Patent ID: 7244948

Claim:
A high throughput apparatus for detection of a target radionuclide in a sample volume, consisting of: a) an uncooled detector element for detecting radiation emanating from a radionuclide in a sample volume, wherein the detecting element produces a sample signal characteristic of the radionuclide; b) analyzing means for analyzing the sample signal to identify its characteristics, wherein the analyzing means receives an indication from the detecting element; c) identifying means for determining whether the characteristics of the sample signal are substantially identical to a signal characteristic of a target radionuclide, and wherein the identifying means interacts with the analyzing means; whereby if the sample signal is determined to be substantially identical the apparatus has detected the target radionuclide, and whereby the apparatus, by identifying the sample signal as being substantially identical, identifies a target radionuclide in the sample volume; wherein the detector element consists essentially of one selected from the group consisting of boron fluoride, helium-3, sodium iodide, cadmium zinc telluride, solid state silicon, positive-intrinsic-negative-silicon detectors, cesium iodide, and cadmium telluride.