Patent ID: 7877340

Claim:
A detector for detecting the presence of suspect radionuclides in a target, said detector comprising: a first detection channel for a first detecting neutron emissions in the target and for providing a first output in accordance with the first detecting; a second detection channel for a second detecting x-ray emissions in the target and for providing a second output in accordance with the second detecting; a third detection channel for a third detecting and an identifying of gamma emissions in the target and for providing a third output in accordance with the third detecting and identifying; a processor electrically coupled to each of said first, second, and third detection channels, said processor for receiving the first, second and third outputs, and comprising at least a first neuron layer for receiving at least a portion of the first, second and third outputs, a second neuron layer for receiving first processed data from the first neuron layer and that compares peaks in the first processed data to a plurality of radionuclide signatures, and a third neuron layer for receiving second processed data from the second neuron layer and the compares peaks in the second processed data to one or more adjusted radionuclide signatures; and, wherein said processor determines if at least one suspect radionuclide is present in the target based on an output of either the first or third neuron layer and provides an alert when the suspect radionuclide is present in the target; and wherein said processor determination occurs when said processor is exposed to a lower level of detection of about 10 .μRem/hr for a period of about one second.