Radiation image acquisition device

• US 10,101,469 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Issued: 10/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Original Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics KK
• Inventors: Sugiyama, Mototsugu, Suyama, Toshiyasu
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun, Jurie
• Application Number:
  US14/974,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20160103231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 378 44, 378 51, 378 58, 378 62, 378 983, 378 989
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2223/611 patterned objects; electronic devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/04 and forming images of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/20 with scintillation detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2002 Optical details, e.g. reflecting or diffusing layers
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/2006 using a combination of a scintillator and photodetector which measures the means radiation intensity

Abstract

A radiation image acquisition device includes: a radiation source which emits radiation; a wavelength conversion member which generates scintillation light according to incidence of the radiation emitted from the radiation source and transmitted by an object; first imaging means which condenses and images the scintillation light emitted from an entrance surface for the radiation in the wavelength conversion member; and second imaging means which condenses and images the scintillation light emitted from a surface opposite to the entrance surface in the wavelength conversion member, wherein one of the first imaging means and the second imaging means condenses the scintillation light emitted from the entrance surface or the opposite surface in a direction of a normal thereto, and wherein the other condenses the scintillation light emitted from the entrance surface or the opposite surface in a direction inclined with respect to a direction of a normal thereto.

Claims

1. An apparatus for capturing a radiation image, the apparatus comprising:

a radiation source configured to emit radiation;

a wavelength converter having an entrance plane, wherein the wavelength converter is configured to receive the radiation emitted from the radiation source through the entrance plane after the emitted radiation has been transmitted by an object, to convert the received radiation to scintillation light, and to output the scintillation light from the entrance plane;

a first optical system including at least one lens, the first optical system being configured to focus on the entrance plane and to image the output scintillation light, thereby generating a first radiation image of the object;

a first image sensor configured to capture the first radiation image;

a second optical system including at least one lens, the second optical system being configured to focus on an opposite plane that is opposite to the entrance plane in the wavelength converter and to image scintillation light output from the opposite plane, thereby generating a second radiation image of the object; and

a second image sensor configured to capture the second radiation image.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein an optical axis of the first optical system is inclined with respect to a direction normal to the entrance plane.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein an optical axis of the first optical system is perpendicular to the entrance plane.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mirror configured to reflect the output scintillation light.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the wavelength converter comprises a scintillator.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein an optical axis of the second optical system is inclined with respect to a direction normal to the opposite plane.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein an optical axis of the second optical system is perpendicular to the opposite plane.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mirror configured to reflect the scintillation light from the opposite plane.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an image processor configured to match a size of the first radiation image and a size of the second radiation image.

10. A method for capturing a radiation image, the method comprising:

emitting radiation from a radiation source;

converting the radiation emitted from the radiation source to scintillation light after the emitted radiation has been transmitted by an object, wherein the converting is performed using a wavelength converter having an entrance plane;

outputting the scintillation light from the entrance plane;

imaging the output scintillation light, thereby generating a first radiation image of the object, using a first optical system that is focused on the entrance plane;

capturing the first radiation image;

outputting scintillation light from an opposite plane that is opposite to the entrance plane in the wavelength converter;

imaging the output scintillation light from the opposite plane, thereby generating a second radiation image of the object, using a second optical system that is focused on the opposite plane; and

capturing the second radiation image.

11. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the imaging is performed with an optical axis of the first optical system being inclined with respect to a direction normal to the entrance plane.

12. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the imaging is performed with an optical axis of the first optical system being perpendicular to the entrance plane.

13. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the converting is performed with the wavelength converter comprising a scintillator.

14. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the imaging is performed with an optical axis of the second optical system being inclined with respect to a direction normal to the opposite plane.

15. The method according to claim 10,

wherein the imaging is performed with an optical axis of the second optical system being perpendicular to the opposite plane.

16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

performing image processing, thereby matching a size of the first radiation image and a size of the second radiation image.