Screening method and apparatus

A screening apparatus, comprising:

• a radiation source for irradiating a subject to be screened;
• a radiation detector for detecting radiation emitted by the subject, and for outputting detector data in response thereto;
• and
• a processor for receiving the detector data in digitized form, and programmed to determine the signal form of each of the signals present in the data, to make parameter estimates of one or more parameters of the signals, and to determine the energy of each of the signals from at least the signal form and the parameter estimates, wherein the one or more parameters comprise at least a signal temporal position;
• whereby the screening time is shorter, dwell time is shorter, resolution is improved and/or throughput is increased.

A method for screening for a chemical element in an object or objects, comprising:

• collecting detector output data from a radiation detector of a screening apparatus;
• resolving individual signals in the detector output data by (i) determining a signal form of signals present in said data, (ii) making parameter estimates of one or more parameters of said signals, wherein said one or more parameters comprise at least a signal temporal position, and (iii) determining the energy of each of said signals from at least said signal form and said parameter estimates;
• and
• determining a quantity of the element from at least those of the signals arising from instances of the element in the object or objects;
• whereby the screening time is shorter, dwell time is shorter, resolution is improved and/or throughput is increased.

A screening method, comprising:

• irradiating a subject for screening with excitation radiation;
• collecting detector output data from a radiation detector located near the subject;
• and
• resolving individual signals in the detector output data by (i) obtaining or expressing the detector output data as a digital series, (ii) obtaining or determining a signal form of signals present in the data, (iii) forming a transformed signal form by transforming the signal form according to a mathematical transform, (iv) forming a transformed series by transforming the digital series according to the mathematical transform, said transformed series comprising transformed signals, (v) evaluating a function of at least the transformed series and the transformed signal form and thereby providing a function output, (vi) modelling the function output according to a model, (vii) determining at least one parameter of the function output based on the model, and (viii) determining a parameter of the signals from the at least one determined parameter of the function output;
• whereby the screening time is shorter, dwell time is shorter, resolution is improved and/or throughput is increased.

A screening apparatus, comprising:

• a radiation source for irradiating a subject to be screened;
• a radiation detector for detecting radiation emitted by the subject, and for outputting detector data in response thereto;
• and
• a processor for receiving the detector data as a digital series, and programmed to (i) obtain or determine a signal form of signals present in the data, (ii) form a transformed signal form by transforming the signal form according to a mathematical transform, (iii) form a transformed series by transforming the digital series according to the mathematical transform, said transformed series comprising transformed signals, (iv) evaluate a function of at least the transformed series and the transformed signal form and thereby provide a function output, (v) model the function output according to a model, (vi) determine at least one parameter of the function output based on the model, and (vii) determine a parameter of the signals from the at least one determined parameter of the function output;
• whereby the screening time is shorter, dwell time is shorter, resolution is improved and/or throughput is increased.

A method for screening for a chemical element in an object or objects, comprising:

• collecting detector output data from a radiation detector of a screening apparatus;
• resolving individual signals in the detector output data by (i) obtaining or expressing the detector output data as a digital series, (ii) obtaining or determining a signal form of signals present in the data, (iii) forming a transformed signal form by transforming the signal form according to a mathematical transform, (iv) forming a transformed series by transforming the digital series according to the mathematical transform, said transformed series comprising transformed signals, (v) evaluating a function of at least the transformed series and the transformed signal form and thereby providing a function output, (vi) modelling the function output according to a model, (vii) determining at least one parameter of the function output based on the model, and (viii) determining a parameter of the signals from the at least one determined parameter of the function output;
• determining a quantity of the element from at least those of the signals arising from instances of the element in the object or objects;
• whereby the screening time is shorter, dwell time is shorter, resolution is improved and/or throughput is increased.