JP2000314932A - Method and device for reading image information - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To read image information accumulated and recorded on a storage phosphor sheet with higher resolution. SOLUTION: In this image information reading method, the whole surface of the storage phosphor sheet 10 on which image information is accumulated and recorded is uniformly irradiated with LED light L emitted from an LED 21 and diffused through a diffusion plate 22, and the two-dimensional image of stimulated emission light M emitted from the storage phosphor sheet 10 is formed on the light receiving surface of a CCD 25 through a lens 23, and, in this way, the surface irradiation of the LED light L and the surface detection of the stimulated emission light M are executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for reading image information, and more particularly to an improvement in a method and apparatus for reading image information stored and recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When irradiated with radiation, the energy of the radiation is absorbed, stored, recorded, and then excited using excitation light in a specific wavelength range. Using a stimulable phosphor having a characteristic of emitting a corresponding amount of stimulable luminescent light as a radiation detection material, the energy of the radiation transmitted through the subject is converted into a stimulable phosphor formed on the stimulable phosphor sheet. In the stimulable phosphor contained in the body layer, the stimulable phosphor is accumulated and recorded, and thereafter, the stimulable phosphor is scanned by the excitation light to excite the stimulable phosphor, and The emitted photostimulated light is photoelectrically detected, a digital image signal is generated, the digital image signal is subjected to appropriate signal processing, and is displayed on a display means such as a CRT or a recording material such as a photographic film. Configured to generate a radiographic image Ray image recording and reproducing system is known (JP 55-12429, the 56-11395 JP, the 56-11397
No.).

[0003] Further, a similar stimulable phosphor is used as a radiation detecting material, and a substance provided with a radioactive label is administered to an organism, and then the organism or a part of the tissue of the organism is sampled. By superimposing this sample on the stimulable phosphor sheet on which the stimulable phosphor layer is formed for a certain period of time, radiation energy is accumulated in the stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor layer. After recording, the excitation light is used to scan the stimulable phosphor layer to excite the stimulable phosphor and photoelectrically detect the stimulable phosphor emitted from the stimulable phosphor. There is known an autoradiography system configured to generate a digital image signal, perform signal processing, and generate an image on a display unit such as a CRT or a recording material such as a photographic film. Fair 1-60
No. 784, No. 1-60782, No. 4-3952).

Further, when the electron beam or the radiation is irradiated, the energy of the electron beam or the radiation is absorbed, stored and recorded, and thereafter, when the excitation is performed using the excitation light in a specific wavelength range, the irradiation is performed. A stimulable phosphor having the property of emitting stimulating luminescence light in an amount corresponding to the amount of energy of an electron beam or radiation is used as an electron beam or radiation detection material, and a metal or nonmetal sample is irradiated with the electron beam. Detects the diffraction image or transmission image of the sample, performs elemental analysis, composition analysis of the sample, structural analysis of the sample, etc., or irradiates the biological tissue with an electron beam to detect the image of the biological tissue There are known a detection system using an electron microscope that emits radiation, and a radiation diffraction image detection system that irradiates a sample with radiation and detects an obtained radiation diffraction image to analyze the structure of the sample. Sho 61-51738, JP-A-61-93538
No., JP-A-59-15843).

A system using these stimulable phosphor sheets as a material for detecting an image, unlike the case of using a photographic film, not only does not require a chemical process of development but also obtains image data. By performing signal processing on the image data, there is an advantage that an image having a desired size and image quality can be reproduced or quantitative analysis can be performed by a computer.

[0006]

In each of the above-described systems using the stimulable phosphor sheet, the energy of the electron beam or radiation stored and recorded in the stimulable phosphor is stimulated by irradiation with excitation light. Since the light is emitted as light, a small amount of energy remains in the portion already irradiated with the excitation light. From this, it can be said that reading an image by each of the above systems is destructive reading (of information).

On the other hand, each of these systems adopts a configuration in which a thin beam-like excitation light emitted from a light source is scanned on a stimulable phosphor sheet by using a rotating polygon mirror or other scanning means. However, it is known that the excitation light incident on the sheet diffuses to some extent inside the sheet. That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, the excitation light L incident on the sheet diffuses inside the sheet to excite the stimulable phosphor in a range W wider than the beam diameter of the excitation light. become. For this reason, the energy of radiation and the like stored and recorded in the excited range W is emitted as photostimulated light M1 and lost. In the figure, a semicircle portion not shaded schematically indicates that this energy has been lost.

[0008] Similarly, at a scanning position shown in FIG. 2B where scanning has progressed in the direction of arrow Y from the scanning position shown in FIG. 1A, energy within a predetermined range around the scanning position is radiated. The emitted light M2 is emitted. In addition, FIG.
Since the excitation light L is continuously moved in the direction of the arrow Y during the period from the scanning position of (2) to the scanning position of (2), energy is actually lost as shown in FIG. The ranges (semicircles without diagonal lines) do not exist separately from each other. The size of the range W in which the excitation light is diffused varies depending on conditions such as the beam diameter of the excitation light, the power of the excitation light, the excitation time (scanning time), and the constituent material of the stimulable phosphor sheet. About 300μm for image recording / reproducing systems, for autoradiography systems
It is about 25 μm. The reason why the diffusion range in the autoradiography system is small is that the stimulable phosphor layer of the sheet contains a substance that suppresses diffusion of the excitation light.

In the method of irradiating the sheet with the excitation light by scanning the excitation light as described above, the energy is emitted from the scanning position of the excitation light, so that the resolution of the emission position of the stimulated emission light is further enhanced. Even if the reading interval is narrowed, as shown in FIG. 4 (3), in the range W where the accumulated energy is released by the already diffused excitation light, there is little remaining energy, so that a slight photostimulated light is emitted. There is a problem that only M2 'is emitted and a highly accurate detection result cannot be obtained.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an image information reading method and an image information reading method capable of reading image information stored and recorded on a stimulable phosphor sheet at higher resolution than before. It is intended to provide a device.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An image information reading method and apparatus according to the present invention irradiates an excitation light onto a stimulable phosphor sheet on which image information is stored and records the stimulable phosphor sheet from the irradiated sheet portion. The image information is read with high resolution by detecting the emitted stimulating light at one time.

That is, according to the image information reading method of the present invention, the stimulable phosphor sheet on which image information is stored and recorded is irradiated with excitation light, and the stimulated emission is emitted from the sheet in accordance with the stored and recorded image information. In an image information reading device that acquires the image information by photoelectrically reading light, at least a desired part of the stimulable phosphor sheet is irradiated in a planar manner and uniformly with the excitation light, An image of the sheet portion irradiated with the excitation light is formed on a predetermined surface, and the formed image is read as two-dimensional image information by two-dimensional photoelectric reading means. Things.

Here, the portion of the sheet that irradiates the excitation light in a planar manner may be a part of the sheet or the entire surface of the sheet. That is, the entire surface of a desired region to be read as image information may be collectively irradiated, or a part of the entire region may be sequentially irradiated.

As the two-dimensional photoelectric reading means, it is preferable to employ a CCD or the like in which solid-state image sensors are two-dimensionally arranged, and it is possible to detect particularly weak fluorescent light in a wide dynamic range and with good linearity. It is more preferable to use an interline CCD having a cooling element.

An image information reading apparatus according to the present invention is an apparatus for carrying out the image information reading method according to the present invention, comprising: an excitation light source for emitting excitation light; and a stimulable phosphor sheet on which image information is stored and recorded. Excitation light irradiating means for irradiating the excitation light, and photoelectric reading means for photoelectrically detecting stimulated emission light emitted from the sheet according to image information stored and recorded by the irradiation of the excitation light. In the image information reading apparatus, the excitation light irradiating unit may apply the excitation light to at least a desired part of the sheet (part or all of a region to be read as image information) in a planar and uniform manner. A surface irradiating means for irradiating the photoelectric reading means, wherein the photoelectric reading means is a light receiving surface of the two-dimensional photoelectric reading means; Up It is characterized in that is obtained and an image forming optical system allowed to imaging.

The surface irradiating means may be a means for irradiating a part of the sheet with the excitation light, or a means for irradiating the entire surface of the sheet with the excitation light. As a specific configuration, a diffusion plate or the like can be applied.

The two-dimensional photoelectric reading means includes a CCD in which solid-state imaging devices are arranged two-dimensionally, particularly an interface having a cooling element capable of detecting weak fluorescence with a wide dynamic range and high linearity. It is preferable to apply a line type CCD.

Note that the excitation light source itself may also serve as the surface irradiation means. In this case, for example, by arranging a large number of excitation light sources in a distributed manner, the sheet can be irradiated in a planar manner and uniformly.

[0019]

According to the image information reading method and apparatus of the present invention, the stimulable phosphor sheet, on which the image information is stored and recorded, is irradiated with the excitation light, so that the stimulable phosphor sheet responds to the stored and recorded image information. Stimulable emission light emitted simultaneously from the illuminated portion, and the simultaneously emitted stimulus emission light is simultaneously surface-detected and read by a two-dimensional photoelectric reading means to obtain the conventional point excitation / point detection. As a result, it is possible to read out the image information stored and recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet with higher resolution than before.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the image information reading method and apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1A is a diagram showing the configuration of a basic embodiment of the image information reading apparatus of the present invention. The illustrated image information reading device includes an LED 21 that emits LED light L and an entire surface of a stimulable phosphor sheet 10 on which image information is stored and recorded.
A diffusion plate 22 for uniformly irradiating the LED light L emitted from the LED 21 and a large number of solid-state imaging devices are two-dimensionally arranged,
An interline type CCD 25 with a cooling element cooled by a Peltier element, a lens 23 for forming an image of the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 10 irradiated with the LED light L on a light receiving surface of the CCD 25, and a lens 23. Of the light that passed, LED
The configuration includes an LED light cut filter 24 that blocks passage of light L.

Next, the operation of the image information reading apparatus according to the basic embodiment will be described.

First, LED light L is emitted from each LED 21, and the emitted LED light L is incident on the diffusion plate 22 to have uniform intensity and uniformly irradiates the entire surface of the sheet 10. The stimulable phosphor in each minute portion of the stimulable phosphor sheet 10 is excited by the illuminated LED light L and emits stimulable luminescence light M having an intensity corresponding to the recorded image information.

Here, since the lens 23 is arranged so as to form an image of the entire surface of the sheet 10 on the light receiving surface of the CCD 25, the image of the photostimulated light M emitted from the sheet 10
An image is formed on the light receiving surface of D25. In addition, since part of the LED light L that excites the stimulable phosphor is reflected and diffused on the surface of the sheet 10 and the like, the image of the LED light L is also formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 25 by the lens 23. But the lens 23
LED light cut filter arranged between the CCD and CCD25
24 actually blocks the LED light L from passing therethrough.
The D light L does not enter the light receiving surface of the CCD 25.

The image of the photostimulated light M formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 25 is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 25 and output to an external image processing device, image reproducing device (CRT, etc.), and the like. , A distribution image on the sheet 10 can be obtained.

As described above, according to the image information reading apparatus of this embodiment, since the entire surface of the sheet 10 is simultaneously irradiated with the LED light L having a uniform intensity, the energy stored in the sheet 10 is reduced. Are simultaneously emitted as photostimulated light M, and the photostimulated light M, which is the energy emitted at the same time, is simultaneously photoelectrically read as the whole sheet 10 by the CCD 25. Like the image information reading device of the
The energy of the unscanned portion is not lost due to the influence of the diffused light from the already scanned portion, and therefore FIG. 1 (2)
As shown in (1), the resolution defined by the interval W between the light emission positions of the photostimulated light M can be increased as compared with the conventional one. Specifically, the resolution can be secured up to about W = 3 μm. When the resolution defined by the interval W between the light emission positions of the stimulating light M is thus improved, the reproduction is actually performed by increasing the resolution on the reading side, that is, by increasing the number of elements of the CCD 25. Resolution of a visible image can be improved.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an epi-illumination type microscope partially including one embodiment of the image information reading apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the microscope shown in FIG. It is a principal part sectional view which shows a figure and BB sectional drawing.

The microscope shown has a lamp box 31 having a light source for emitting visible light L0 and a diffusing means for diffusing the visible light L0 emitted from the light source to light L0 of uniform intensity. Half mirror (blue partially transmitting mirror) that reflects visible light L0 output from lamp box 31
A reflection optical system 32 provided so as to be switchable between a reflection optical system 32a and a dichroic mirror (red reflection mirror) 32b;
The visible light L0 reflected by the light source 32 is uniformly irradiated on the entire surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 10 disposed on the sample table 33, and the image of the sheet 10 is placed on the light receiving surface of a CCD 35 with a cooling element described later. Objective lens 34 for imaging and objective lens 34
Of the excitation light component L of the visible light L0 of the light guided to the CCD 35 by the
A CCD 35 with a cooling element for receiving and photoelectrically reading a two-dimensional image formed on the light receiving surface, and a lamp box 31
Shutter 37 disposed on the optical path between the
A filter set 38 in which a blue transmission filter 38a and an excitation light transmission filter (red transmission filter) 38b are switchably disposed on an optical path between the shutter 37 and the reflection optical system 32. Body 39 is CCD from lamp box 31
In this configuration, the optical path of the stimulating light M emitted from the visible light L0 and the sheet up to 35 is shielded from external environmental light.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4A, the blue transmission filter 38a has a wavelength band of 420 to 480 n of the visible light L0.
This filter transmits only the m blue light L ′, and the light L ′ in this wavelength band does not excite the stimulable phosphor of the stimulable phosphor sheet 10. On the other hand, the excitation light transmitting filter 38b is a filter that transmits only the excitation light L having a wavelength band of 600 nm or more that excites the stimulable phosphor of the sheet 10 in the visible light L0.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the half mirror 32a is provided with a blue light L 'having a wavelength band of 420 to 480 nm.
The dichroic mirror 32b is set so as to reflect only the light having a wavelength band of 600 nm or more including the excitation light L almost completely.

In the housing 39, the sample stage 33 and the objective lens
The portion (sample chamber) that covers 34 is formed as a blue cover 39a.

Next, the operation of the incident-light microscope will be described.

First, the two filters of the filter set 38
Of the 38a and 38b, the blue transmission filter 38a is arranged on the optical path of the visible light L0, and the shutter 37 is opened. In the reflection optical system 32, the half mirror 32 is arranged on the optical path. Here, visible light L0 with uniform intensity is emitted from the lamp box 31. The emitted visible light L0 is transmitted by the blue transmission filter 38a, so that only the blue light L 'in the wavelength band is transmitted, and light in other wavelength bands is not transmitted. About half of the blue light L 'that has passed through the blue transmission filter 38a is reflected downward by the half mirror 32a, and three objective lenses 34, 34', 34 "(34" shown in FIG. 3), the entire surface of the sheet 10 on the sample table 33 is uniformly irradiated by the objective lens 34 selected as a lens suitable for a desired angle of view.

The blue light L 'applied to the sheet 10 is
Since it does not excite the 10 stimulable phosphors, the entire surface of the sheet 10 is simply illuminated and the blue light L ′ reflected by the sheet 10 is reflected.
About half of the light passes through the half mirror 32a and the excitation light cut filter 36, and is imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD 35. Then, the image of the reflected light of the blue light L 'formed by the formed sheet 10 is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 35 and displayed on an external device such as a CRT. Move the position up and down,
The sheet 10 is focused, and at the same time, a visual field search is performed as necessary.

When the focusing and the search for the visual field are completed, first, the shutter 37 is moved in the direction of the arrow X to be disposed on the optical path of the visible light L0 to shield the inside of the housing 39, and then the filter set 38 is also moved in the direction of the arrow X. Moved to the blue transmission filter 38a.
Is retracted from the optical path and the excitation light transmission filter
38b is located on the optical path. Further, in conjunction with the filter set 38, the reflection optical system 32 is also moved in the direction of the arrow X, the half mirror 32a is retracted from the optical path, and the dichroic mirror 32b is arranged on the optical path.

Next, the shutter 37 is opened, and visible light L0 having uniform intensity is emitted from the lamp box 31. The emitted visible light L0 is transmitted by the excitation light transmitting filter 38b so that only the excitation light component L in the wavelength band is transmitted, and light in other wavelength bands is not transmitted. Excitation light transmission filter 38b
Almost all of the excitation light L that has passed through is reflected downward by the dichroic mirror 32, and is uniformly illuminated by the objective lens 34 onto the entire surface of the sheet 10 on the sample table 33.

The excitation light L applied to the sheet 10 is
The 10 stimulable phosphors are excited, and the stimulable phosphors of each minute portion of the sheet 10 emit stimulable light M (wavelength band of the excitation light L) having an intensity corresponding to the image information recorded. (As light in a shorter wavelength band). The stimulated emission light M emitted from the sheet 10 has a shorter wavelength than the wavelength of the excitation light L, and is reflected by the dichroic mirror 32b (600 nm).
m or more; see FIG. 4 (2)), so that the light is transmitted without being reflected by the dichroic mirror 32b and further transmitted through the excitation light cut filter 36 to form an image on the light receiving surface of the CCD 35.

On the other hand, the excitation light L illuminating the sheet 10 is also reflected by the sheet 10, but since it is light having a wavelength in the reflection wavelength band of the dichroic mirror 32b, most of the light is reflected by the dichroic mirror 32 and slightly reflected. Since the transmitted excitation light is also blocked by the excitation light cut filter 36,
The light does not reach the light receiving surface of the CCD 35.

The image of the photostimulated light M formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 35 is photoelectrically converted by the CCD 35 and output to an external image processing device, image reproducing device (CRT, etc.), and the like. A distribution image of M on the sheet 10 can be obtained.

As described above, according to the epi-illumination microscope of the present embodiment, since the entire surface of the sheet 10 is simultaneously irradiated with the excitation light L of uniform intensity, the energy stored in the sheet 10 is Simultaneously emitted as stimulable light M, and the stimulable light M
Is read out by the CCD 35 at the same time as the whole sheet 10, so that the diffused light from the already-scanned portion of the sheet 10 is used as in the conventional image information reading apparatus of the type that sequentially scans and excites excitation light. And the resolution defined by the interval between the light emission positions of the photostimulated light M can be increased as compared with the conventional one.

FIG. 5 is a view showing another embodiment of the microscope of the image information reading apparatus of the present invention. The microscope shown in the figure is different from the microscope of the embodiment shown in FIG.
Blue LED 31a and red LED provided in 39 sample chambers
The blue transmission filter 38a, which included the filter set 38, is disposed in front of the blue LED 31a, the excitation light transmission filter 38b is disposed in front of the red LED 31b, and the light from the sample chamber of the housing 39 to the CCD 35 is provided. The difference is that a blue transmission filter 38a is arranged on the road in place of the reflection optical system 32 and the excitation light cut filter 36.

According to the microscope of this embodiment, at the time of focusing or searching for a visual field, only the blue LED 31a is turned on, and the blue light (wavelength band 420
480 nm) L 'is irradiated onto the sheet 10 through the blue transmission filter 38a to illuminate the sheet 10 without exciting it. On the other hand, when reading the image information stored and recorded on the sheet 10, the red LED 31b Turn on only this red LE
Red light (wavelength band 600nm or more) L emitted from D31b
Is irradiated onto the sheet 10 through the excitation light transmitting filter 38b to excite the sheet 10 to emit stimulating light M (wavelength band 400 to 500 nm) from the entire surface of the sheet 10, and this light is emitted. The stimulated emission light M is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 35 via the blue transmission filter 38a, and the CCD 35 photoelectrically detects the incident stimulated emission light M as a two-dimensional image to read image information.

The image information photoelectrically converted by the CCD 35 is output to an external image processing device or image reproducing device (CRT or the like), and a distribution image of the stimulated emission light M on the sheet 10 can be obtained.

As described above, according to the microscope of this embodiment,
Since the entire surface of the sheet 10 is simultaneously irradiated with the excitation light L of uniform intensity, the energy stored in the sheet 10 is
Are emitted simultaneously as photostimulated light M, and the simultaneously emitted energy, photostimulated light M, is
Because the entire sheet 10 is photoelectrically read at the same time by the CD 35, the influence of diffused light from the portion of the sheet 10 that has already been scanned is the same as in a conventional image information reading apparatus that sequentially scans and excites excitation light. Thereby, the resolution defined by the interval between the light emission positions of the stimulating light M can be increased as compared with the conventional one without losing the energy of the unscanned portion.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an autoradiography system partially including one embodiment of the image information reading apparatus of the present invention. The illustrated autoradiography system detects a chemiluminescent light emitted by a chemical reaction with a specific biological substance (protein or the like) distributed in a sample (membrane filter or the like), and detects a specific biological substance labeled with a fluorescent luminescent substance. Irradiation of excitation light to a derived substance (such as DNA) to detect fluorescence having a longer wavelength than this excitation light, and irradiation of excitation light to a stimulable phosphor sheet on which image information is accumulated and recorded, the excitation light has a wavelength longer than that of the excitation light. It has a function of detecting short stimulated emission light and detecting reflected light from the original by illuminating the reflective original with illumination light, and includes a white LED 41a for emitting diffused white LED light L1, A white LED that is detachably provided on the front surface of the LED 41a and is output from the white LED 41a
A red transmission filter 48e that transmits only red light (first excitation light) L1 'of the light L1, a blue LED 41b that emits blue LED light L2, and a blue color filter that is detachably provided on the front surface of the blue LED 41b. Blue L emitted from LED 41b
A sample stage on which a blue transmission filter 48d that transmits only the light L2 'having a wavelength band of 420 to 480 nm of the ED light L2 and a sample 10 that emits chemiluminescent light, fluorescent light, stimulated light or reflected light are arranged. 46, and images of various lights emitted from the sample 10 are formed on a light receiving surface of a CCD 45 with a cooling element described later.
A zoom lens 43 capable of adjusting the angle of view, a zoom drive motor 47 for adjusting the angle of view by moving an internal lens constituting the zoom lens 43 in the optical axis direction, and a type of light to be received by the lens CCD 45. The red cut filter 48a, the fluorescent filter 48b, and the frame 48c can be switched in accordance with the position between the CCD 45 and the zoom lens 43 on the optical path.
A filter set 48, a CCD 45 with a cooling element that photoelectrically reads an image of light from the sample 10 formed on the light receiving surface by the zoom lens 43, and a housing 49 that accommodates all of these components. It is a configuration provided with.

Here, the LED 41 corresponding to the type of the sample 10
The combinations of a, 41b and filters 48a to 48e are as shown in Table 1 below.

[0047]

[Table 1]

The white LED 41a and the blue LED 41
Although b is omitted in FIG. 6 and only two are shown, in reality, a large number of b are provided, respectively.
46 is configured to be able to irradiate the entire upper surface of the sample 10 with substantially uniform intensity. Next, regarding the operation of this autoradiography system, image information is stored and recorded as the sample 10. A description will be given of the stimulable phosphor sheet.

First, as shown in the proviso of Table 1, the operator selects the blank frame 48c as the filter set 48 for the focusing operation, and sets the blue transmission filter 48d.
Turns on the blue LED 41b to which is attached.

The sheet 10 placed on the sample table 46 is irradiated with blue light L2 'emitted from the blue LED 41b via the blue transmission filter 48d. This blue light L2 'is
The entire surface of the sheet 10 is illuminated substantially uniformly. However, since the light is not in the wavelength band that excites the stimulable phosphor of the sheet 10,
To illuminate.

The blue light L2 'illuminating the sheet 10 is
Then, the light is reflected by the zoom lens 43 and is imaged on the light receiving surface of the CCD 45 as a reflection image of the sheet 10 via the transparent frame 48c. CCD 45 is a sheet imaged on its light receiving surface
The 10 reflected images are read photoelectrically and a signal representing the image is output to an external CRT. The operator operates the zoom drive motor 47 while checking the focus state of the image to drive the zoom lens 43 to focus the image. Make adjustments.

When the focus adjustment is completed, the blue LED
41b is turned off and the red cut filter of filter set 48
48a is selected and arranged on the optical path between the CCD 45 and the zoom lens 43, and the white LED 41a to which the red transmission filter 48e is attached is turned on. The white LED light L1 emitted from the white LED 41a passes through the red transmission filter 48e so that only the red light L1 'passes through and irradiates the entire surface of the sheet 10 substantially uniformly. The sheet 10 irradiated with the red light L 1 ′ excites the stimulable phosphor, emits stimulable light M according to the image information stored and recorded, and adjusts the focus of the zoom lens 43. Thereby, a distribution image of the photostimulated light M (wavelength shorter than the wavelength of the red light L1 as the excitation light) on the sheet 10 is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD 45 via the red cut filter 48a. Note that the red light L2 'that excited the sheet 10 was
Is cut by the red cut filter 48a disposed on the optical path between the zoom lens 43 and the CCD 45, so that C
It does not enter the CD45.

The CCD 45 photoelectrically reads an image of the photostimulated light M formed on the light receiving surface, outputs the image to an external image processing device or the like, and performs various image processing and quantitative analysis using the image. You.

As described above, according to the autoradiography system of the present embodiment, the entire surface of the sheet 10 is simultaneously irradiated with red light (excitation light) L2 'having a uniform intensity.
The energy accumulated in the sheet 10 is simultaneously emitted as photostimulated light M over the entire surface of the sheet 10, and the photostimulated light M, which is the simultaneously emitted energy, is simultaneously photoelectrically read by the CCD 45 as a whole of the sheet 10. As in the image information reading apparatus of the type in which the excitation light is sequentially scanned and excited, the energy of the unscanned part of the sheet 10 is not lost due to the influence of the diffused light from the already-scanned part. The resolution defined by the interval between the emission positions of the emission light M can be increased as compared with the conventional one.

Although not described, the autoradiography system according to the present embodiment photoelectrically converts a sample for detecting chemiluminescent light, a sample for detecting fluorescence, and a reflection original (a sample for digitizing (digital data conversion)) as a sample 10. In the case of performing reading, setting may be performed using the combinations shown in Table 1 above.

The image information obtained by the microscope or the autoradiography system of each of the above embodiments can be subjected to processing such as shading correction by an image processing device or the like, so that the density unevenness of the system can be corrected. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an image information reading apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an epi-illumination microscope according to an embodiment including the image information reading apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a predetermined cross section of the microscope shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows transmission wavelength characteristics of a filter and reflection wavelength characteristics of a mirror.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a microscope according to another embodiment including the image information reading apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an autoradiography system according to an embodiment including the image information reading device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a limit of resolution of acquired image information in a conventional image information reading method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Storage phosphor sheet 21 LED 22 Diffuser 23 Lens 24 LED light cut filter 25 CCD L LED light M Stimulated light

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A stimulable phosphor sheet on which image information is accumulated and recorded is irradiated with excitation light, and stimulated emission light emitted from the sheet is photoelectrically read in accordance with the accumulated and recorded image information. In the image information reading device that acquires the image information, at least a desired part of the stimulable phosphor sheet is irradiated in a planar manner and uniformly with the excitation light, and the excitation light is irradiated. An image information reading method, comprising: forming an image of a portion of the sheet on a predetermined surface; and reading the formed image as two-dimensional image information by two-dimensional photoelectric reading means. 2. The image information reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the portion of the sheet on which the excitation light is irradiated in a planar manner is the entire surface of the desired area of the sheet to be converted into image information. Method. 3. The image information reading method according to claim 1, wherein said two-dimensional photoelectric reading means is a CCD in which solid-state imaging devices are two-dimensionally arranged. 4. An excitation light source for emitting excitation light, excitation light irradiating means for irradiating the excitation light to a stimulable phosphor sheet on which image information is stored and recorded, and an image stored and recorded by irradiation of the excitation light. A photoelectric reading unit that photoelectrically detects stimulated emission light emitted from the sheet in accordance with information, wherein the excitation light irradiating unit emits the excitation light at least as desired on the sheet. Surface irradiation means for irradiating a part of the stimulable phosphor sheet with a two-dimensional photoelectric reading means and the excitation light. An image forming optical system for forming an image on a light receiving surface of the two-dimensional photoelectric reading means. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the surface irradiating means irradiates the excitation light uniformly and in a planar manner on the entire surface of the desired area of the sheet to be converted into image information. The image information reading device according to claim 4. 6. The image information reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said two-dimensional photoelectric reading means is a CCD in which solid-state imaging devices are two-dimensionally arranged. 7. The image information reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the excitation light source also serves as the surface irradiation unit.