Auburn University

The United States of America As Represented by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice

Thomas C Angle

Royall M Broughton

Kathleen Giles

Thomas Passler

Terrence Fischer

Lowell Paul Waggoner

Provided herein are methods of making a training aid for detecting a biohazard, and related devices and methods of using the device, including a canine training aid. The devices are made by positioning a polymer layer in proximity and physically separated from a biological material, so that volatile organic compounds contact and bind or infuse the polymer layer. The device is made render-safe by inactivating the infused polymer layer, such as by heating to a temperature sufficient to inactivate biological agents on or in the analyte-infused polymer layer. The device can be stored in a substantially air-tight configuration for subsequent use in training, such as canine and/or or artificial detectors.

Training aid

A retrieving device includes a body with at least one respiratory passageway formed in it through which a dog can breathe when holding the device in its mouth during retrieval. In some embodiments, the body includes two radially-large end sections that are harder for dogs to grasp with their mouths, two radially-midsize lateral sections positioned therebeween each defining lateral respiratory passageways for side-breathing by the dog, and a radially-narrow middle section positioned therebeween defining a forward/transverse respiratory passageway for front-breathing by the dog. In use, the respiratory passageways decrease obstructions to enable the dog to breathe more freely to avoid overheating and associated problems. In addition, one or more flotation elements can be provided in the body so provide buoyancy for the retrieving device in the event it's launched into water during retrieving activities.

Breathable retrieving device

A retrieving device includes a body with at least one respiratory passageway formed in it through which a dog can breathe when holding the device in its mouth during retrieval. In some embodiments, the body is hollow and in the form of a shell defining an internal cavity that functions as a lateral respiratory passageway, with communicating respiratory passageways formed through the shell. In other embodiments, the body is solid with internal respiratory passageways formed through it. And in still other embodiments, the body has surface features (e.g., grooves or other thinned portions) that function as external respiratory passageways. In use, the respiratory passageways decrease obstructions to enable the dog to breathe more freely to avoid overheating and associated problems. In addition, one or more flotation elements can be provided in the body so provide buoyancy for the retrieving device in the event it's launched into water during retrieving activities.

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Opelika, AL, United States of America

Thomas C Angle