Method and apparatus for detecting humans and human remains
First Claim
1. A method for detecting human remains, comprising exposing sensor technology to an environmental sample to determine the presence of target compounds associated with human remains in the environment, and using the results of the sensor technology to locate the human remains.
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Abstract
The present invention includes a method and apparatus for detecting humans or human remains by analyzing air, fluid, or soil using electronic sensor technology, including surface acoustic-wave gas sensor technology. The method determines the presence and concentration of the target compound (or a class of compounds) associated with humans or human decomposition. Diagnostic software is used to identify target compounds where a stored library of signatures is compared to the signature obtained from the system. Signal processing and neural networks are preferably utilized in the analysis.
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Citations
19 Claims
- 1. A method for detecting human remains, comprising exposing sensor technology to an environmental sample to determine the presence of target compounds associated with human remains in the environment, and using the results of the sensor technology to locate the human remains.
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15. A method for determining the location of human remains, comprising:
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obtaining a sample of air;
subsequently analyzing said air sample using gas sensor technology;
comparing the results of the analysis against a library of known target compounds and interferents associated with human remains; and
identifying and confirming the presence or absence of the target compound in said air.
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16. A method for determining the location of a human, comprising:
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obtaining a sample of air;
subsequently analyzing said air sample;
comparing the results of the analysis against a library of known target compounds and interferents associated with humans;
confirming the presence or absence of any target compounds and interferents in the air sample.
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17. A device for determining the location of human remains comprising:
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a surface-acoustic wave sensor capable of detecting the presence of said target compound, wherein said sensor responds to the target compound by a shift in the resonant frequency;
an oscillator circuit having said sensor as an active feedback element; and
a frequency counter in communication with said oscillator circuit to measure oscillation frequency which corresponds to resonant frequency of the sensor;
a processor for comparing the oscillation frequency with a previously measured oscillation frequency of the target compound and determining presence and concentration of the target compound therefrom.
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18. A device for determining the location of human remains comprising:
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a sensor having an array of polymers capable of detecting the presence of said target compound in an environmental sample, wherein said sensor responds to the target compound by charging the resistance in each polymer resulting in a pattern change in the sensor array;
a processor for receiving the change in resistance, comparing the change in resistance with a previously measures change in resistance, and identifying the presence of the target compound from the pattern change and the concentration of the compound from the amplitude. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification