FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a light-sensitive silver halide photographic emulsion,
a material comprising said emulsion and a screen-film combination of a radiographic
intensifying phosphor screen and said material.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Cubic silver halide grains are grains which have since quite a long time been known
as applicable in quite a lot of silver halide light-sensitive photographic materials,
but since the early eighties many attempts have been made in order to replace them
by silver halide tabular grains and to make those tabular grains suitable for use
in silver halide photographic materials for quite a lot of diverse applications.
[0003] However as a global result fairly heterogeneous emulsion crystal distributions were
obtained in an attempt to prepare homogenous tabular crystals populations: a common
variability or variation coefficient (defined as ratio between average standard deviation
on equivalent circular diameter and the said average equivalent circular diameter)
of 0.30 to 0.60 has frequently been calculated, partly due to the presence of quite
a large number of non-tabular grains having a sphere equivalent diameter of less than
0.3 µm. Moreover differences in thickness growth have been observed, said differences
leading to unevenness as a consequence of observed differences in image tone.
[0004] Heterodispersity of grain morphology further leads to, e.g., uncontrolled chemical
and spectral sensitization, lower contrast and lower covering power, thereby losing
typical advantages of the said grains as referred to hereinbefore.
[0005] Until now efforts in order to get more monodisperse tabular silver halide crystal
distributions in emulsion preparation have been directed towards silver halide crystals
rich in
silver bromide as has e.g. been described in US-A's 4,797,354; 5,147,771; 5,147,772; 5,147,773;
5,171,659; 5,248,587; 5,204,235; 5,210,013; 5,215,879; 5,250,403; 5,252,442, 5,252,453;
5,254,453; 5,318,888; 5,439,787; 5,472,837; 5,482,826 and 5,484,697 and in Research
Disclosure No. 391, p. 713-723 (1996).
[0006] Many attempts have been made in order to improve the degree of homogeneity of the
size and shape of the crystals but the majority of them is related with tabular grains
rich in silver bromide. So radiographic materials comprising emulsions having monodisperse
tabular silver brom(oiod)ide crystals have e.g. been described in US-A's 5,252,442
and 5,508,158. The same preparation methods as for the forementioned tabular grains
rich in silver bromide can however not be applied as such in preparing tabular grains
rich in silver chloride, especially due to the recommended presence of crystal habit
modifiers or stabilizers, usually adenine or more generally aminoazaindenes, as this
leads to the disadvantages set forth hereinbefore. Stabilization of the crystal habit
of anisotropically grown crystals having flat parallel twins however remains an ever
lasting demand.
[0007] Combinations of intensifying screens provided with luminescent phosphors in contact
with light-sensitive silver halide photographic materials are conventionally used
for medical diagnosis. By X-ray radiation the luminescent phosphors in the screen
panel or panels are converting X-rays into visible radiation, thereby exposing the
film material in contact with the said panel (for single-side coated materials as
e.g. in mammography) or panels (for duplitized materials as e.g. in chest imaging).
[0008] In mammography e.g. the compressed breast is irradiated with soft X-rays emitted
from an X-ray generating device and the modulated X-rays are detected with a radiographic
X-ray conversion screen, also called intensifying screen, fluorescent screen or phosphor
screen. The X-ray conversion screen comprises a luminescent phosphor which converts
the absorbed X-rays into visible light and the emitted visible light exposes a silver
halide film that is brought into contact with said X-ray conversion screen. After
film processing, comprising the steps of developing, fixing, rinsing and drying, a
mammogram is obtained which can be read on a light box. No other field of medical
radiology demands such a high level of image quality as mammography and the ability
of the mammogram to portray relevant diagnostic information is highly determined by
the image quality of the screen-film system. Image quality is manifested by a number
of features in the image including sharpness, noise, contrast, silver image colour
and skin line perceptibility. Conventional mammography films can roughly be classified
in low and high contrast types according to the value of their average gradation as
defined above. The low contrast type can be characterized by a relatively low average
gradation ranging from 2.0 to 2.5 whereas the average gradation of the high contrast
type may range higher than 3.0. Often, high contrast films are preferred because of
the higher ability to detect tiny cancers deep in the glandular tissue of the breast.
If the contrast is too high, however, it may preclude visualization of both thin (i.e.
the skin line) and thick tissues (i.e. the inside of the breast) in the same image
due to lack of exposure latitude. Therefore, some radiologists prefer low contrast
mammography films. When the contrast is low, skin line perceptibility is excellent,
but then the chance of missing possibly malignant breast lesions is high. Thus a balance
has to be found between contrast and exposure latitude and an example of this approach
has been described in US-A 5,290,655.
[0009] Maintaining the image quality constant is becoming another requirement of facilities
performing mammography. Accordingly, quality control tests are executed on a regular
basis in order to monitor the consistency of the performance of the X-ray equipment,
the image receptors and the film processor. In order to minimize the influence of
varying film processing time, temperature, chemistry and replenishment, a preferred
mammography film requires a stable speed and contrast with regard to these processing
parameters. As in addition, there is a general trend in the field of radiology to
shorten the film processing time and likewise in the field of mammography, being driven
by intensified screening programs, the interest has focused on rapid access of mammograms.
As a consequence, mammography films are preferred which comprise silver halide crystals
that can be processed rapidly and consistently in a dry-to-dry processing cycle of
90 seconds or less and therefore, most mammography films today comprise good developable
cubic silver halide crystals. As described in EP-A 0 712 036 such cubic crystals show
a stable speed and contrast upon varying processing parameters, but said cubic grain
emulsions however are characterized by a very high contrast, resulting in a poor skin
line perceptibility.
[0010] Especially in rapid processing applications it is very difficult to obtain the desired
low fog, high speed and high covering power simultaneously. Replacing cubic grain
emulsions by tabular grain emulsions is in favour of getting a high covering power
at moderate coating amounts of silver halide as has been demonstrated e.g. in US-A
4,414,304. Disadvantages of tabular grains however are the lower contrast than the
contrast obtainable with cubic grains, the brown colour hue of developed crystals
and the residual colouration of the processed image, especially in short processing
cycles, due to strong adsorption of huge amounts of spectral sensitizing dye(s) at
the large specific surface area, characteristic for the said tabular grains.
[0011] Making use of a mixture of cubic and tabular grains or of a multilayer arrangement
of cubic and/or tabular grains in order to provide a good image tone as in EP-A 0
874 275 and in EP-A 0 770 909 respectively is more complex and less interesting from
the point of view of reproducibility of the production process. Another method provided
in order to get a suitable image tone has been described in EP-A 0 844 520, wherein
the light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer comprises blue coloured polymeric
matting particles.
[0012] The above cited references on tabular grains are mainly concerned with high sensitive
silver bromide or silver bromoiodide emulsions. As already set forth above tabular
grain emulsions having a high aspect ratio are known to provide several advantages
over more conventional spherical grains as e.g. a high covering power, a high (spectral)
sensitivity and a lower coating weight, which saves costs in manufacturing. Said lower
coating weight is especially preferred if rapid processing applications, preferably
accompanied by low replenishing amounts of developer and fixer, are required, which
nowadays is an ever more returning demand. In order to prevent residual colour or
dye stain after said rapid processing in low replenishing conditions, it is even most
favourable
not to make use of antihalation dyes as those dyes are normally coated in the layer,
most close to the support, so that it takes some time to leave the film. In mammography
however literature is scarce with respect to the use of antihalation dyes and dye
stain mostly results from the presence after processing of residual amounts from the
normally used high amounts of spectral sensitizing dyes, required in high amounts
in the presence of tabular grain emulsions characterized by their large surface to
volume ratio. Said spectrally sensitizing dyes are well known in the art of photography,
especially for green and red sensitization of flat tabular grains, whereas for blue
and/or ultraviolet sensitization the number of examples is rather limited. Further
it is known in mammography to use combinations of green-emitting phosphor screens
with film materials containing green sensitized tabular grain emulsions. After processing
of exposed tabular emulsion grains residual amounts of dyes may thus be present. Those
huge amounts are particularly added in favour of high speed and high image quality
(especially sharpness)in diagnostic imaging applications, where it is further of utmost
importance to reduce irradiation of the patient to minimum levels.
[0013] Although not restricted to single-side coated materials, the present invention is
especially useful in mammographic applications, wherein, for reasons of good image
definition light-sensitive layers are present on only one side of the film support.
Image formation therein proceeds with a system consisting of only one intensifying
screen, wherein a high speed, a high contrast (preferably a high "toe contrast") and
low residual dye stain are desired. Specific measures taken therefore have e.g. been
described in US-A 5,290,655; in EP-A's 0 264 788 and 0 577 027 and in Research Disclosure
No. 33487 (1992), p. 161 but it is clear that any measure in order to decrease residual
dye stain level, just as for duplitized or double side coated radiographic materials,
without further losses with respect to sensitometry and image quality is highly desired.
The said losses may become particularly prohibitive the thinner the flat tabular grains
are: an enhanced specific surface resulting therefrom requires higher amounts of spectrally
and chemically sensitizing compounds or agents which may cause adverse effects as
there are desensitization and a decreasing decoloration ability.
[0014] Moreover sensitivity to darkroom illumination, causing fog and having an influence
on sensitometric and image quality characteristics, may form a problem with respect
to diagnosis.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0015] It is an object of the present invention to provide a silver halide photographic
material for mammography, said material having a low fog (partly due to low darkroom
sensitivity), high speed, desired contrast (gradation) and high image quality (especially
sharpness).
[0016] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a mammographic material
having little coloration (residual dye stain), even after rapid processing (short
processing times).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The above mentioned objects are realized by providing a chemically and spectrally-sensitized
silver halide photographic emulsion composed of essentially (100) cubic silver brom(oiod)ide
grains or crystals with an average edge length of from 0.2 µm up to 1.5 µm (preferably
having a high degree of monodispersity), wherein said grains have been spectrally
sensitized in the wavelength range from 540 nm to 555 nm by the step of adding at
least three (a main, a second and a third trimethine) spectrally sensitizing dyes:
- a main spectrally sensitizing dye present in an amount of at least 85 mole %,
- a second spectrally sensitizing dye present in an amount of less than 10 mole %, and
- a third spectrally sensitizing dye present in an amount of at most 5 mole %, preferably
in an amount of not more than 3 mole % and most preferably said second spectrally
sensitizing dye is added in an amount of not more than 1 mole % of all spectrally
sensitizing dyes added,
said amount being expressed in mole % based on total molar amounts of all spectrally
sensitizing dyes added;
characterized in that
- at least said main spectrally sensitizing dye is a methine dye comprising first and
second nuclei joined by a substituted or unsubstituted trimethine linkage, wherein
both nuclei are benzoxazole nuclei, said nuclei being each substituted by one halogen
atom or by a methyl group in the 5- and 5'- or 6- and 6'-position respectively; the
N-atom of which has a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl chain having from 1 to 4
carbon atoms and a water-soluble group;
- at least said third spectrally sensitizing dye is a methine dye comprising first and
second nuclei joined by a substituted or unsubstituted trimethine linkage, wherein
both nuclei are benzimidazole nuclei, said nuclei substituted by one or more halogen
atom(s) in the 5-, 5'-,6- and/or 6'-position, or by a methyl group; the N-atoms of
which having a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl chain having from 1 to 4 carbon
atoms and a water-soluble group on at least on one N-atom; and in that
the said second spectrally sensitizing dye is a asymmetrical trimethine dye comprising
first and second nuclei, independently represented by a benzoxazole or a benzimidazole
nucleus, at least one of them being substituted by a hydrophobic substituent, having
a higher Van der Waals volume than any other hydrophobic substituent of both other
spectrally sensitizing dyes (or expressed otherwise: a structure more sterically hindered
than the structure of the other spectral sensitizers),
or, in the alternative, that
the said second spectrally sensitizing dye is an asymmetrical trimethine dye comprising
a benzoxazole nucleus and a benzimidazole nucleus, and wherein, apart from the presence
on at least one N-atom of a water-soluble group, other substitutions provide an asymmetric
structure.
[0018] A light-sensitive silver halide photographic film material (particularly suitable
for use in mammography) has further been disclosed, said material comprising a support
and on one side thereof, at least one light-sensitive emulsion layer having been coated
in at least one light-sensitive emulsion layer with the chemically and spectrally
sensitized emulsion as disclosed.
[0019] Moreover a radiographic screen/film combination has been described, said screen-film
combination comprising a light-sensitive silver halide photographic film material
as disclosed, in contact with one supported or self-supporting X-ray intensifying
screen, characterized in that said supported or self-supporting X-ray intensifying
screen essentially consists of luminescent phosphor particles emitting green light
in the wavelength range as set forth.
[0020] Specific features for preferred embodiments of the invention have further been set
out in the dependent claims.
[0021] Further advantages and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent
from the following description.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] As has been disclosed in the statement of the present invention in a radiographic
screen/film combination for recording medical diagnostic images of soft tissue, and
more in particular for mammographic applications, the film material is thus characterized
by the presence, at one side of a transparent support, of at least one light-sensitive
silver halide emulsion layer, wherein the silver halide emulsion essentially has cubic
silver halide emulsion grains or crystals, spectrally sensitized in order to optimally
detect the light emitted from the X-ray conversion screen, by the method as disclosed
herein. The said grains have been spectrally sensitized in the wavelength range from
540 nm to 555 nm by the step of adding at least three (a main, a second and a third
trimethine) dyes:
- at least said main spectrally sensitizing dye is a methine dye comprising first and
second nuclei joined by a substituted or unsubstituted trimethine linkage, wherein
both nuclei are benzoxazole nuclei, said nuclei being each substituted by one halogen
atom or by a methyl group in the 5- and 5'- or 6- and 6'-position respectively; the
N-atom of which has a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl chain having from 1 to 4
carbon atoms and a water-soluble group;
- at least said third spectrally sensitizing dye is a methine dye comprising first and
second nuclei joined by a substituted or unsubstituted trimethine linkage, wherein
both nuclei are benzimidazole nuclei, said nuclei substituted by one or more halogen
atom(s) in the 5-, 5'-,6- and/or 6'-position, or by a methyl group; the N-atoms of
which having a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl chain having from 1 to 4 carbon
atoms and a water-soluble group on at least on one N-atom; and in that
the said second spectrally sensitizing dye is a symmetrical or asymmetrical trimethine
dye comprising first and second nuclei, independently represented by a benzoxazole
or a benzimidazole nucleus, at least one of them being substituted by a hydrophobic
substituent, having a higher Van der Waals volume than any other hydrophobic substituent
of both other spectrally sensitizing dyes.
[0023] In the alternative, according to the present invention said second spectrally sensitizing
dye is an asymmetrical trimethine dye comprising a benzoxazole nucleus and a benzimidazole
nucleus, and wherein, apart from the presence on at least one N-atom of a water-soluble
group, other substitutions provide an asymmetric structure.
[0024] In another preferred embodiment according to the present invention the said second
spectrally sensitizing dye is an asymmetric trimethine dye comprising a benzoxazole
nucleus and a benzimidazole nucleus, wherein, apart from the presence on at least
one N-atom of a water-soluble group, other substitutions provide an asymmetric structure.
[0026] It is an essential feature, according to the present invention that the said third
spectrally sensitizing dye is present in an amount of not more than 5 mole % of all
spectral sensitizers, more preferably in an amount of not more than 3 mole % of all
spectrally sensitizing dyes and most preferably in an amount of not more than 1 mole
% of all spectrally sensitizing dyes or, in other words, in clearly lower amounts
than both other spectrally sensitizing trimethine dyes, whereas the second dye should
be present in an amount of less than 10 mole %, more preferably less than 5 mole %
and still more preferably in an amount of about 3 mole %.
[0027] In another embodiment according to the present invention said "hydrophobic substituent"
(present as substituent on the nuclei of the second spectral sensitizer) is selected
from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted phenyl and -(CH
2)
x-CF
3, wherein x is 0 or an integer having a value of from 1 to 4. It is required to add
the spectral sensitizers used in the present invention in a consecutive order as they
have been numbered, in order to attain all advantages as mentioned.
[0028] Emulsion grains or crystals of the emulsion according to the present invention essentially
have (100) cubic silver halide grains or crystals, more preferably having a silver
brom(oiod)ide composition with an average edge length of from 0.2 µm up to 1.5 µm.
The term "essentially cubic" is indicative for the presence, in an amount of at least
90 %, more preferably at least 95 % and even more preferably at least 99 % by number
of crystals having a {100} crystal habit and thus (100) crystal faces, wherein edges
may be sharp or rounded-off (e.g. due to preparation methods wherein silver solubilizing
growth accelerators are used such as ammonia or methionine, a thioether compound,
thiazolidine-2-thione, tetra-substituted thiourea, potassium or ammonium rhodanide
and an amine compound may be present during grain precipitation in order to adjust
the average grain size) and wherein it is even not excluded that cubo-octaeders are
present, provided that (111) crystal faces therein represent not more than 10 %, more
preferably not more than 5 % and even more preferably not more than 1 % of the total
projective area of all crystal faces present, and wherein (100) faces are clearly
representing the majority of the crystal faces present in the emulsions. The class
of so-called cubic grains embraces (a) perfectly cubic crystals, or (b) cubic crystals
with rounded corners, or (c) cubic crystals with small (111) faces at the corners
(also known as tetradecahedrical grains), the total area of these (111) faces however
being small compared to the total area of the (100) faces. Presence of cubo-octahedral
shapes which are not excluded depends on the pAg values applied during the precipitation.
So preferred methods for the precipitation of cubic grains are the pAg-balanced double-
or triple-jet methods as described in EP-A's 0 712 036 and 0 610 609, since these
methods provide monodispersed emulsions characterized by a narrow grain size distribution
defined in that at least 95 % by weight or number of the grains have a diameter within
about 40 %, preferably within about 30 % of the average grain size and more preferably
within about 10% to 20%.
[0029] The emulsion of the present invention accordingly has cubic grains having a high
degree of monodispersity in that a variation coefficient on said average edge length
is less than 0.20. More preferably said variation coefficient of the emulsion grains
according to this invention has a low value of between 0.10 and 0.20, said variation
coefficient being defined as the ratio between the standard deviation of the grain
size and the average grain size. This is particularly desired as a high contrast is
envisaged for the mammographic image after processing of the material according to
the present invention. The silver halide grains are obtained by conventional precipitation
techniques which are well known in the art and consist of the addition of aqueous
solutions of silver and halide salts, e.g. silver nitrate and sodium, potassium or
ammonium halide to a solution comprising a protective colloid. In order to get controlled
growth use is often made of variable flow rates in order to provide (and controll)
crystal growth to be performed at a higher rate and to perform precipitation in more
concentrated reaction vessels which may even lead to variability coefficients over
the grain distributions in the range between 0.10 and 0.20, thus corresponding with
the desired homogeneity as in the present invention. If it is recommended, in favour
of fine-tuning desired gradations at differing densities or sensitivity points of
the sensitometric curve, e.g. in order to have a broader emulsion grain distribution,
then a less homogeneous distribution will be strived after. Apart for growing the
cubes in a reaction vessel at slightly higher pAg values, it is also possible and,
in favour of addition of other ingredients - such as chemical and spectral sensitizers
- to more uniform crystals, even recommended to prepare the most suitable cubic grain
emulsion from more than one chemically and spectrally sensitized emulsion having a
very narrow grain distribution. This is recommended more particularly for the light-sensitive
emulsion layer in the back layer unit, which, in favour of skin line perceptibility,
should contribute to the total density of the processed material, wherein the back
layer unit should exhibit an optical density of at least 1.00 in the wavelength region
of the exposing radiation.
[0030] The grain size of the cubic grain emulsions can be determined using conventional
techniques, e.g. as described by Trivelli and Smith, The Photographic Journal, vol.
69, 1939, p.330-338, Loveland "ASTM symposium on light microscopy" 1953, p.94-122
and Mees and James "The Theory of the photographic process" (1977), Chapter II.
[0031] Precipitation of silver halide crystals suitable for use in emulsion layers according
to the present invention is performed in the presence of a protective, hydrophilic
colloid, which should be chosedn with care: e.g. conventional lime-treated or acid
treated gelatin can be used, but also oxidized gelatin (generally known as gelatin
having less than 30 p.p.m. of methionine) or a synthetic peptizer. The preparation
of such modified gelatin types has been described in e.g. "The Science and Technology
of Gelatin", edited by A.G. Ward and A. Courts, Academic Press 1977, page 295 and
next pages. The gelatin may also be an enzyme-treated gelatin as described in Bull.
Soc. Sci. Phot. Japan, No. 16, page 30 (1966). Before and during formation of the
silver halide grains it is common practice to establish a gelatin concentration of
from about 0.05 % to 5.0 % by weight in the dispersion medium. Cubic silver halide
grains may also be precipitated in absence of gelatin, e.g. by making use of colloidal
silica as a protective colloid in the presence of an onium compound, as described
in EP-A's 0 677 773 and 0 649 051; or in the alternative by making use of cationic
oxidized starch as has been disclosed e.g. in EP-A 0 758 759.
[0032] At the end of the precipitation the emulsion is made free from excess of soluble
inorganic salts by a conventional washing technique e.g. flocculation by ammonium
sulphate or polystyrene sulphonate, followed by one or more washing and redispersion
steps. Conventional washing techniques can be found in Research Disclosure, Item 38957,
Section III. Emulsion washing. Another well-known washing technique is ultrafiltration
as described e.g. in EP-A 0 794 455. Finally, in order to prepare the emulsion for
further sensitization actions extra gelatin or another binder material can be added
to the emulsion in order to obtain a gelatin to silver ratio wherein the emulsion
remains colloidally stable during said further actions. So in order to enhance speed
of the cubic silver halide emulsion grains chemical sensitization is applied thereto
according to the procedures described in e.g. "Chimie et Physique Photographique"
by P. Glafkides, in "Photographic Emulsion Chemistry" by G.F. Duffin, in "Making and
Coating Photographic Emulsion" by V.L. Zelikman et al, and in "Die Grundlagen der
Photographischen Prozesse mit Silberhalogeniden" edited by H.Frieser and published
by Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft (1968). As described in the above mentioned literature,
chemical sensitization can be carried out by effecting the ripening in the presence
of small amounts of compounds containing sulphur,selenium or tellurium e.g. thiosulphate,
thiocyanate, thiourea, selenosulphate, selenocyanate, selenoureas, tellurosulphate,
tellurocyanate, sulphites, mercapto compounds, and rhodamines. In a preferred embodiment,
these compounds or combinations thereof are applied in combination with a noble metal
salt, preferably a gold complex salt, but also salts of platinum, palladium and iridium
as described in US-A 2,448,060 and GB-A 618,061 may be used. Description of chemical
sensitization techniques can be found in Research Disclosure, Item 38957, Chapter
IV. Additions of sulphur and/or selenium and/or tellurium and gold may be carried
out consecutively or simultaneously. In the latter case the addition of goldthiosulphate,
goldselenosulphate or goldtellurosulphate compounds may be recommended. So it has
e.g. been set out in EP-A 0 712 036 that especially silver bromide and silver bromoiodide
emulsions with cubic crystal habit are showing favourable development characteristics
with respect to high image quality, without the risk of high fog densities, if the
said emulsions are chemically sensitized with high amounts of gold sensitizer. The
amount of gold, used in the chemical ripening of emulsions according to the present
invention, is preferably in the range of 25 to 45 p.p.m. vs. the amount of metallic
silver. Optionally, small amounts of dopants in form of complexing agents of Rh, Ru,
Os, Pt or Ir, can be added if not yet performed in the course of grain precipitation
in order to get grain occlusions other than silver and halide as disclosed in Research
Disclosure, Item 38957, Section I; or in more general terms of transition metal hexacoordination
complexes as dopants for increasing imaging speed by providing or as so-called SET's
(shallow electron trapping agents as described in Research Disclosure, Vol. 367, Nov.
1994, Item 36736. Also reductors may be added as chemical sensitizers as e.g. tin
compounds as described in GB-A 789,823, amines, hydrazine derivatives, formamidine-sulphinic
acids, and silane compounds. The chemical sensitization can also proceed in the presence
of phenidone and/or its derivatives, a dihydroxybenzene as hydroquinone, resorcinol,
catechol and/or a derivative(s) thereof, one or more stabilizer(s) or antifoggant(s),
one or more spectral sensitizer(s) or combinations of said ingredients. Pretreatment
with small amounts of oxidizing agents before adding the already mentioned chemical
sensitizers may be useful in order to optimize the attainable fog to sensitivity relationship.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment, these compounds or combinations thereof are applied in
combination with a noble metal salt, preferably a gold complex salt, but also salts
of platinum, palladium and iridium as described in US-A 2,448,060 and 5,759,760 and
in GB-A 618,061 may be used. Amounts of gold, used in the chemical ripening of emulsions
in order to get the most preferred contrast in the toe portion of the sensitometric
curve have been disclosed e.g. in EP-A's 0 610 609 and 0 712 036. Additions of sulphur
and/or selenium and/or tellurium and gold may be carried out consecutively or simultaneously.
In the latter case the addition of goldthiosulphate, goldselenosulphate or goldtellurosulphate
compounds may be recommended. Optionally, small amounts of compounds (complexing agents)
of Rh, Ru, Os or Ir can be added. Also reductors may be added as chemical sensitizers
as e.g. tin compounds as described in GB-A 789,823, amines, hydrazine derivatives,
formamidine-sulphinic acids, and silane compounds. The chemical sensitization can
also proceed in the presence of phenidone and/or its derivatives, a dihydroxybenzene
as hydroquinone, resorcinol, catechol and/or a derivative(s) thereof, one or more
stabilizer(s) or antifoggant(s), and one or more spectral sensitizer(s) applied as
claimed, or combinations of said ingredients.
[0034] According to the present invention a light-sensitive silver halide photographic film
material is provided, said material comprising a support and on one side thereof,
at least one light-sensitive emulsion layer having been coated in at least one light-sensitive
emulsion layer with the chemically and spectrally sensitized emulsion as disclosed
hereinbefore and as claimed.
[0035] According to the present invention the material is coated with a (green) spectrally-sensitized
light(radiation)-sensitive emulsion layer, or, in the alternative, more than one emulsion
layer having cubic emulsion grains coated in only one layer unit, being the front
layer unit of the mammographic material, which is mounted in a screen/film system,
in intimate contact with the (light-emitting intensifying) screen, wherein the radiation-sensitive
silver brom(oiod)ide grains are containing more than 50 mole % of silver bromide and
less than 4 mole % of silver iodide, based on total molar silver amounts. In a more
preferred embodiment the said radiation-sensitive silver halide grains are silver
bromoiodide grains, containing at most 1 mole % of silver iodide, based on silver
and even pure silver bromide emulsions are not excluded. Silver iodide present in
lower amounts than silver bromide can be distributed in a homogeneously (continuously)
or heterogeneously (for so-called "core-shell emulsions" having a core wherein iodide
concentrations are lower or higher than in the shell or shells adjacent thereto).
In another embodiment pure silver bromide cubes may still be "doped" with silver iodide
by application of the so-called "conversion"-technique, wherein silver iodide is formed
by conversion at the grain surface after addition of organic or inorganic compounds
relasing iodide ions, such as potassium iodide or the iodide releasing compounds described
in EP-A's 0 563 701, 0 563 708 and 0 651 284. In still another embodiment silver iodide
is added in form of ultrafine silver iodide grains of about 0.050 µm or even smaller
(also called "micrate emulsions") after stopping precipitation in the precipitation
method or after having ended precipitation, so that silver iodide is located at dedicated
sites in the cubic grains.
[0036] The silver halide grains present in a mammography film are spectrally sensitized
in order to optimally detect the light emitted from the X-ray conversion screen, by
the method disclosed hereinbefore in the statement of the present invention in order
to get a preferred mammography film, further characterized by a spectral sensitivity
ranging from 5 to 130 µJ/m
2 measured at the emission maximum of the X-ray conversion screen, said spectral sensitivity
being defined herein as the amount of exposure to light of a given wavelength required
to obtain an optical density Dmin + 1.0 after processing.
[0037] So according to a preferred embodiment the front layer unit wherein the chemically
and spectrally sensitized cubic grain emulsions are coated, have a silver halide amount,
expressed as equivalent amount of silver nitrate, of less than 9.0 g/m2 and more preferably
in the range from 6.5 to 8.5 g/m2. The radiation-sensitive cubic silver halide emulsion
grains therein have an average grain size in the range of from 0.45 µm up to 0.80
µm. Coating amounts of hardenable hydrophilic colloid, composing the front layer unit
are, in a preferred embodiment, limited to less than 6.0 g/m2, and coating amounts
of non-hardenable hydrophilic colloid are limited to less than 60 weight % thereof;
in order to provide the desired sensitometric and drying properties within the short
running time (within 120 seconds, and more preferably less than 90 seconds) of the
processing cycle, wherein subsequent processing steps are a developing step, a fixing
step, a rinsing step and a drying step, with, inbetween those steps, one or more rinsing
steps. In those rapid processing applications it may be advantageous to divide the
total amount of silver, normally coated in the front layer unit, between the said
front layer unit and the backing layer unit. In order to provide a speed difference
of from 0.30 up to 1.00 log (Exposure) between the front layer unit and the back layer
unit, as described therein, the said back layer unit is coated with radiation-sensitive
cubic silver halide grains accounting for less than 1/3 (but not less than 1/5) of
the total radiation-sensitive silver halide present in the film, wherein said cubic
grains having an average grain size of from 0.25 µm up to less than 0.55 µm. The hydrophilic
backing layer unit coated on the back major face of the support further contains hardenable
hydrophilic colloid limited to less than 3.0 g/m2, (more preferably in the range from
2.0 to 2.5 g/m2) and non-hardenabe hydrophilic colloid limited to less than 10 weight%
thereof. A total amount of silver halide coated in the material (sum of coating amounts
at both sides for both - front and back - layer units), expressed as silver nitrate
again, should be in the range from 6.0 up to 9.0 g/m2. In favour of attaining that
speed difference the image-forming portion in the material according to the present
invention is, as a consequence of its composition, as disclosed hereinbefore, further
comprised of a hydrophilic front layer unit coated on the front major face of the
support capable of absorbing up to at least 60 %, and more preferably even more than
70 %, of the exposing radiation.
It is clear that in such a layer arrangement as set forth hereinbefore with light-sensitive
emulsion layers at both sides of the transparent support, which is typically a blue
coloured polyethylene terephtalate (PET) film having a thickness of 175 µm, the said
arrangment is not coated symmetrically: according to the present invention the radiographic
material is coated with a hydrophilic front layer unit coated on the front major face
of the support (to be contacted with the sole intensifying screen when exposed to
"soft" X-rays, generated from a device with a tube voltage of 20 kV to 40 kV, as is
typical for mammographic applications) wherein the front layer unit is capable of
reaching a maximum density of more than 3.00, and even more preferably more than 3.5,
after processing and wherein sensitivity (speed), measured at a density of 1.00 above
fog, is higher for the front layer unit than for the back layer unit in an amount
of from 0.30 up to 1.00 log (Exposure) and in a more preferred embodiment the back
layer unit has a speed ranging from 0.4 log E to 0.6 log E slower than the front layer
unit. So the cubic grains in the back layer unit, exhibiting a speed that ranges from
0.3 log E to 1.0 log E slower than in the front layer unit, provide facilitating visualization
of anatomical features in the region of the skin-line. Said "E" stands for "Exposure"
and speed (sensitivity) is measured at a density of 1.0 above fog for the front as
well as for the back layer unit. In that case, hardenable hydrophilic colloid in the
whole back layer unit should be limited to less than 3.0 g/m2, and should, more preferably,
be situated in the range from 2.0 to 2.5 g/m2, whereas in the whole front layer unit
it should be limited to less than 4.0 g/m2, more preferably be situated in the range
from 3.5 to 3.9 g/m2. In the back layer unit the non-hardenabe hydrophilic colloid,
the presence of which is preferably limited to the light-sensitive emulsion layer
thereof, should further be limited to less than 10 wt %, but more than 5 wt %, versus
the total amount of hardenable hydrophilic colloid present in the whole back layer
unit. Opposite thereto, in case of such a layer arrangement, in the front layer unit
the non-hardenabe hydrophilic colloid should be present in the light-sensitive emulsion
layer thereof in an amount of more than 50 wt % and even up to 60 wt %, versus the
amount of hardenable hydrophilic colloid present in the light-sensitive layer, which
means that in the whole front layer unit the said non-hardenable hydrophilic colloid
should be present in an amount of about 30 wt% (preferably in the range from 25 up
to 35 wt%). With respect to the terminology "whole back layer unit" it is understood
that, besides the subbed support a "density providing layer" should be present, situated
farther from the said support, and adjacent to the emulsion layer, and that "density
providing layer" should further be covered by an outermost protective antistress layer
as a topcoat layer. Otherwise the terminology "whole front layer unit" is indicative
for, besides the subbed support, for a light-sensitive emulsion layer adjacent to
the said subbed support, wherein said emulsion layer is further covered by an outermost
protective antistress layer as a topcoat layer, and wherein this protective layer
should be hardened to an extent in order to avoid scratches due to contact made with
the intensifying screen during exposure.
[0038] With respect to the subbing layers coated directly on the thus provide subbed support,
it is clear that these layers are coated (preferably during stretching the polyester
in order to get the support of the desired thickness) in order to improve the adhesion
of the adjacent radiation-sensitive emulsion layer of the front layer unit and the
non-radiation sensitive dye containing layer of the back layer unit to the support
(in a common layer arrangement of a "classic" mammographic film material) or, in the
alternative, the "slower" adjacent radiation-sensitive emulsion layer of the back
layer unit as mentioned hereinbefore. In a "classic" mammographic film material an
undercoat layer between the emulsion and subbing layer(s) and a protective layer on
top of the emulsion layer(s) is present. Additional non light-sensitive intermediate
layers are optional. Of crucial importance however, within the spirit of the present
invention, is the particular combination of spectrally sensitizing dyes as applied
to the cubic grains in order to provide light-sensitive layers in the mammographic
material according to the present invention that can, after having been exposed in
a film/screen system according to the present invention, be processed in a rapid processing
cycle without leaving dye stain, leading to misinterpretated diagnosis.
[0039] The layer arrangements of the whole front and back layer units described hereinbefore
should further be constructed in such a way that after processing (inclusive for the
drying step) no curl of the processed film material occurs, as examination of the
image would become more problematic. A solution therefore has been described in EP-Application
No. 00201286.2 filed April 10, 2000.
[0040] In that invention a single-side coated light-sensitive silver halide photographic
film material has been described, comprising, on one side of a subbed support, one
or more light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer(s) overcoated with an outermost
protective layer; said emulsion layer(s) having silver halide grains dispersed in
binder, wherein said silver halide is coated in a total amount, expressed as an equivalent
amount of silver nitrate of more than 5 g per m
2, a latex polymer present in an amount of less than 30 % by weight versus said binder,
and, at the other side of said support, a backing layer, covered with a protective
outermost layer, characterized in that at least said backing layer is provided in
at least one layer thereof, besides a cross-linked or cross-linkable first binder,
with an organic component as a second binder, wherein said organic component is free
from cross-linking upon reaction with a hardener and wherein said organic component
is a polymer selected from the group consisting of dextran having a molecular weight
of not more than 20000 and polyacrylamide having a molecular weight not more than
20000. Said organic component free from cross-linking upon reaction with a hardener
is present therein in an amount of more than 50 % by weight of a total binder amount
calculated as sum of said first and second binder.
[0041] In the present invention use is thus made again of a first cross-linkable binder,
called hardenable hydrophilic colloid in the present invention and present in amounts
in the front layer unit and in the back layer unit as disclosed hereinbefore, besides
a second binder, called herein "non-hardenable hydrophilic colloid", being a polymer
selected from the group consisting of dextran having an average molecular weight from
1000 up to 100000, polyacrylamide having an average molecular weight from 1000 up
to 100000, polyvinyl-pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol and gelatin of the type which
is free from cross-linking upon reaction with a hardener, more preferably a polymer
selected from the group consisting of dextran having a molecular weight of not more
than 20000 and polyacrylamide having a molecular weight not more than 20000. Amounts
at both sides of the support will differ from those disclosed in the cited EP-Application
in case wherein light-sensitive layers are present at both sides of the support as
an equilibrium in order to prevent the processed material from curling has to be sought,
moreover as presence of coating amounts of silver at both sides causes further complications:
apart from differing amounts of coated silver halide, differing total amounts of hydrophilic
polymer at both sides of the support are present in that the topcoat layer of the
front layer unit is coated from an amount of gelatin of about 1.0 up to 1.2 g/m2,
corresponding with a coating amount twice as high as coated in the topcoat layer of
the back layer unit, and wherein, even when the "density providing layer" in the back
layer unit contains about 0.5 g/m2 of gelatin amounts of gelatin in the back layer
unit are not exceeding 60 wt% of the total amount of gelatin coated in the whole front
layer unit.
[0042] Therefore amounts of hardener should be added to the respective layer units at both
sides in order to get a perfect balance for the material when leaving the processor
as a dried film material bearing the image to be examined. As a consequence amounts
of water absorption before processing should be different at the front layer unit
side versus at the back layer unit side due to the required differences in hardening
degrees, but should become about equal after processing: as dextran is a non-hardenable
polymer binder, present in higher amounts in the emulsion layer(s) of the front layer
unit - more than 0.5 g/m2, more preferably more than 1.0 g/m2 and even more preferably
more than 1.5 g/m2) in an amount of about 10 times the amount in the layers of the
back layer unit, the highest amounts will leave the photographic material from the
front layer unit during processing, and more particularly during the rinsing step,
the better for dextran having a lower molecular weight (M.W. of 10000 even being more
preferred than a M.W. of 20000; differentiation in M.W. in front and back layer unit
moreover leaving further degrees of freedom in optimizing the layer built-up of the
material of the present invention). After the drying step a processed material free
from ennoying curl properties is thus attained thanks to a suitable balance of hydrophilic
colloid gelatin binder in front and back layer unit.
[0043] As a hardenable hydrophilic colloid binder of the layers, gelatin is used as a preferred
polymer binder material, which can be forehardened with appropriate hardening agents
such as those of the epoxide type, those of the ethylenimine type, those of the vinylsulfone
type, e.g. 1,3-vinylsulphonyl-2-propanol or di-(vinylsulphonyl)-methane, vinylsulphonyl-ether
compounds, vinylsul-phonyl compounds having soluble groups, chromium salts like e.g.
chromium acetate and chromium alum, aldehydes as e.g. formaldehyde, glyoxal, and glutaraldehyde,
N-methylol compounds as e.g. methylol-urea and methyloldimethylhydantoin, dioxan derivatives
e.g. 2,3-dihydroxy-dioxan, active vinyl compounds e.g. 1,3,5-triacryloyl-hexahydro-s-triazine,
active halogen compounds e.g. 2,4-dichloro-6-hydroxy-s-triazine, and mucohalogenic
acids e.g. mucochloric acid and mucophenoxychloric acid. These hardeners can be used
alone or in combination. The binder can also be hardened with fast-reacting hardeners
such as carbamoylpyridinium salts as disclosed in US-A 4,063,952 and with onium compounds
as disclosed in EP-A 0 408 143.
[0044] Topcoat layers present as outermost layers at both sides of the material according
to the present invention have a protective function and are coated from hydrophilic
colloid in an amount of from about 1.1 g/m2 and 0.5 g/m2 in the front and in the back
layer unit respectively. In one embodiment a density providing layer is present in
the back layer unit of the single-side coated material. In case wherein a light-sensitive
layer is present in the backing layer, this density providing layer is situated farther
from the support than the emulsion layer(s), it represents a layer containing a dye
in an amount in order to provide a density of about 0.40 before, and less than 0.10
after processing, due to decolorization of said dye in an alkaline developer. In a
further embodiment the dye exhibits a half peak absorption bandwidth over the spectral
region of peak emission by the intensifying screen. Accordingly preferred dyes suitable
for use in the density providing layer have been described in EP-A's 0 489 973, 0
586 748, 0 587 229, 0 587 230, 0 656 401, 0 786 497 and 0 781 816, as well in the
US-A's corresponding therewith. Particularly preferred is the dye according to the
formula(IX) hereinafter, the preparation method of which has been described in US-A
5,344,749.
[0045] Methods in which dye dispersions can be prepared have been described in EP-A's 0
549 486, 0 602 428, 0 724 191, 0 756 201, 0 762 193 and 0 762 194. Examples of typical
so-called ultrafine (less than 1 µm) "solid particle dispersions" and the method of
preparing them can be found in EP-A's 0 299 435, 0 323 729, 0 351 593, 0 387 923,
0 524 498, and in US-A 4,988,611; without however being limited thereto. Said dyes
can also be added in the form of a solid silica particle dispersion as disclosed in
EP-A 0 569 074. Still another technique to obtain ultra fine dye dispersions consists
in acidifying a slightly alkaline coating composition "in situ" just before coating
it onto the supporting layer. Further useful information about dyes having decolorizing
characteristics in alkaline processing solutions can be found in Research Disclosure,
Item 38957, Chapter VIII. Presence of such dye(s) in adapted amounts is not only recommended
to adjust the sensitivity of the different emulsion layers and eventually the required
contrast, but also in order to reduce scattering of exposure radiation and thus to
enhance sharpness.
[0046] Apart from the said dye or dyes providing a density of about 0.40 in the back layer
unit, the radiographic material according to the present invention has a spectral
sensitivity maximum by the adsorption of spectral sensitizers disclosed hereinbefore,
absorbing light from the phosphors prompt emitting light in the wavelength range from
540 to 555 nm after having been irradiated with X-rays, said maximum corresponding
with an exposure amount from 5 to 80 microJoules per m2 required in order to obtain
an optical density of Dmin+1.0 after processing.
[0047] Other dyes, which per se do not have any spectral sensitization activity, or certain
other compounds, which do not substantially absorb visible radiation, can have a supersensitization
effect when they are incorporated together with spectral sensitizing agents into the
emulsion. Suitable supersensitizers are e.g. heterocyclic mercapto compounds containing
at least one electronegative substituent as described e.g. in US-A 3,457,078, nitrogen-containing
heterocyclic ring-substituted aminostilbene compounds as described e.g. in US-A's
2,933,390 and 3,635,721, aromatic organic acid/for-maldehyde condensation products
as described e.g. in US-A 3,743,510 as well as cadmium salts, although nowadays to
be avoided, due to ecological considerations, and azaindene compounds.
[0048] The silver halide emulsions suitable for use in hydrophilic layers of the film material
according to the present invention may also comprise compounds preventing the formation
of a high minimum density or stabilizing the photographic properties during the production
or storage of photographic materials or during the photographic treatment thereof.
Many known compounds may be added as fog-inhibiting agent or stabilizer to the silver
halide emulsion. Suitable examples are i.a. the heterocyclic nitrogen-containing compounds
such as benzothiazolium salts, nitroimidazoles, nitrobenzimidazoles, chlorobenzimidazoles,
bromobenzimidazoles, mercaptothiazoles, mercaptobenzothiazoles, mercaptobenzimidazoles,
mercaptothiadiazoles, aminotriazoles, benzotriazoles (preferably 5-methyl-benzotriazole),
nitrobenzotriazoles, mercaptotetrazoles, in particular 1-phenyl-5-mercapto-tetrazole,
mercaptopyrimidines, mercaptotriazines, benzothiazoline-2-thione, oxazoline-thione,
triazaindenes, tetrazaindenes and pentazaindenes, especially those described by Birr
in Z. Wiss. Phot. 47 (1952), pages 2-58, triazolopyrimidines such as those described
in GB-A 1,203,757, GB-A 1,209,146, JP-B 77/031738 and GB-A 1,500,278, and 7-hydroxy-s-tria-zolo-[1,5-a]-pyrimidines
as described in US-A 4,727,017, and other compounds such as benzenethiosulphonic acid,
benzenethiosulphinic acid and benzenethiosulphonic acid amide. Other compounds which
can be used as fog-inhibiting compounds are those described in Research Disclosure
No. 17643 (1978), Chapter VI; in Research Disclosure, Item 38957, Chapter VII and
in Item 18431, Chapter II. These fog-inhibiting agents or stabilizers may be added
to the silver halide emulsion prior to, during, or after the ripening thereof and
mixtures of two or more of these compounds can be used.
[0049] The photographic material according to the present invention may further comprise
various kinds of surface-active agents in the light-sensitive emulsion layer(s) or
in at least one other hydrophilic colloid layer. Suitable surface-active agents include
non-ionic agents such as saponins, alkylene oxides, e.g., polyethylene glycol, polyethylene
glycol/polypropylene glycol condensation products, polyethylene glycol alkyl ethers
or polyethylene glycol alkylaryl ethers, polyethylene glycol esters, polyethylene
glycol sorbitan esters, polyalkylene glycol alkylamines or alkylamides, siliconepolyethylene
oxide adducts, glycidol derivatives, fatty acid esters of polyhydric alcohols and
alkyl esters of saccharides, anionic agents comprising an acid group such as a carboxyl,
sulpho, phospho, sulphuric or phosphoric ester group; ampholytic agents such as aminoacids,
aminoalkyl sulphonic acids, aminoalkyl sulphates or phosphates, alkyl betaines, and
amine-N-oxides; and cationic agents such as alkylamine salts, aliphatic, aromatic,
or heterocyclic quaternary ammonium salts, aliphatic or heterocyclic ring-containing
phosphonium or sulphonium salts. Such surface-active agents can be used for various
purposes, e.g. as coating aids, as compounds preventing electric charges, as compounds
improving film transport in automatic film handling equipment, as compounds facilitating
dispersive emulsification, as compounds preventing or reducing adhesion, and as compounds
improving photographic properties such as higher contrast, sensitisation and development
acceleration.
[0050] Especially when rapid processing conditions are important, development acceleration
may be useful, which can be accomplished with the aid of various compounds, preferably
polyoxyalkylene derivatives having a molecular weight of at least 400 such as those
described in e.g. US-A's 3,038,805; 4,038,075 and 4,292,400. Especially preferred
developing accelerators are recurrent thioether groups containing polyoxyethylenes
as described in DE 2,360,878, EP-A's 0,634,688 and 0,674,215, which are incorporated
herein by reference. The same or different or a mixture of different developing accelerators
may be added to at least one of the hydrophilic layers at the emulsion side. It may
be advantageous to partially substitute the hydrophilic colloid binder, preferably
gelatin, of the light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer or of an hydrophilic
colloid layer in water-permeable relationship therewith by suitable amounts of dextran
or dextran derivatives to improve the covering power of the silver image formed and
to provide a higher resistance to abrasion in wet condition.
[0051] The photographic material of the present invention may further comprise various other
additives such as compounds improving the dimensional stability of the photographic
material, UV-absorbers, spacing agents, lubricants, plasticizers, antistatic agents,
etc. as those described in Research Disclosure, Item 38957, Chapter IX, particularly
referring to coating physical property modifying addenda, as coating aids (A), plasticizers
and lubricants (B), antistatic agents (C), and matting agents (D). Suitable additives
for improving the dimensional stability are i.a. dispersions of a water-soluble or
hardly soluble synthetic polymer e.g. polymers of alkyl (meth)acrylates, alkoxy(meth)acrylates,
glycidyl (meth)acrylates, (meth)acrylamides, vinyl esters, acrylo-nitriles, olefins
and styrenes, or copolymers of the above with acrylic acids, methacrylic acids, α-β-unsaturated
dicarboxylic acids, hydroxyalkyl (meth)acrylates, sulphoalkyl (meth)acrylates, and
styrene sulphonic acids.
[0052] Suitable UV-absorbers are e.g. aryl-substituted benzotriazole compounds as described
in US-A 3,533,794, 4-thiazolidone compounds as described in US-A's 3,314,794 and 3,352,681,
benzophenone compounds as described in JP-A 2784/71, cinnamic ester compounds as described
in US-A's 3,705,805 and 3,707,375, butadiene compounds as described in US-A 4,045,229,
and benzoxazole compounds as described in US-P 3,700,455.
[0053] In general, the average particle size of spacing agents is comprised between 0.2
and 10 µm. Spacing agents can be soluble or insoluble in alkali. Alkali-insoluble
spacing agents usually remain permanently in the photographic material, whereas alkali-soluble
spacing agents usually are removed in an alkaline processing bath. Suitable spacing
agents can be made i.a. of polymethyl methacrylate, of copolymers of acrylic acid
and methyl methacrylate, and of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose hexahydrophthalate.
Other suitable spacing agents have been described in US-A 4,614,708.
[0054] Compounds which can be used as a plasticizer for the hydrophilic colloid layers are
acetamide or polyols such as trimethylolpropane, pentanediol, butanediol, ethylene
glycol and glycerine. Further, a polymer latex is preferably incorporated into the
hydrophilic colloid layer for the purpose of improving the anti-pressure properties,
e.g. a homopolymer of acrylic acid alkyl ester or a copolymer thereof with acrylic
acid, a copolymer of styrene and butadiene, and a homopolymer or copolymer consisting
of monomers having an active methylene group.
[0055] The photographic material may comprise an antistatic layer to avoid static discharges
during coating, processing and other handling of the material. Such antistatic layer
may be an outermost coating like the protective layer or an afterlayer or a stratum
of one or more antistatic agents or a coating applied directly to the film support
or other support and overcoated with a barrier or gelatin layer. Antistatic compounds
suitable for use in such layers are e.g. vanadium pentoxide soles, tin oxide soles
or conductive polymers such as polyethylene oxides or a polymer latex;, polythiopene
(and more particularly PEDT) and the like.
[0056] Non-neutral silver image colours obtained after processing, due to the colour of
the silver thus formed, can be corrected by increasing the optical density in the
red region of the visible spectrum by adding suitable dyes to the support or any coated
layer. This non-image wise colour correction method has been disclosed in references
as e.g. JP-A's 03-100645, 01-029838, 01-312536, 03-103846, 03-094249, 03-255435, 61-285445;
issued EP-A 0 271 309 and US-A 4,861,702. This method however may result in an excessive
base + fog density of the photographic material and therefore, an alternative way
consists in an image-wise colour correction by using colour-forming developers, which
are blue coloured in their oxidized form. Examples thereof have been summarized in
JP-A's 03-153234, 03-154043 and 03-154046. In JP-A's 03-156447 and 03-157645 the adsorption
of a blue coloured dye as a function of exposure has further been disclosed.
[0057] According to the present invention a radiographic screen/film combination is further
claimed, comprising the light-sensitive silver halide photographic film material as
disclosed hereinbefore, in contact with one supported or self-supporting X-ray intensifying
screen, characterized in that said supported or self-supporting X-ray intensifying
screen essentially consists of luminescent phosphor particles emitting green light
in the wavelength range from 540 nm up to 555 nm.
[0058] After image-wise exposure by light emitted by the intensifying screen and processing
the image thus obtained, an average contrast or gradient in the range from 2.5 up
to 3.5, measured over a density above fog in the range of from 0.25 to 2.50, is thus
attained, wherein said image-forming portion is comprised of layer units permeable
for aqueous processing solutions, said layer units being a hydrophilic front layer
unit coated on the front major face of the support wherein the front layer unit is
capable of reaching a maximum density of more than 3.00 and a hydrophilic back layer
unit coated on the back major face of the support, wherein sensitivity (speed), measured
at a density of 1.00 above fog, is higher for the front layer unit than for the back
layer unit in an amount of from 0.30 up to 1.00 log (Exposure), thanks to the presence
in both, the front layer unit and the back layer unit, of the presence of one or more
light-sensitive silver halide emulsion layer(s) coated with emulsion crystals, essentially
having a cubic crystal habit.
[0059] Processing of the exposed material after exposure of the screen/film material of
the present invention as claimed preferably includes the steps of developing, fixing
and drying, and is performed within 120 seconds or less and more preferably within
90 seconds or less. An important advantage of the dual- or double-side coated radiographic
elements for soft tissue imaging is that they are much better suited for rapid processing
applications than radiographic elements containing a single emulsion layer unit. This
suitability for rapid processing is particularly due to the fact that high amounts
of silver are not restricted to presence in only one radiation-sensitive emulsion
layer and to the fact that, opposite to duplitized films as for chest imaging in radiology,
low cross-over can only be attained the presence of two antihalation layers, interposed
between the support and each emulsion layer unit. This allows the amount of hydrophilic
colloid coated on each side of the support to be decreased further if compared with
amount spresent in the said duplitized films. Rapid processing in mammographic applications,
more preferably related with hardener-free processing solutions although not limited
thereto, has been described in EP-A's 0 610 609, 0 712 036 and 0 874 275 and is perfectly
suitable for use in the present application.
[0060] A radiological method for obtaining a diagnostic image for mammography is moreover
provided by application of the present invention, said method comprising the steps
of mounting a film-screen system by bringing a photographic material as disclosed
herein into contact with a radiographic X-ray conversion screen; and processing said
photographic material in a total dry-to-dry processing time of from 38 seconds up
to less than 120 seconds, and, more preferably, in a dry-to-dry processing time of
from 45 up to 90 seconds. Enhancement of the hardening degree of the coated material
provides the possibility to use hardener free processing solutions. This opens the
way to one-part package chemistry and concentration regeneration, reducing the volume
of chemicals and the amount of packaging material, which is highly requested from
the point of view of ecology. Further lowering the coated amount of silver halide
crystals is in favour of archivability due to a higher fixation capacity, whereas
an enhanced hardening degree is in favour of a lower water absorption and a higher
drying capacity in the processing, avoiding sticking phenomena. Lower amounts of coated
silver halide crystals that are causing less scattering from the incident light radiating
from the intensifying screen during exposure and the high gradations observed after
processing are two important factors in favour of the high definition of the obtained
images, enhancing its diagnostic value.
[0061] Sensitometric curves of processed film materials are known to show the plot of optical
density (D) as a function of relative logarithmic exposure (logE). Important characteristics
of mammographic film materials in particular, besides the preferably low fog and high
speed (defined as the log E(xposure) at which the optical density is equal to minimum
density Dmin + 1.0) and contrast are the skin line point (SL) being defined herein
as the point of the sensitometric curve where log E equals the "Speed Point"+ 0.8.
[0062] A practical mammogram is normally obtained by subjecting a film-screen system to
X-ray exposure. In diagnostic image formation any commercially available X-ray generating
device may be used, providing an exposure to soft X-rays with a tube voltage of 20
to 40 kV. A preferred luminescent phosphor coated in the X-ray conversion screen is
Gd2O2S:Tb, which emits green light in the wavelength range from 540 tot 555 nm. Said
phosphor and its use in intensifying screens have been described extensively in patent
literature, e.g. in US-A's 3,872,309; 4,130,429; 4,912,333; 4,925,594; 4,994,355;
5,021,327; 5,107,125 and 5,259,016 and in GB-A 1,489,398.
[0063] The thickness of the phosphor layer depends on the amount of coated phosphor required
in order to obtain the desired screen speed. A preferred intensifying screen used
in combination with the film material according to this invention is characterized
by a phosphor coating weight of at least 45 mg/cm
2 and a phosphor to binder ratio of at least 97:3 as described in EP-A 0 712 036. In
the screen/film image-forming system disclosed in this invention the features of the
intensifying screen emitting green light are at least as important as the features
offered by the silver halide photographic material used in this system. Image quality,
i.a., granularity and sharpness are measured at the processed silver halide photographic
film that is used in combination with the said intensifying screen. More in detail
it is well-known that sharper images are obtained with phosphor particles of smaller
mean particle size, but light emission efficiency declines with decreasing particle
size. Thus, the optimum mean particle size for a given application is a compromise
between imaging speed and image sharpness desired.
[0064] The synergistic effect obtained between image speed and image sharpness are a function
of, i.a., the coated amount of phosphor, optionally presence of a coloured dye in
the said coated phosphor layer and the reflectance of the support on which the phosphor
layer was coated. A preferred phosphor coated in the intensifying screen for use in
the film/screen system according to the present invention is Gd2O2S:Tb. Said phosphor
and the use in intensifying screens has been described e.g. in US-P's 3,872,309; 4,
130,429; 4,912,333; 4,925,594; 4,994,355; 5,021,327; 5,107,125 and 5,259;016 and in
GB 1,489,398. As is well-known the thickness of the phosphor layer may differ depending
on the amount of phoshor used. Usually said thickness is within the range of from
50 to 1000 µm, preferably from 50 to 500 µm and more preferably from 150 to 250 µm.
The coated amouns of phosphor(s) vary depending on the desired screen speed as has
been described in EP-A 0 592 724. More details about intensifying screens and coating
methods thereof, in order to provide an optimized handling and excellent speed and
image definition have been described in EP-A's 0 510 753 and 0 510 754 and in PCT-Applications
WO 94/530 and WO 94/531.
[0065] While the present invention will hereinafter be illustrated by working examples representing
preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit
the invention to those embodiments.
EXAMPLES
Example 1
Preparation of AgBr(I) Cubic Grain Emulsion:
Precipitation:
[0066] To 1 l of a solution, containing 15 g of methionine and 50 g of gelatine, adjusted
to a pH of 5.8, were added, at 60° C, by double jet addition, a 2.94 M solution of
AgNO
3 at a constant flow rate of 5.7 ml/min during 5 minutes and a solution of a mixture
of 2.91 M of KBr and 0.03 M of KI at a flow rate controlled in order to maintain pAg
constant corresponding with a value of 89 mV vs. Ag/AgCl(sat.) reference electrode.
Then the flow rate of the AgNO
3 solution was increased linearly up to 21 ml/min during 72 minutes and 46 seconds.
The cubic grains thus prepared were composed of 99 mole % AgBr and 1 mole % AgI, based
on silver, with an average grain size of 0.70 µm.
Chemical ripening conditions:
[0067] pH 6.0, optimized quantities of sodium thiosulphate, chloro auric acid, ammonium
thiocyanate, sodium toluene thiosulphonate and sodium sulphite.
Coating of the materials
Preparation of the film material.
[0068] Before coating each emulsion was stabilized with 1-p-carboxy-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole
and after addition of the normal coating additives the solutions were coated simultaneously
together with a protective layer containing 1.3 g gelatin per m
2 on one side of a polyethylene terephthalate film support having a thickness of 175
µm. The resulting photographic material contained on the said one side an amount of
silver halide corresponding with an amount of 7 grams of silver, expressed as silver
nitrate, per m
2. At the opposite side a conventional anti-curl and anti-halation layer was applied.
[0069] Samples of these coatings were exposed with green light of 540 nm during 0.1 seconds
using a continuous wedge and were processed. The processing was run in developer G138i®
(trademark product from Agfa-Gevaert N.V., Mortsel, Belgium), followed by fixing in
fixer G334®, and rinsing at the indicated temperature of 35°C for a total processing
time of 45 seconds.
[0070] In Table 2 the sensitometric results obtained have been given. The density as a function
of the light dose was measured and therefrom were determined the following parameters:
- fog level F (with an accuracy of 0.001 density), multiplied by a factor of 1000;
- the relative speed S at a density of 1 above fog (an increase of the said speed with
a factor of 2 gives a speed value that is 0.30 lower as the relation is logarithmic and as less light is needed to get the desired density),
multiplied by a factor of 100;
- the darkroom light sensitivity (DRLS): determined as density (multiplied by 1000)
after processing a material having been illuminated during 180 seconds at a distance
of 810 mm from darkroom light with a darkroom density difference between exposed and
unexposed part of the film, the exposed part being exposed to darkroom light during
3 minutes with a darkroom filter GBX2, so that the light intensity at the film was
36 + 0.5 lux at the site of the strips to be exposed.
- Stain Level:
1(= absence of stain or acceptable level)
2 (= stain level acceptable)
3 (= stain level not acceptable)
Table 1
Matl No. |
2nd Dye (No.) |
Amount vs. Dye 1 (%) |
3rd Dye (No.) |
Amount vs. Dye 1 (%) |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2 |
2 |
3 |
- |
- |
3 |
3 |
3 |
- |
- |
4 |
4 |
3 |
- |
- |
5 |
2 |
10 |
- |
- |
6 |
3 |
10 |
- |
- |
7 |
4 |
10 |
- |
- |
8 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
9 |
3 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
10 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
11 |
2 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
12 |
3 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
13 |
4 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
Example 2
[0072] In the same way as in Example 1 the Materials Nos. 14-26 were coated. The combination
of spectral sensitizing dyes therein has been summarized in the Table 3, whereas the
same results obtained with respect to fog, speed, darkroom sensitivity and stain level
have been summarized in Table 4.
[0073] Same conclusions can be drawn from the results obtained in the Table 4 hereinafter
as from those in Table 2 from Example 1.
[0074] In the present Example however it has moreover been demonstrated that the ratio amount
of the dyes is decisive in order to fully reach the objects of the present invention
with respect to speed-darkroom-sensitivity and dye stain level (see inventive samples
Nos. 15-17-19-21-23-25 versus comparative samples Nos. 16-18-20-22-24-26).
[0075] As has been clearly shown in this Example, the dyes according to the formulae representing
the "second spectrally sensitizing dye" may again be symmetric or asymmetric, provided
that the conditions as claimed have been fulfilled.
Table 3
Matl No. |
2nd dye (No.) |
Amount vs. Dye 1 (%) |
3rd dye (No.) |
Amount vs. Dye 1 (%) |
14 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
15 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
16 |
6 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
17 |
6 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
18 |
6 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
19 |
7 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
20 |
7 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
21 |
8 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
22 |
8 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
23 |
9 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
24 |
9 |
10 |
5 |
1 |
25 |
10 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
26 |
4 |
3 |
5 |
1 |
Table 4
Matl. No. |
F (x 1000) |
S (x 100) |
DRLS (x 1000) |
Stain Level |
14 (comp) |
202 |
155 |
0 |
1 |
15 (inv) |
204 |
151 |
16 |
1 |
16 (comp) |
208 |
147 |
19 |
2 |
17 (inv) |
203 |
152 |
13 |
1 |
18 (comp) |
207 |
148 |
17 |
2 |
19 (inv) |
203 |
153 |
11 |
1 |
20 (comp) |
202 |
152 |
18 |
2 |
21 (inv) |
208 |
153 |
11 |
1 |
22 (comp) |
203 |
153 |
15 |
2 |
23 (inv) |
201 |
152 |
10 |
1 |
24 (comp) |
201 |
155 |
17 |
2 |
25 (inv) |
210 |
149 |
11 |
1 |
26 (comp) |
207 |
152 |
10 |
2 |