EP1387365B1 - Ecran ou panneaux luminescents d'enregistrement emballés - Google Patents

Ecran ou panneaux luminescents d'enregistrement emballés Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1387365B1
EP1387365B1 EP20020102069 EP02102069A EP1387365B1 EP 1387365 B1 EP1387365 B1 EP 1387365B1 EP 20020102069 EP20020102069 EP 20020102069 EP 02102069 A EP02102069 A EP 02102069A EP 1387365 B1 EP1387365 B1 EP 1387365B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
layer
phosphor
packed
screen
panels
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EP20020102069
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1387365A1 (fr
Inventor
Ludo AGFA-GEVAERT Neyens
Rudy AGFA-GEVAERT Van den Bergh
Heinz Backhaus
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Agfa HealthCare NV
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Agfa HealthCare NV
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Priority to DE60230978T priority Critical patent/DE60230978D1/de
Priority to EP20020102069 priority patent/EP1387365B1/fr
Priority to US10/617,648 priority patent/US6998159B2/en
Priority to JP2003281599A priority patent/JP2004163409A/ja
Publication of EP1387365A1 publication Critical patent/EP1387365A1/fr
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Publication of EP1387365B1 publication Critical patent/EP1387365B1/fr
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21K—TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES
    • G21K4/00—Conversion screens for the conversion of the spatial distribution of X-rays or particle radiation into visible images, e.g. fluoroscopic screens
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21K—TECHNIQUES FOR HANDLING PARTICLES OR IONISING RADIATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; IRRADIATION DEVICES; GAMMA RAY OR X-RAY MICROSCOPES
    • G21K4/00—Conversion screens for the conversion of the spatial distribution of X-rays or particle radiation into visible images, e.g. fluoroscopic screens
    • G21K2004/02—Conversion screens for the conversion of the spatial distribution of X-rays or particle radiation into visible images, e.g. fluoroscopic screens characterised by the external panel structure

Definitions

  • Hygroscopic phosphors used in intensifying screens are e.g. BaFCl:Eu, BaFBr:Eu, LaOBr:Tm and GdOBr:Tm.
  • Examples of hygroscopic X-ray storage phosphor that can be used in computer radiography systems are: BaFBr:Eu, BaFI:Eu, LaOBr, (Ba,Sr)F(Br,I):Eu, RbBr:Tl, CsBr:Eu, CsCl:Eu and RbBr:Eu.
  • In order to make these hygroscopic phosphors suitable for use it is necessary to protect the phosphor particles from moisture.
  • stabilising substances thus have a finite working period. Since water is attracted continuously the amount of unreacted stabilising compound diminishes with time. After a certain period of time, no unreacted stabilising material will be left and the phosphor screen will undergo delayed deterioration.
  • Another preferred way is to apply a monomer lacquer onto the phosphor layer by e.g. screen printing and to cross-link the monomers by ultraviolet or electron beam irradiation, thus forming a continuous topcoat layer free of defects as has been described e.g. in US-A's 5,520,965 and 5,607,774.
  • the phosphor screen in said EP-Application is a needle storage phosphor screen, composed of a CsX:Eu 2+ storage phosphor, X being selected from the group of halides consisting of Br and Cl, and the moisture proof protective layer is a "parylene" layer, "parylene” being a generic name for thermoplastic polymers and copolymers based on p-xylylene and substituted p-xylylene monomers.
  • Object of the present invention in one embodiment, is to provide a packaging material for phosphors as raw materials in order to build up a phosphor panel.
  • the object of the present invention to provide packed, raw materials for building up phosphor screens and the built up phosphor screens, thus protected by a suitable packaging material, has been realised by providing a packed material as disclosed in the claims.
  • said outer polymer layer is a metallised polymer layer or a polyester layer. Even more preferred said outer metallised polymer layer is a polypropylene layer. Thicknesses of said outer polymer layers are in the range from 15 ⁇ m to 25 ⁇ m in case of said polypropylene layer and in the range from 10 ⁇ m to 15 ⁇ m in case of said polyester layer.
  • said foil comprises an inner flexible thermoplastic polymer layer in adhesive contact with an aluminum layer, wherein said foil is characterised by an adhesive force, measured following DIN 53 357, of more than 2.5 N/mm 2 , and more preferably of more than 5 N/mm 2 , between said thermoplastic layer and said aluminum layer.
  • another polymer layer inbetween said aluminum layer and said inner flexible thermoplastic polymer layer is present, being a (stretched) polyamide layer, having a thickness in the range from 10 ⁇ m to 20 ⁇ m and an adhesive layer is present between said polyamide layer and the aluminum layer at one side, and between the said polyamide layer and the innermost flexible thermoplastic layer at the other side.
  • resistance to piercing should be at least 30 N for the whole layer arrangement as set forth in the present embodiment.
  • said inner flexible thermoplastic polymer layer in the packaging foil is composed of polyethylene, and more preferably low density polyethylene. Thicknesses of the inner polyethylene layers are in the range from 50 ⁇ m to 100 ⁇ m, and, more preferably from 70 ⁇ m to 90 ⁇ m. Said low density polyethylene (called "LDPE”) is preferred instead of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) because HDPE is much too inelastic and is lacking in heat sealability. Otherwise the various low density polyethylenes, e.g.
  • low-density polyethylene LDPE
  • linear low-density polyethylene LLDPE
  • ultra low-density polyethylene ULDPE
  • the packaging should more particularly be strong enough to resist damaging in the work field, e.g., as otherwise the flat needle image storage panels would already show corrosion before use, more particularly due to presence of humidity upon bad storage conditions in damaged packages.
  • the asymmetric layer arrangement of the package of the packed screen(s) or panel(s) according to the present invention should have a thickness ratio of said inner flexible thermoplastic layer to said outer polymer layer of at least 3:1.
  • the said ratio may even be more than 7:1.
  • Thermosealing preferably proceeds in order to result in a package in form of a pouch having at least three thermosealed sides, so that the screen(s) or panel(s) can be put in, in order to get a packed screen or panel, which, according to the present invention, has at least three thermosealed sides. In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, all sides are thermosealed, so that the objects are optimally attained.
  • the packed storage phosphor screens or panels are closed air-tight, although, one side is left resealable, e.g. by providing said one side with a trace of glue, or, in the alternative, a velcro strip, on opposite sites at both sheets, wherein said resealable side is closed again by application of pressure, e.g. by simple rubbing over that side with a finger. It may be advisable to have such a resealable package, e.g. when the panels are not in use for some time and when they should be protected against atmospheric environmental factors, more particularly against moisture and oxygen as envisaged in the present invention. So according to the present invention a packed screen or panel is provided, wherein said package has at least one resealable side.
  • a pouch comprising a thermoplastic polymer foil defining the interior space thereof for receiving one or more storage panels and wherein the pouch has an opening into the interior space, a flange around the opening and sealing means extending continuously around the entire surface of the flange and continuously along the lower surface of the lid flange for sealing the lid flange and flange to the top surface of the backing sheet; and wherein the central area of the lid is spaced from the top surface of the backing sheet; it is understood that sealing means as applied are able to retain vapour and gases from coming inside the interior surface.
  • packed screens or panels are provided in one package, wherein said screens are all packed apart in a polymeric wrapper foil, wound around said screens or panels at least composed of a layer of thermoplastic material, more preferably a polyethylene wrapper, or wherein, in the alternative wrappers are present around those screens, selected in order to have no direct contact between outermost layers of said screens.
  • a packed screen or panel is provided, wherein at least one screen or panel is present, optionally packed apart in a polymeric sheet wrapper.
  • a wrapper around the panel inbetween the two other screens.
  • more than one flat panel may be stored in a package of packed screens according to the present invention.
  • an aluminum foil or sheet, a cardboard or a plastic sheet may further be placed inbetween piled up storage panels, packed together in a foil wrapper as described above.
  • an electroconductive aluminum foil a thin (antistatic) cloth, paper or folder may alternatively be placed between the panels and the thermoplastic easy peel resin layer in order to avoid sparks (due to electrostatic discharge) at the moment that the panels are individually removed from the package.
  • thermosealed packed screens thermalsealed on the four sides of the two foils in contact, e.g. by thermosealing the fourth side after have been put the sceen or screens in the pouch already thermosealed at three sides thereof
  • thermosealed packed screens thermosealed on the four sides of the two foils in contact, e.g. by thermosealing the fourth side after have been put the sceen or screens in the pouch already thermosealed at three sides thereof
  • the present invention provides a packed screen or panel wherein at least one of said thermosealed sides has a notch at its rim.
  • two notches at opposite sides in the respective rims thereof are particularly preferred.
  • thermosealed package it is recommended to have only one screen or panel in the said package.
  • a package in form of a non-destructively or resealably openable pouch is more particularly recommended in order to store the storage phosphor screen or panel temporarily and to protect it against environmental attack of oxygen, moisture and dust or other impurities.
  • the package as set forth is closed by thermosealing, at least when thermosealing the remaining (fourth) side, under inert gases like nitrogen or argon (i.a. blowing said inert gas into the pouch while performing sealing the pouch), or in the alternative under vacuum.
  • inert gases like nitrogen or argon (i.a. blowing said inert gas into the pouch while performing sealing the pouch), or in the alternative under vacuum.
  • the thus packed screen or panel should be protected against oils and fatty acids as well as grease, thanks to the impermeability of the package according to the present invention.
  • a compartment for holding a desiccant may be present.
  • Alternative humidity-controlling materials in form of a foil at each side of the storage phosphor panels and/or inbetween the surface of the panel may also be present, such as a water-absorbing resin as e.g. poly(sodium acrylate), dispersed on a film support coated with an adhesive binder such as a heat-meltable polymer and a latex, and then covered with a cloth, a film or paper in order to prepare a sheet having a high water-absorbing resin-containing layer as a core, followed by impregnating it with an aqueous salt solution, whereby the humidity-controlling material can be prepared.
  • a fungicide and a preservative may further be used together therewith.
  • the packed screen or panel according to the present invention is additionally provided with (packed or coated) silica gel as moisture absorbing agent.
  • Said packed silica gel is preferably present inside the package together with the screens or panels.
  • an additional oxygen absorber may also be present besides the desiccant explained above, said absorber comprising e.g. iron powder, an oxidation accelerating agent and a filler.
  • the oxidation accelerating agent is preferably selected from the group consisting of a halogenated product of alkali metals or alkaline earth metals, a halogenated product of ion exchange resins, a hydrochloric acid, a hypochlorite, or mixtures thereof
  • the filler is at least one substance selected from the group consisting of activated charcoal, potassium carbonate, pearlite, zeolite, activated alumina, oxidized iron, alkaline earth metal oxides and gypsum.
  • the present invention relates to packed storage phosphor screens having a protection package for handling and storing products, in order to protect the screens or panels (besides moisture and oxygen) against static electrical discharge, shock, corrosion and contamination.
  • a multilayer protection pouch or bag for handling and storing one or more storage phosphor panel(s) comprising stimulable phosphors subject to possible damage due to shock may contain in its interior part in contact with the thermoplastic inner layer a bubble pack layer, so that cushioning means disposed around at least portion of the packed screens or panels protect said screens or panels against (especially external) mechanical forces.
  • a package having an impermeable layer composition in that the combination of at least an aluminum layer in contact with one heat-sealable thermoplastic layer as inner side of the package closer to the panel, that is air-tight in that it is, to a strongly limited extent, permeable by air at a temperature of 23°C and a relative humidity of 75%, said air being composed of compounds selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxyde, in an amount of up to less than 0.01 ml per sq.m., per 24 hours and per bar each, determined following DIN 53 122, and by moisture in an amount of up to less than 0.01 g of water per sq.m. and per 24 hours, following DIN 53 380 (ISO 2556, ASTM D 1434).
  • polyethylene film sheets whether used as inner thermoplastic layer or as apart packing wrapper sheet for panels present in a package according to the present invention
  • various monolayer films like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) films have been considered, but most of them are not as commercially acceptable and do not provide better performance.
  • So high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is much too inelastic and lacking in heat sealability to be useful as a commercial wrap
  • the various low density polyethylenes e.g. low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), ultra low-density polyethylene (ULDPE), etc.
  • LDPE low-density polyethylene
  • LLDPE linear low-density polyethylene
  • ULDPE ultra low-density polyethylene
  • the heat-sealable thermoplastic layer of the wrapper at the inside of the package is arranged in such a way that the wrapper may easily be peeled open, by rupturing a surface stratum only (an "easy peel resin coat") of said thermoplastic layer. In the mentioned way, one may dispense with the usual tear-strip for opening the package.
  • the layer of aluminum having a thickness of less than 15 ⁇ m, more preferably in the range from 6-10 ⁇ m, is adhesively bound to the polymeric layer in the outermost direction on one side, and adhesively bound as well on the thermoplastic layer in the innermost direction at the other side.
  • the outermost metallised polymer layer preferably is a (transparent) polypropylene layer.
  • thermoplastic polymers and copolymers based on p-xylylene and substituted p-xylylene monomers already mentioned above and known as preferred moisture resisting protective outermost layer of moisture-sensitive storage phosphor screens or panels can be coated on top of the outermost layer: in order to avoid too high a complexity and/or cost with respect to coating and composition such an additional outermost layer on top is not preferred, the more as moisture-resistant coatings present in the more internally situated layers.
  • the thus preferred outermost transparent polypropylene layer preferably has a thickness of less than 25 ⁇ m. Thicknesses of adhesive layers present inbetween consecutive layers as set forth in the layer arrangement of the asymmetric packaging foil are in the range from 1 ⁇ m up to 5 ⁇ m. So the adhesive layer between polypropylene and aluminum or polyester and aluminum, coated at a thickness of less than 5 ⁇ m (preferably about 3 ⁇ m, therefor coating an amount of adhesive of less than 5 g per sq.m. and more preferably, according to the present invention, between 3.5 and 4.5 g per sq.m.), should provide an adhesive strength or force, determined as described in DIN 53 357, of at least 2.5 N/mm 2 .
  • the adhesive strength between the aluminum layer and the polyethylene layer coated at about the same thickness in about the same amounts as described hereinbefore, should at least be more than 5.0 N/mm 2 (value for adhesive strengths measured as prescribed in DIN 53 357).
  • preferred transparent polymers are formed from unsubstituted ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbons.
  • These polymers include, without however being limited thereto, diene polymers such as polyisoprene, (e.g., transpolyisoprene), polybutadiene (especially 1,2-polybutadienes, which are defined as those polybutadienes possessing greater than or equal to 50% 1,2 microstructure), and copolymers thereof, e.g. styrene-butadiene.
  • Such hydrocarbons also include polymeric compounds such as polypentenamer, polyoctenamer, and other polymers prepared by olefin metathesis; diene oligomers such as squalene; and polymers or copolymers derived from dicyclopentadiene, norbornadiene, 5-ethylidene-2-norbornene, or other monomers containing more than one carbon-carbon double bond (conjugated or non-conjugated). These hydrocarbons further include carotenoids such as ⁇ -carotene.
  • Preferred substituted ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbons include, but are not limited to, those with oxygen-containing moieties, such as esters, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, ethers, ketones, alcohols, peroxides, and/or hydroperoxides.
  • oxygen-containing moieties such as esters, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, ethers, ketones, alcohols, peroxides, and/or hydroperoxides.
  • Specific examples of such hydrocarbons include, but are not limited to, condensation polymers such as polyesters derived from monomers containing carbon-carbon double bonds; unsaturated fatty acids such as oleic, ricinoleic, dehydrated ricinoleic, and linoleic acids and derivatives thereof, e.g. esters.
  • Such hydrocarbons also include polymers or copolymers derived from (meth)allyl (meth)acrylates.
  • composition used may also comprise a mixture of two or more of the substituted or unsubstituted ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbons described above, provided that for the same thickness of the polymeric layers and of the adhesives between the said layers and aluminum, an adhesive strength as set forth above is guaranteed.
  • 1,2-polybutadiene can be used as component exhibiting transparency, mechanical properties and processing characteristics similar to those of polypropylene.
  • this polymer is found to retain its transparency and mechanical integrity even after most or all of its oxygen capacity has been consumed, and even when little or no diluent resin is present.
  • 1,2-polybutadiene exhibits a relatively high oxygen capacity and, once it has begun to scavenge, it exhibits a relatively high scavenging rate as well.
  • the multi-layered package preferably comprises as an outermost layer, a layer comprising an ethylene polymer having siloxane cross-linking bonds.
  • the multi-layer film contains as outermost layer a layer of an ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer.
  • the package of the packed screen or panel according to the present invention is provided with an antistatic coating on at least one side of the (multilayered) foil. More preferably such an antistatic layer is provided on the inner thermoplastic polymer layer and/or the outer layers of the storage panels, as removal of the storage phosphor panels from the package may lead to charging/discharging phenomena of static electricity, although the aluminum foil is electroconductive and may reduce (in part) disadvantageous effects, depending on the environmental circumstances. More particularly in a "dry" atmosphere wherein a low relative humidity is measured, the problem may be stringent.
  • the aluminum layer forms a surface with a highly reflective power whereby absorption of IR radiation by the package and resultant heating of the contents is minimized.
  • water-soluble conductive polymers may be used having at least one conductive group selected from a sulphonic acid group, a sulphate-group, a phosphate-group, a quaternary ammonium salt group, a tertiary sulfonium salt group, a carboxyl group and a polyoxyethylene group.
  • the conductive group may be linked directly to the polymer, through a divalent coupling group or to an aromatic, heterocyclic ring as e.g. a benzene ring or a pyridine ring.
  • the conductive polymers may further include at least one of the group selected from styrene, vinylidene chloride, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, itaconic esters or butadiene.
  • the most useful polymers for embodying the invention are generally those having an average molecular weight of about 10 3 to 10 6 .
  • amounts of conductive polymer expressed in solid matter varying from 0.0001 to 10 g/m 2 may be added and, more preferably, from 0.001 to 1 g/m 2 .
  • the antistatic layers may comprise antistatic compounds.
  • Especially preferred antistatic compounds are fluorinated compounds, in particular fluorinated surfactants, like e.g.
  • Preferred fluorinated compounds for use in packed storage screens assembly according to the present invention are those having a group with oxyethylene groups, represented by the formula RF-A-X, wherein RF stands for a partly or wholly fluorinated hydrocarbon chain comprising at least 3 fluorine atoms, A stands for a chemical bond, a bivalent hydrocarbon group including a bivalent hydrocarbon group interrupted by one or more heteroatoms, or the group -COO, -CON(R)-, -SO 2 N(R)- or SO 2 N(R)CO wherein R is hydrogen or alkyl comprising from 1 to 5 C-atoms, X stands for a hydrophilic oxyalkylene group containing one or more oxyethylene groups.
  • RF stands for a partly or wholly fluorinated hydrocarbon chain comprising at least 3 fluorine atoms
  • A stands for a chemical bond, a bivalent hydrocarbon group including a bivalent hydrocarbon group interrupted by one or more heteroatoms, or the group -COO
  • a preferred antistatic agent is a polyethylene oxide compound, represented as R-O-(CH 2 CH 2 O) n -H in general, wherein n is an integer of at least 4 preferably between 8 and 30 and R represents a long chain alkyl or alkylaryl group having at least 10 C-atoms as e.g. oleyl.
  • R-O-(CH 2 CH 2 O) n -H in general, wherein n is an integer of at least 4 preferably between 8 and 30 and R represents a long chain alkyl or alkylaryl group having at least 10 C-atoms as e.g. oleyl.
  • Different antistatic agents as described hereinbefore may be present as mixtures in the antistatic layer(s) in this invention, the mixtures being the same or different for the different antistatic layers.
  • Antistatic layers may further contain a latex.
  • Such latexes if present, preferably contain an acrylate or a methacrylate component esterified with an alkyl group in the polymer molecules thereof.
  • examples of such latex components include e.g. methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate and butyl methacrylate.
  • At least one antistatic coating may be applied to the heat sealable thermoplastic polymer for use as inner layer of the packed storage phosphor screen of the present invention by means of roller coating, slide-hopper coating, curtain coating, spray coating or, and preferably, by gravure printing.
  • On top of the outer layers of the storage panels at least one antistatic layer may be applied e.g. by means of preferred spray coating techniques.
  • at least one antistatic agent may be added to said outer layers of the storage panels layer.
  • thermoplastic wrapper having an antistatic layer, wherein the storage panels and the thermoplastic wrapper are in intimate contact, the problems caused by static charges prior to use by removal of a storage panel out of its package material can be avoided or substantially reduced.
  • the wrapper described above if present, may be covered or may have included therein an effective amount of a conductive compound lowering the lateral electrical resistance.
  • a particular conductive compound suitable for use therein is a polythiophene compound.
  • the packed storage phosphor panels according to the present invention further normally bear information readable by optoelectronic devices.
  • Such device may be present on the packaging itself or the packaging may include a transparent part - like a window - covering the said information.
  • Said information may be present in form of a bar code, a chip or a label without however being limited thereto.
  • the radiation image storage panel comprises a protective coating characterized in that, besides a binder, the said protective coating comprises a white pigment having a refractive index of more than 1.6, more preferably a refractive index of more than 2.0, and even more defined, titanium dioxide, which is present in the said binder, optionally further comprising a urethane acrylate, and wherein said protective coating has a surface roughness (Rz) between 2 ⁇ m and 10 ⁇ m as disclosed in EP-Application No. 01 000 711, filed December 5, 2001 .
  • Rz surface roughness
  • a parylene layer is highly desired as moisture proof layer as has e.g. been described in EP-Application No. 01000401.8 , filed August 23, 2001.
  • poly(p-2-chloroxylylene) poly(p-2,6-dichloroxylylene)
  • fluoro substituted poly(p-xylylene) fluoro substituted poly(p-xylylene), MgF 2 , or a combination thereof.
  • chemical vapour deposition is a technique that can be applied when making use of those components, the said technique is advantageously applied in this case
  • the screen or the panel of the present invention can also have reinforced edges as described in, e.g., US-A 5,334,842 and US-A 5,340,661 .
  • the present invention in a particularly preferred embodiment, moreover includes a binderless phosphor panel.
  • the storage phosphor used in that panel or screen is preferably an alkali metal storage phosphor.
  • a phosphor is disclosed e.g. in US-A-5 736 069 and corresponds to the formula : M 1 +X.aM 2 +X' 2 bM 3 +X'' 3 :cZ wherein:
  • An especially preferred phosphor for use in a panel or screen of the present invention is a CsX:Eu stimulable phosphor, wherein X represents a halide selected from the group consisting of Br and Cl, produced by a method comprising the steps of :
  • Such a phosphor has been disclosed in EP-A-1 203 394 .
  • the phosphor is preferably vacuum deposited on the support under conditions disclosed in EP-A-1 113 458 and EP-A-1 118 540 .
  • a moisture-proof insulating film is thus preferably present on the phosphor layer, wherein said film is most preferably obtained by CVD (chemical vapour deposition) formed on the phosphor screen or panel.
  • the phosphor screen or panel thus formed characterised by a moistureproof protective overcoat layer preferably has that protective layer on part of the support having a surface larger than the main surface of said phosphor layer, so that the said phosphor layer leaves a portion of said support free, and said protective overcoat layer covers at least a part of said portion of said support left free by said phosphor layer.
  • Said moistureproof protective overcoat layer normally is the outermost layer, covering the surface of the phosphor layer, wherein the said surface is smaller than the surface of the support so that the phosphor layer does not reach the edges of the support.
  • a panel with a support having a surface larger than the main surface of the phosphor layer leaves a portion of the support free, whereas the moistureproof protective layer covers, at least in part, the portion of the support left free by the phosphor layer.
  • Another advantage of this construction is that no special edge reinforcement is necessary (although, if desired, further edge reinforcement may be applied).
  • Such a construction of a phosphor panel wherein the surface of the phosphor layer is smaller than the surface of the support, so that the phosphor layer does not reach the edges of the support represents a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, and such a construction can be beneficial for the manufacture of any phosphor panel covered with any protective layer known in the art.
  • the moistureproof protective layer normally has a thickness in the range between 0.05 ⁇ m and 15 ⁇ m, and even more preferably between 1 ⁇ m and 10 ⁇ m.
  • this layer is a chemical vacuum deposited parylene layer, while such a layer not only covers the surface of the needle crystals, but also covers the voids between the needles thus protecting the edges of the phosphor needles thoroughly against humidity.
  • a preferred package or blister totally encompassing one or more storage phosphor panel(s) within a thermoplastic bubble or blister comprised of two plastic foils which meet near their peripheries, in order to seal the product enclosed within, is thus provided, and ensures that nothing will escape from the product and that no moisture or oxygen (or at least to a limited extent as described above, following the corresponding DIN procedures) will come into the blister prior to opening the said blister, further ensuring that the objects of the present invention will perfectly be attained.
  • Packed storage panels of the present invention are particularly suitable for resisting a plurality of adverse conditions such as oxygen and humidity (moisture), further including electrostatic discharge, corrosion, contamination and mechanical forces like shock, as well as elevated heat, without blistering, bubbling, cracking or any dust or oil permeation and are perfectly suitable for use in quite severe climate circumstances, being tropical as well as polar climates.
  • adverse conditions such as oxygen and humidity (moisture)
  • electrostatic discharge, corrosion, contamination and mechanical forces like shock as well as elevated heat
  • a sealed package for screens or panels and raw stock materials in order to prepare the said screens or panels wherein said package is layered in form of an asymmetrical barrier layer foil, said foil comprising an inner flexible thermoplastic polymer layer and an outer polymer layer in adhesive contact with an aluminum layer situated inbetween said inner flexible thermoplastic polymer layer and said outer polymer layer, wherein said foil is characterised by adhesive forces, between said outer polymer layer and said aluminum layer, of more than 2.5 N/mm 2 following DIN 53 357, by a permeation to water vapour of less than 0.01 g per sq.m.
  • asymmetric protective barrier-foil illustrated in Fig. 1 , was built-up as follows (starting from the side for use as outermost layer of the packed storage phosphor panels):
  • the asymmetric barrier layer was cut into 2 squares having a dimension of 30 cm x 30 cm.
  • the inner thermoplastic polyethylene layers were put in contact with each other and the polyethylene layers were heat-sealed at 3 common sides in order to have a heat-sealed region with a width of about 1 cm.
  • the fourth side was heat sealed under addition of an inert gas: the internal atmosphere of the bag, between the storage phosphor panel surfaces and the inner polyethylene foil was flushed with argon before hermetically closing the package.
  • a storage phosphor screen was thus prepared for further packaging experiments.
  • Solution A MOWILITH CT5 (from HOECHST AG) 300 g Ethanol 700 g CYMEL 300 60 g p-toluene sulphonic acid 12 g
  • Solution B* Tiarymethane Dye-1 0.750 g Ethanol 150 g Sodium hydroxide 0.08 g *16 hours after its preparation solution B is filtered off: a red-brown solution is obtained.
  • Coating solution Solution A 33.3 g Solution B 3.0 g Ethanol 63.6 g
  • the coating solution was coated by dipcoating techniques at a rate of 4 m per minute on a polyethylene terephthalate support (see further Table 1) having reflecting properties (containing BaSO 4 particles) or absorbing properties (having carbon black particles).
  • BAEROSTAB M36, DISPERSE AYD 9100 and KRATON FG19101X were dissolved while stirring in the prescribed amounts in 61.5 g of a solvent mixture from wash benzine 100-120, toluene and butyl acrylate in ratios by volume of 50:30:20. The phosphors were added thereafter and stirring was further proceeded for another 10 minutes at a rate of 1700 r.p.m..
  • the composition was doctor blade coated at a coating rate of 2.5 m per minute onto a subbed 175 ⁇ m thick polyethylene terephthalate support and dried at room temperature during 30 minutes. In order to remove volatile solvents as much as possible the coated phosphor plate was dried at 90°C in a drying stove.
  • this particular dye is advantageously soluble in ethanol but insoluble in solvents present in the coating composition of the phosphor layer.
  • the measurement of S and SWR was carried out with an image scanner made up with a He-Ne laser.
  • the beam of a 30 mW red He-Ne laser was focussed to a small spot of 114 ⁇ m (FMWH) with an optic containing a beam expander and a collimating lens.
  • a mirror galvanometer was used to scan this small laserspot over the entire width of a phosphor sample.
  • the phosphor was stimulated and the emission light was captured by an array of optical fibers which were sited on one line. At the other end of the optical fibers being mounted in a circle a photomultiplier was situated.
  • an optical filter type BG3 from SCOTT, was placed between the fiber and the photomultiplier. In this way only the light emitted by the phosphor was measured.
  • the small current of the photomultiplier was first amplified with an I/V convertor and digitalised with an A/D convertor.
  • the measuring set up was connected with a HP 9826 computer and a HP 6944 multiprogrammer to controll the measurement. Starting the procedure an electronic shutter was closed to shut down the laser. A phosphor sample measuring 50 mm x 210 mm was excited with a 80 kV X-ray source provided with an aluminum filter having a thickness of 12 mm. The radiation dose was measured with a FARMER dosemeter. Between the X-ray source and the phosphor layer a thin lead-raster containing 7 different spatial frequencies was mounted in order to modulate the X-ray radiation. Frequencies used were were 0.025, 0.50, 1.00, 2.00, 3.00, 4.00 and 5.00 line pairs per mm. After exposure the sample was put into the laser scanner.
  • the shutter was opened and the galvanometer was moved linearly.
  • the emitted light was measured continuously with the A/D convertor at a sampling rate frequency of 100 kHz and stored within a memory card in the multiprogrammer.
  • the plate was moved over a distance of 114 ⁇ m and the next line was read.
  • the shutter was closed again and the galvanometer was put on his original position again.
  • the various scan lines were transferred from the memory card in the multiprogrammer to the computer where said data were analysed. A first correction took into account the sensitivity variation of the scan line with the distance. Therefore a calibration scan was measured previously for a phosphor sample that was perfectly homogeneously exposed.
  • a second correction took into account the amount of X-ray dose by dividing said values by the said dose amount.
  • the different blocks in the line scan of the grating were separated and the amplitude on each spatial frequency was calculated, making use of Fourier analysis.
  • the amplitude of the first block having a spatial frequency of 0.025 line pairs per mm was taken as the zero frequency amplitude and was used to normalise the amplitudes for all frequencies for the grating.
  • These normalised results are the Square Wave Response (SWR: SWR1 referring to the response at 1 line pair per mm; SWR2 to the response at 2 line pairs per mm) which was representative for the resolution of the screen.
  • the screens were homogeneously irradiated with a dose of ca. 50 mR at 80 kVp (10 mm Al filter).
  • the screen were read out in a flying spot scanner.
  • the scanning light source was a 30 mW diode laser emitting at 690 nm.
  • a 4 mm Hoya BG-39 (trade name) filter was used to separate the stimulation light from the light emitted by the phosphor screen.
  • the scan-average levels (SAL) were determined as the average signal output of the scanning device for a selected line after application of a high pass filter set to 0.1. The results of this measurement were noted as a SAL value for the different screen samples.
  • Table 1 data measured with respect to screen speed and sharpness have been combined and have been expressed in relative units, wherein the reference storage panel(see EX1) has been set at a value of "100". Samples thereof have been preserved in conditions of temperature (in °C) and relative humidity (in %) during several days as indicated in the Table 1.
  • Table 1 Sample No. Number of days °C %RH Relative Quality Temp.(°C) EX1 7453/5 0 100 EX2 7504/6 24 30 100 95 EX3 7504/7 24 45 100 94 EX4 7504/5 24 60 100 86 Time EX1 7453/5 0 100 EX5 7504/2 6 60 100 94 EX6 7504/7 12 60 100 94 EX7 7504/5 18 60 100 91 EX4 7504/5 24 60 100 86

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)
  • Conversion Of X-Rays Into Visible Images (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Panneaux ou écrans à luminophore montés sous boîtier constitué par au moins un écran ou un panneau, possédant au moins trois côtés thermosoudés, possédant au moins un côté apte à être rescellé, ledit boîtier étant déposé sous la forme d'une feuille mince asymétrique procurant une couche d'arrêt, ladite feuille mince comprenant, à titre de couche interne de polymère thermoplastique flexible, une couche de polyéthylène faible densité possédant une épaisseur dans la plage de 50 µm à 100 µm et, à titre de couche polymère externe, une couche de polypropylène métallisée possédant une épaisseur dans la plage de 15 µm à 25 µm ou bien une couche de polyester possédant une épaisseur dans la plage de 10 µm à 15 µm, à la fois ladite couche externe et ladite couche interne étant mises en contact par adhérence avec une couche d'aluminium entre les deux, ladite couche d'aluminium possédant une épaisseur dans la plage de 6 µm à 10 µm.
  2. Panneau ou écran à luminophore monté sous boîtier selon la revendication 1, dans lequel au moins un desdits côtés thermosoudés possède une encoche sur son bord.
  3. Panneau ou écran à luminophore monté sous boîtier selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel, à titre d'une autre couche de polymères intercalés entre ladite couche d'aluminium et ladite couche interne de polymère thermoplastique flexible, ladite autre couche est une couche de polyamide possédant une épaisseur dans la plage de 10 µm à 20 µm.
  4. Panneau ou écran à luminophore monté sous boîtier selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel le rapport en épaisseur de ladite couche interne de polymère thermoplastique flexible à ladite couche de polymère externe s'élève à au moins 3:1.
  5. Panneau ou écran à luminophore monté sous boîtier selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel le rapport en épaisseur de ladite couche flexible interne à ladite couche de polymère externe est supérieur à 7:1.
  6. Panneau ou écran à luminophore monté sous boîtier selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel le contact par adhérence est mis en oeuvre via une couche adhésive coulée avec une quantité d'adhésifs entre 3,5 et 4,5 g par m2.
  7. Panneau ou écran à luminophore monté sous boîtier selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel de gel de silice compacte est présent à titre de dessiccateur ou d'agent d'absorption de l'humidité.
  8. Panneau ou écran à luminophore monté sous boîtier selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel ledit boîtier est muni d'un revêtement antistatique sur au moins un côté de ladite feuille mince.
  9. Panneau ou écran à luminophore monté sous boîtier selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel ledit luminophore est un luminophore d'emmagasinage à base d'un métal alcalin.
EP20020102069 2002-07-30 2002-07-30 Ecran ou panneaux luminescents d'enregistrement emballés Expired - Fee Related EP1387365B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE60230978T DE60230978D1 (de) 2002-07-30 2002-07-30 Verpackte Speicherleuchtschirme oder Speicherphosphorträger
EP20020102069 EP1387365B1 (fr) 2002-07-30 2002-07-30 Ecran ou panneaux luminescents d'enregistrement emballés
US10/617,648 US6998159B2 (en) 2002-07-30 2003-07-11 Packed storage phosphor screens or panels
JP2003281599A JP2004163409A (ja) 2002-07-30 2003-07-29 包装された貯蔵燐光体スクリーン又はパネル

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20020102069 EP1387365B1 (fr) 2002-07-30 2002-07-30 Ecran ou panneaux luminescents d'enregistrement emballés

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1387365A1 EP1387365A1 (fr) 2004-02-04
EP1387365B1 true EP1387365B1 (fr) 2009-01-21

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DE (1) DE60230978D1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1605472A1 (fr) * 2004-06-10 2005-12-14 Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic, Inc. Panneau pour la conversion d'images radiographiques
JP2008082852A (ja) * 2006-09-27 2008-04-10 Toshiba Corp 放射線検出装置
JP2008164339A (ja) * 2006-12-27 2008-07-17 Konica Minolta Medical & Graphic Inc 放射線像変換パネル
US8629402B2 (en) * 2011-11-21 2014-01-14 Carestream Health, Inc. X-ray imaging panel with thermally-sensitive adhesive and methods of making thereof

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DE8008205U1 (de) * 1980-03-25 1980-06-26 Agfa-Gevaert Ag, 5090 Leverkusen Rdntgenfilmpackung
DE69224910T2 (de) * 1992-11-25 1998-10-15 Agfa Gevaert Nv Röntgenfilmpackung zur zerstörungsfreien Prüfung
DE10150083A1 (de) * 2000-10-18 2003-03-27 Konishiroku Photo Ind Platte zur Umwandlung von Strahlungsbildern

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EP1387365A1 (fr) 2004-02-04
JP2004163409A (ja) 2004-06-10

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