System and method for large scale detection of hazardous materials in the mail or in other objects

• US 20030082635A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Ii, David L., Beckert, John Thaddeus, Terry, William S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,105,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/7.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/22 in the gaseous state specially adapted for biological material G01N33/497; measuring breath flow A61B5/087
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/022 sampling for security purposes, e.g. contraband, warfare agents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/025 postal items
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/31 Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry G01N21/72 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 31/22 using chemical indicators G01N31/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/11 Automated chemical analysis

Abstract

A system and method that enables early detection of hazardous materials, such as explosives and biological materials, in the early phases of mail handling or processing, is disclosed. The early detection of such hazardous material utilizing the system and method of this invention can be performed while the mail is being processed. The system includes at least two primary elements: an activation sub-system and a sense and analyze sub-system.

Claims

1. A method for detection of hazardous materials in a mail piece, said method comprising the steps of:

transporting the mail piece on a transport system;

depositing at least one sensitizing agent on the mail piece while the mail piece is being transported;

sensing, while the mail piece is being transported, said at least one sensitizing agent after being deposited on the mail piece, said sensing taking place at a pre-selected time;

analyzing results of the sensing to determine whether that the mail piece possibly contains hazardous materials;

identifying the mail piece as potentially hazardous, if said analysis indicates that the mail piece possibly contains hazardous materials.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

adjusting transport time to allow activation time prior to sensing.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

performing, if the mail piece is identified as

potentially hazardous, the further steps of;

culling the mail piece; and

,

setting the mail piece aside for further inspection.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of depositing comprises applying the sensitizing agent in the form of a solution.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of depositing comprises applying the sensitizing agent in the form of a gel based agent.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one sensitizing agent is a polymer having an alterable luminescence and wherein exposure to a target biological material results in a detectable change in luminescence.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of sensing comprises the steps of:

exposing the mail piece to radiation at a first spectrum; and

,

detecting emitted radiation at a second spectrum.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one sensitizing agent is a reagent and wherein said reagent exhibits a change in color when exposed to a target explosive material.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of sensing comprises utilizing a detector capable of detecting calorimetric change.

10. A system for detecting hazardous materials in a mail piece, said system comprising:

means for transporting the mail piece;

means for depositing at least one sensitizing agent on the mail piece while the mail piece is being transported;

means for sensing, while the mail piece is being transported, said at least one sensitizing agent after being deposited on the mail piece;

means for analyzing results of said sensing.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

means for culling and setting the mail piece aside for further inspection, if analysis indicates that the mail piece potentially contains hazardous materials.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said at least one sensitizing agent is a polymer having an alterable luminescence and wherein exposure to a target biological material results in a detectable change in luminescence.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said sensing means comprise a radiation source capable of emitting at a first spectrum and a detector capable of detecting emitted radiation at a second spectrum.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein said at least one sensitizing agent is a reagent and wherein said reagent exhibits a change in color when exposed to a target explosive material.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said sensing means comprise

a detector capable of detecting calorimetric change.

16. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

means for sensing location and size of the mail piece; and

,

means for controlling said depositing of said at least one sensitizing agent.

17. A system for detecting explosives and hazardous biological materials in a mail piece, said system comprising:

means for transporting the mail piece;

a dispenser capable of dispensing at least one sensitizing agent onto the mail piece while the mail piece is being transported;

at least one radiation source capable of emitting radiation in a first spectral range and of illuminating said at least one sensitizing agent subsequent to being dispensed onto the mail piece;

at least one detector capable of detecting radiation emitted in a second spectral range from said at least one sensitizing agent subsequent to being irradiated by said radiation source;

a computer system including;

at least one processor;

at least one computer usable memory having computer readable code embodied therein that causes the at least one processor to;

receive at least one detection result from said at least one detector;

analyze said at least one detection result;

if said analysis indicates that the mail piece potentially contains hazardous materials, identify the mail piece as potentially hazardous.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

a sensing and control system;

and, wherein said computer readable code further causes the at least one processor to;

receive information from said sensing and control system;

determine location and size of the mail piece from said information;

control said dispensing of said at least one sensitizing agent.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein said computer readable code further causes the at least one processor to:

control said emission of radiation from said at least one radiation source.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising:

an actuator;

wherein said computer system further includes an actuator control module;

and, wherein said computer readable code further causes the at least one processor to;

if said analysis indicates that the mail piece potentially contains hazardous materials, give instructions to said actuator control module to cause said actuator to;

select the mail piece; and

,

set the mail piece aside for further inspection.