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Miniature multinuclide detection system and methodsRelated Patent Categories: Radiant Energy, Invisible Radiant Energy Responsive Electric Signalling, With Radiant Energy SourceMiniature multinuclide detection system and methods description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070170368, Miniature multinuclide detection system and methods. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of priority of Utility application Ser. No. 10/384,236, filed Mar. 6, 2003. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] This invention relates to rapidly detecting and identifying certain nuclear isotopes. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and methods for detecting radionuclides in a sample that are potentially dangerous in uses, such as antisocietal or terrorist activities, that threaten cultural, political or economic structures of civilized society. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] Modern society, in the past one to two decades, has become subject to antisocietal activities of groups such as terrorist organizations, freedom fighters, individuals of radical persuasion, and individuals holding to anarchist or nihilistic philosophies. Such groups and individuals consider several potential means for physically attacking the fundamental structures of civilized societies. These include deployment and use of weapons of mass destruction, among which are nuclear devices. [0005] Nuclear devices include those which upon triggering produce a fissioning nuclear explosion or a fusion thermonuclear explosion, and a so-called "dirty bomb". In a dirty bomb, an explosion is triggered with the objective of dispersing various toxic or radiologically hazardous radionuclides into an environment with the intent of causing radioactive contamination in a wide physical area. Although only a few selected radionuclides are of use in preparing a fission bomb and in providing the trigger for a fusion bomb, a wide range of radionuclides may potentially be included in a dirty bomb. Radionuclides that are candidates for use in antisocietal devices such as fission bombs, thermonuclear bombs and dirty bombs are termed "threatening" herein. It is believed that the choice of threatening components includes radionuclides with long half-lives for radioactive decay, as well as radionuclides such as those used in medical diagnostics and various research endeavors, which generally have short half-lives. It is important in screening operations to have the capability of detecting and identifying any of the radionuclides potentially usable in a nuclear device. [0006] Since nuclear devices such as those described above may be assembled or deployed at any location within the geographical boundaries of a nation, it would be advantageous for governmental authorities to have the capability of screening for component radionuclides at widely dispersed locations. Common nonlimiting examples of such locations include automotive highways, airports, train stations, municipal mass transit systems, governmental buildings and freight handling facilities. Beneficially the screening installations would be automated and able to operate free of human intervention as long as no radionuclides are detected, but to alert appropriate authorities when a positive detection and/or identification of a specific radionuclide deemed to be a threat is made. [0007] In summary there remains a need for a system and methods to detect and/or identify any of a wide range of radionuclides. There is further a need for such systems and methods to operate rapidly, automatically and independently of human intervention. There remains a need for detection and/or identification systems and methods capable of operating at high volume, and with high throughput. There furthermore remains a need for a system and methods to detect and identify a particular radionuclide from among a set of candidate radionuclides that an antisocietal group or individual might deploy. The present invention addresses these outstanding needs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] In one aspect of the invention, a digital computational apparatus is disclosed that includes [0009] a) a device programmed to perform steps that include [0010] i) comparing characteristics of a sample signal with corresponding characteristics of a plurality of reference signals; and [0011] ii) determining whether characteristics of the sample signal are similar to or identical to characteristics of at least one reference signal; and [0012] b) a memory device in which is stored data providing characteristics of two or more reference signals; wherein each reference signal characterizes a signal waveform of a target radionuclide or a threatening radionuclide. In an important embodiment of the digital computational apparatus, a target radionuclide or a threatening radionuclide is chosen from a set that includes cesium-137, cobalt-60, strontium-90, iridium-192, americium-241, manganese-54, iron-55, iodine-125, iodine-130, iodine-131, molybdenum-99, technetium-99m, uranium-235, uranium-238, a transuranium radionuclide, a plutonium-beryllium source, a californium source, or a radioactive decay product of uranium. [0013] In another aspect, the invention discloses a high throughput apparatus for detection of a target radionuclide in a sample volume, or for identifying a target radionuclide present in a sample volume, or both, that includes [0014] a) detecting means for detecting radiation emanating from a radionuclide in a sample volume, wherein the detecting means produces a sample signal characteristic of the radionuclide; [0015] b) analyzing means for analyzing the sample signal to identify its characteristics, wherein the analyzing means interacts with the detecting means; [0016] c) identifying means for determining whether characteristics of the sample signal are similar or 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 so similar or identical the apparatus has detected the target radionuclide, and whereby the apparatus, by identifying the sample signal as being so similar or identical, identifies a target radionuclide in the sample volume. [0017] In a further aspect the invention discloses a high throughput apparatus for communicating the presence of a target radionuclide in a sample volume, the identity of a target radionuclide in a sample volume, or both, that includes [0018] a) detecting means for detecting radiation emanating from a radionuclide in a sample volume, wherein the detecting means produces a sample signal characteristic of the radionuclide; [0019] b) analyzing means for analyzing the sample signal to identify its characteristics, wherein the analyzing means interacts with the detecting means; [0020] c) identifying means for determining whether characteristics of the sample signal are similar or identical to a signal characteristic of a target radionuclide, and wherein the identifying means interacts with the analyzing means; and [0021] d) communicating means that communicates a determination that the sample signal is so similar or identical; whereby the apparatus communicates the presence of the target radionuclide in the sample volume, and whereby the apparatus communicates the identity of the target radionuclide in the sample volume. [0022] In yet another aspect, the invention provides a high throughput apparatus for warning of the presence and/or the identity of a threatening radionuclide in a sample volume, that includes [0023] a) detecting means for detecting radiation emanating from a radionuclide in a sample volume, wherein the detecting means produces a sample signal characteristic of the radionuclide; [0024] b) analyzing means for analyzing the sample signal to identify its characteristics, wherein the analyzing means interacts with the detecting means; [0025] c) comparing means for comparing characteristics of the sample signal to a set of signals, wherein each member of the set is a signal that is characteristic of a threatening radionuclide, wherein the comparing means interacts with the analyzing means; [0026] d) identifying means for determining whether characteristics of the sample signal are similar or identical to a signal characteristic, of a threatening radionuclide, and wherein the identifying means interacts with the comparing means; and [0027] e) warning means that warns that the sample signal is determined to be so similar or identical; whereby the apparatus warns of the presence of the threatening radionuclide in the sample volume, and whereby the apparatus warns of the identity of the threatening radionuclide in the sample volume. [0028] In a further aspect, a method is disclosed for detecting a target radionuclide in a sample volume, or for identifying a target radionuclide present in a sample volume, or both, that includes the steps of [0029] a) juxtaposing the sample volume and a detecting means that detects radiation emanating from a radionuclide such that the detecting means detects radiation emanating from the sample volume; [0030] b) detecting radiation emanating from a radionuclide in the sample volume, wherein the detecting means produces a sample signal characteristic of the radionuclide; [0031] c) analyzing the sample signal produced in step b) to identify its characteristics; [0032] d) determining whether identified characteristics of the sample signal are similar or identical to a signal characteristic of the target radionuclide; whereby if the sample signal is determined to be so similar or identical the target radionuclide is detected, and whereby identifying the sample signal as being so similar or identical identifies a target radionuclide in the sample volume. [0033] In still another aspect, the invention discloses a method for communicating the presence of a target radionuclide in a sample volume, the identity of a target radionuclide in a sample volume, or both, that includes the steps of [0034] a) juxtaposing the sample volume and a detecting means that detects radiation emanating from a radionuclide such that the detecting means detects radiation emanating from the sample volume; and [0035] b) detecting radiation emanating from a radionuclide in a sample volume, wherein the detecting means produces a sample signal characteristic of the radionuclide; [0036] c) analyzing the sample signal to identify its characteristics; [0037] d) determining whether characteristics of the analyzed sample signal are similar or identical to a signal characteristic of a target radionuclide; and [0038] e) communicating a determination that the characteristics of the sample signal are so similar or identical; thereby communicating the presence of the target radionuclide in the sample volume, or the identity of the target radionuclide in the sample volume as having signal characteristics similar or identical to the sample signal. [0039] In yet a further aspect, the invention discloses a method for warning of the presence and/or the identity of a threatening radionuclide in a sample volume, that includes the steps of [0040] a) juxtaposing the sample volume and a detecting means for detecting radiation emanating from a radionuclide such that the detecting means detects radiation emanating from the sample volume, wherein the detecting means produces a sample signal characteristic of the radionuclide; [0041] b) analyzing the sample signal to identify its characteristics; [0042] c) comparing characteristics of the analyzed sample signal to a set of signals, wherein each member of the set is a signal that is characteristic of a threatening radionuclide; [0043] d) determining that the characteristics of the analyzed sample signal are similar or identical to a signal characteristic of a threatening radionuclide; and [0044] e) warning that the sample signal is determined to be so similar or identical; [0045] thereby warning of the presence of the threatening radionuclide in the sample volume, and/or warning of the identity of a threatening radionuclide present in the sample volume. [0046] In the various aspects of the apparatus and methods disclosed in this invention, significant embodiments include those wherein the radiation detected is a neutron, a gamma ray or an x-ray, an alpha particle, a beta particle or any combination thereof, or all of them. In a further significant embodiment the radiation detected is a neutron, a gamma ray or an x-ray, or any combination thereof, or all of them. In yet another important embodiment, the detecting means includes a scintillation detector, a solid-state gamma ray detector, a solid-state x-ray detector, a neutron detector, or any combination thereof, or all of them. [0047] In additional advantageous embodiments, a target radionuclide or the threatening radionuclide is chosen from a set that includes cesium-137, cobalt-60, strontium-90, iridium-192, americium-241, manganese-54, iron-55, iodine-125, iodine-130, iodine-131, molybdenum-99, technetium-99m, uranium-235, uranium-238, a transuranium radionuclide, a plutonium-beryllium source, a californium source or a radioactive decay product of uranium; or two or more target radionuclides or threatening radionuclides are chosen from among cesium-137, cobalt-60, strontium-90, iridium-192, americium-241, manganese-54, iron-55, iodine-125, iodine-130, iodine-131, molybdenum-99, technetium-99m, uranium-235, uranium-238, a transuranium radionuclide, a plutonium-beryllium source, a californium source, and radioactive decay products of uranium. [0048] In another significant embodiment, the apparatuses and methods can detect and/or identify, or communicate, or warn of, a target radionuclide or a threatening radionuclide in an elapsed time from about 0.1 second to about 10 seconds. [0049] More significantly, the elapsed time is about 0.1 second to about 4 seconds, and still more significantly, the elapsed time is about 0.1 second to about 0.5 second. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0050] FIG. 1. Block diagram representation of an embodiment of the invention. [0051] FIG. 2. Photographic image of a housing containing a detector employed in the apparatus of the invention installed adjacent to a motor vehicle lane. Continue reading about Miniature multinuclide detection system and methods... Full patent description for Miniature multinuclide detection system and methods Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Miniature multinuclide detection system and methods patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Miniature multinuclide detection system and methods or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Ultraviolet detector Next Patent Application: Structures and methods for coupling energy from an electromagnetic wave Industry Class: Radiant energy ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Miniature multinuclide detection system and methods patent info. 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