Hand-held X-ray detection system using wavelength-shifting fiber-coupled scintillation detectors

A hand-held X-ray and detection system comprising:

• a mobile X-ray source positioned within a hand-held device;
• a mobile detector configured to be used with the mobile X-ray source, wherein the mobile detector comprises:
• a first volume of a first scintillation medium for converting energy of incident X-ray radiation into a first light having a first wavelength;
• a first plurality of wavelength-shifting optical waveguides positioned proximate the first scintillation medium, configured to receive the first light, and configured to guide a second light, wherein the first plurality of wavelength-shifting optical waveguides comprises a material that, when exposed to the first light, generates the second light having a second wavelength and wherein the second wavelength is different than the first wavelength;
• a second volume of a second scintillation medium for converting energy of incident X-ray radiation that has traversed the first volume into a third light having a third wavelength, wherein the second volume of the second scintillation medium is a different volume than the first volume of the first scintillation medium;
• a second plurality of wavelength-shifting optical waveguides positioned proximate the second scintillation medium, configured to receive the third light, and configured to guide a fourth light, wherein the second plurality of wavelength-shifting optical waveguides comprises a material that, when exposed to the third light, generates the fourth light having a fourth wavelength and wherein the fourth wavelength is different than the third wavelength;
• a first photo-detector configured to receive the second light from the first plurality of wavelength-shifting optical waveguides, detect the second light, and generate a first detector signal;
• and
• a second photo-detector configured to receive the fourth light from the second plurality of wavelength-shifting optical waveguides, detect the fourth light, and generate a second detector signal.