edge information is presented as a uniformly dark area.

8. The process in accordance with claim 7 , whereby the edge information is presented as darker than a darkest section of the image information.

9. The process in accordance with claim 1 , whereby the image information is presented against a uniformly dark background.

10. The process in accordance with claim 9 , whereby the background is presented as darker than a darkest section of the image information.

11. The process in accordance with claim 1 , whereby the image information or the edge information is presented on a screen or an image carrier.

12. The process in accordance with claim 1 , whereby the image information or the edge information is presented in negative form.

13. The process in accordance with claim 1 , whereby the area adjacent to the phosphor layer is of a width which is chosen such that position tolerances to be expected for the phosphor layer, in particular as a result of twisting or displacement of the phosphor layer in relation to a desired position, lie within the area.

14. The process in accordance with claim 13 , whereby the width of the area adjacent to the phosphor layer is between 1 mm and 10 mm.

15. The process in accordance with claim 13 , whereby in the area of the width of the area adjacent to the phosphor layer, between 40 and 70 pixels are obtained.

16. The process in accordance with claim 13 , whereby the selected section of the information of the respective line corresponds to twice the width of the area adjacent to the phosphor layer.

17. The process in accordance with claim 1 , whereby the selected section of the information of the respective line corresponds to twice the width of the area adjacent to the phosphor layer.

18. The process in accordance with claim 1 , wherein, for each individual line limit for each of the lines, the average value of the intensity is set between the minimum intensity and the maximum intensity in a selected section of the intensity distribution (I(x,y)) along that line and based on the average value of the intensity of that line, the individual line limit is determined out of the intensity distribution I(x, y).