Radiographic image conversion panel and production method thereof

Abstract

A radiographic image conversion panel containing a substrate having thereon a phosphor layer formed by a vapor-accumulating method, wherein the phosphor layer has a thickness distribution of not more than ±20%, the thickness distribution being defined by the formula: ((D max −D min )/(D max +D min ))×100, provided that D max is a maximum thickness of the phosphor layer; and D min is a minimum thickness of the phosphor layer.

1 . A radiographic image conversion panel comprising a substrate having thereon a phosphor layer formed by a vapor-accumulating method, 
 wherein the phosphor layer has a thickness distribution of not more than ±20%, the thickness distribution being defined by the following formula:      ( D   max   −D   min )/( D   max   +D   min ))×100,    provided that D max  is a maximum thickness of the phosphor layer; and D min  is a minimum thickness of the phosphor layer.    
   
   
       2 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the thickness distribution of the phosphor layer is isotropic from a center of the radiographic image conversion panel.    
   
   
       3 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 2 , 
 wherein the thickness distribution is not more than ±15%.    
   
   
       4 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 2 , 
 wherein the thickness distribution is not more than ±10%.    
   
   
       5 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 2 , 
 wherein the thickness distribution is not more than ±5%.    
   
   
       6 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 2 , 
 wherein the phosphor layer contains an alkali metal halide stimulable phosphor represented by Formula (I):        M 1 X·aM 2 X′   2   bM 3 X″   3   : eA   FORMULA (I)    wherein, M1 represents an alkali metal atom selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs; M2 represents a divalent metal atom selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Cd, Cu and Ni; M3 represents a trivalent metal atom selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Al, Ga and In, X, X′ and X″ each represent independently a halogen atom selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I; A represents a metal atom selected from the group consisting of Eu, Tb, In, Ce, Tm, Dy, Pr, Ho, Nd, Yb, Er, Gd, Lu, Sm, Y, Tl, Na, Ag Cu and Mg; and a, b and e each represents a number in a range of 0≦a<0.5, 0≦b<0.5 and 0<e<1.0, respectively.    
   
   
       7 . A method of producing the radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 2 , which comprises: 
 placing the phosphor in a vapor source in a vacuum chamber of an evaporating apparatus;    heating the vapor source so as to deposit the phosphor onto the substrate which is held by a supporting member in the vacuum chamber, 
 wherein the substrate is rotated during the heating with respect to the vapor source by the supporting member which is provided with a rotation mechanism.  
   
   
   
       8 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the thickness distribution of the phosphor layer is isotropic from a center of the radiographic image conversion panel, and the phosphor layer has a thickness variation coefficient of not more than 40%, the thickness variation coefficient being defined by the following formula:      ( D   dev   /D   av )×100,    provided that D av  is an average thickness of the phosphor layer; and D dev  is a standard deviation of thickness of the phosphor layer.    
   
   
       9 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 8 , 
 wherein the phosphor layer has the thickness variation coefficient of not more than 30%.    
   
   
       10 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 8 , 
 wherein the phosphor layer has the thickness variation coefficient of not more than 20%.    
   
   
       11 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 8 , 
 wherein the phosphor layer has the thickness variation coefficient of not more than 10%.    
   
   
       12 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 8 , 
 wherein the phosphor layer contains an alkali metal halide stimulable phosphor represented by Formula (I):        M 1 X·aM 2 X′   2   bM 3 X″   3   : eA   Formula (I)    wherein, M1 represents an alkali metal atom selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs; M2 represents a divalent metal atom selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Cd, Cu and Ni; M3 represents a trivalent metal atom selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Al, Ga and In, X, X′ and X″ each represent independently a halogen atom selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I; A represents a metal atom selected from the group consisting of Eu, Tb, In, Ce, Tm, Dy, Pr, Ho, Nd, Yb, Er, Gd, Lu, Sm, Y, Tl, Na, Ag Cu and Mg; and a, b and e each represents a number in a range of 0≦a<0.5, 0≦b<0.5 and 0<e<1.0, respectively.    
   
   
       13 . A method of producing the radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 8 , which comprises: 
 placing the phosphor in a vapor source in a vacuum chamber of an evaporating apparatus;    heating the vapor source so as to deposit the phosphor onto the substrate which is held by a supporting member in the vacuum chamber, 
 wherein the substrate is rotated during the heating with respect to the vapor source by the supporting member which is provided with a rotation mechanism.  
   
   
   
       14 . A radiographic image conversion panel comprising a substrate having thereon a phosphor layer formed by a vapor-accumulating method, the phosphor containing a mother component and an activator, 
 wherein a density variation coefficient of the activator in a surface direction of the phosphor layer is not more than 40%.    
   
   
       15 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 14 , 
 wherein the density distribution of the activator in the phosphor layer is isotropic from a center of the radiographic image conversion panel.    
   
   
       16 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 15 , 
 wherein the density variation coefficient of the activator in the phosphor layer is not more than 30%.    
   
   
       17 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 15 , 
 wherein the density variation coefficient of the activator in the phosphor layer is not more than 20%.    
   
   
       18 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 15 , 
 wherein the density variation coefficient of the activator in the phosphor layer is not more than 10%.    
   
   
       19 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 15 , 
 wherein the phosphor layer contains an alkali metal halide stimulable phosphor represented by Formula (I):        M 1 X·aM 2 X′   2   bM 3 X″   3   : eA   Formula (I)    wherein, M1 represents an alkali metal atom selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs; M2 represents a divalent metal atom selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Cd, Cu and Ni; M3 represents a trivalent metal atom selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Al, Ga and In, X, X′ and X″ each represent independently a halogen atom selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I; A represents a metal atom selected from the group consisting of Eu, Tb, In, Ce, Tm, Dy, Pr, Ho, Nd, Yb, Er, Gd, Lu, Sm, Y, Tl, Na, Ag Cu and Mg; and a, b and e each represents a number in a range of 0≦a<0.5, 0≦b<0.5 and 0<e<1.0, respectively.    
   
   
       20 . A method of producing the radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 15 , which comprises: 
 placing the phosphor in a vapor source in a vacuum chamber of an evaporating apparatus;    heating the vapor source so as to deposit the phosphor onto the substrate which is held by a supporting member in the vacuum chamber, 
 wherein the substrate is rotated during the heating with respect to the vapor source by the supporting member which is provided with a rotation mechanism.  
   
   
   
       21 . A radiographic image conversion panel comprising a substrate having thereon a phosphor layer formed by a vapor-accumulating method, the phosphor containing a mother component and an activator, 
 wherein a density variation coefficient of the activator in a depth direction of the phosphor layer is not more than 40%.    
   
   
       22 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 21 , 
 wherein a density distribution of the activator in the phosphor layer is isotropic from a center of the radiographic image conversion panel.    
   
   
       23 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 22 , 
 wherein the density variation coefficient of the activator in the phosphor layer is not more than 30%.    
   
   
       24 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 22 , 
 wherein the density variation coefficient of the activator in the phosphor layer is not more than 20%.    
   
   
       25 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 22 , 
 wherein the density variation coefficient of the activator in the phosphor layer is not more than 10%.    
   
   
       26 . The radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 22 , 
 wherein the phosphor layer contains an alkali metal halide stimulable phosphor represented by Formula (I):        M 1 X·aM 2 X′   2   bM 3 X″   3   : eA   Formula (I)    wherein, M1 represents an alkali metal atom selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs; M2 represents a divalent metal atom selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Zn, Cd, Cu and Ni; M3 represents a trivalent metal atom selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Al, Ga and In, X, X′ and X″ each represent independently a halogen atom selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br and I; A represents a metal atom selected from the group consisting of Eu, Tb, In, Ce, Tm, Dy, Pr, Ho, Nd, Yb, Er, Gd, Lu, Sm, Y, Tl, Na, Ag Cu and Mg; and a, b and e each represents a number in a range of 0≦a<0.5, 0≦b<0.5 and 0<e<1.0, respectively.    
   
   
       27 . A method of producing the radiographic image conversion panel of  claim 22 , which comprises: 
 placing the phosphor in a vapor source in a vacuum chamber of an evaporating apparatus;    heating the vapor source so as to deposit the phosphor onto the substrate which is held by a supporting member in the vacuum chamber, 
 wherein the substrate is rotated during the heating with respect to the vapor source by the supporting member which is provided with a rotation mechanism.