Cleaning System for an Image Plate Readout Device

• US 20100154820A1
• Filed: 12/21/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Palodex Group Oy (Envista Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Palodex Group Oy (Envista Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Weber, Markus, Luotola, Jarto, Woods, Douglas, Gygax, Markus, Taskinen, Jari
• Granted Patent: US 8,876,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/02 using physical phenomena
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/025 Ultrasonics
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/04 Heat A61L2/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/08 Radiation
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/082 X-rays
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning system for a set of instruments associated or in contact with an image plate readout device, as well as to a readout device comprising the cleaning system. The cleaning system comprises a disinfecting element, which emits electromagnetic radiation and/or ultrasonic radiation capable of destroying disease carriers, and which is adapted to emit said radiation towards an image plate conveyor mechanism encompassed by the image plate readout device.

Claims

1. A cleaning system for a set of instruments associated or in contact with an image plate readout device, wherein the cleaning system comprises a disinfecting element, which emits electromagnetic radiation and/or ultrasonic radiation destroying disease carriers, and which is adapted to emit said radiation towards an image plate conveyor mechanism encompassed by the image plate readout device.

2. A cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor mechanism comprises an element, for example a carrier arm, an image plate holder, a roller, a gripper element, and/or a guide, for carrying an image plate and/or a transfer element within the readout device.

3. A cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the disinfecting element is adapted to emit said radiation also towards receiver elements associated with the readout device and intended for enabling the reception of an image plate and/or a transfer element.

4. A cleaning system according to claim 3, wherein the receiver elements comprise an entrance, an adapter and/or a gripper element for the reception of an image plate or a transfer element, or comprise a protective lid for the readout device.

5. A cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein said disinfecting element emits for example UV radiation, X-radiation, thermal radiation and/or ultrasonic radiation.

6. A cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein said disinfecting element, while emitting electromagnetic radiation, is the same as the element used for vacating the image plates.

7. A cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the disinfecting element is only adapted to function when no image plate is present inside said readout device.

8. A cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein said function of the disinfecting element is adapted to occur for example as a procedure relevant to image reading, in a timed fashion, or as an independent procedure, and/or in a motion or gesture controlled manner.

9. An image plate readout device, wherein said image plate readout device comprises a cleaning system according to claim 1 for an image plate readout device.

10. A method of cleaning a set of instruments associated or in contact with an image plate readout device, wherein the method comprises emitting electromagnetic radiation and/or ultrasonic radiation, capable of destroying disease carriers, towards a conveyor mechanism encompassed by the image plate readout device.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said radiation is also emitted towards receiver elements relevant to the readout device and/or intended for enabling the reception of an image plate and/or a transfer element.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the disinfecting element emits for example UV radiation, X-radiation, thermal radiation and/or ultrasonic radiation.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the electromagnetic radiation emitting disinfecting element is the same as that used for vacating the image plates.

14. A method according to claim 10, wherein the disinfecting element only emits radiation when no image plate is present inside the readout device.

15. A method according to claim 10, wherein the disinfecting element emits radiation for example as procedure relevant to image reading, in a timed fashion, or as an independent procedure and/or in a motion or gesture controlled manner.