Patent Document ID: 20100280980
Application ID: 12761717
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A system for identifying radionuclide emissions, comprising: a) a device programmed to perform steps, comprising: i) comparing characteristics of a sample signal with corresponding characteristics of a plurality of reference signals and at least one background signature signal; and ii) discerning the reference signal from the plurality of reference signals of the sample signal from the at least one background signal and by determining whether characteristics of the reference signal of the sample signal are similar to or identical to characteristics of at least one other of the plurality of reference signals; b) a memory device in which is stored data providing ones of the characteristics of the plurality of reference signals; wherein each of the reference signals characterizes a signal waveform of at least one of target radionuclide and a threatening radionuclide indicative of a hidden terroristic device; and c) an uncooled detector element for at least partially detecting an indication of the sample signal, wherein the indication at least partially comprises radiation emanating from a radionuclide in a sample volume, wherein said detector element produces the sample signal in accordance with the indication characteristic of the radionuclide, and 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.