Control Screening, LLC.

David L Christensen

Dao Hinh Nguyen

Stewart Berry

Chris Klymowsky

A compact scanning apparatus has an infrared laser adapted to emit light. The light is delivered as a beam by an optical system to illuminate an interrogation area on the surface of an object being scanned to cause selective desorption of molecules of the contraband substance, which are present on the surface, without substantially damaging the surface. A collection system collects at least a portion of the desorbed molecules. At least a portion of the collected molecules is thermally decomposed to form NOand transferred to a reaction cell containing an aqueous, alkaline, luminol-containing solution. The NOreacts with the luminol to produce light by chemiluminescence. A light detector registers the presence of this light to carry out a rapid screening of the object for the possible presence of the contraband substance. The apparatus further includes a supplemental detector such as a GC/IMS detector that is activated in response to the detection of the chemiluminescent light. The supplemental detector provides confirmation of the detection of contraband substance and activates a signaling device to provide an audible or visible alarm. The rapid pre-screening permits the apparatus to identify suspicious items, while the supplemental detection system can be optimized for more intense, but time-consuming scrutiny of just the suspicious items. Both effective detection and high throughput are thereby achieved in an accurate, reliable manner.

Multi-modal detection of explosives, narcotics, and other chemical substances

A compact scanning apparatus includes an optical system to deliver a beam of pulsed infrared laser light that illuminate an interrogation area of a surface. The illumination has sufficient intensity and duration to cause selective ablation of molecules of a contraband substance present on the surface without substantially damaging the surface. A collection system collects at least a portion of the ablated molecules and transfers them to a chemical analysis system having a detector. In response to the presence of a wide variety of contraband substance molecules, the detector outputs an electrical signal that activates an audible or visible alarm. Automated screening is provided in an accurate, reliable manner that virtually eliminates the vagaries of human performance. False alarms are reduced. Detection efficacy is increased. A traceable residue of the detected contraband is left on the article for subsequent forensic analysis.

Growing community of inventors

Kingston, Canada

David L Christensen