Body cavity metal detection system

• US 5,973,595 A
• Filed: 11/25/1997
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: States Resources Corp.
• Original Assignee: Ranger Security Detectors Inc.
• Inventors: Scrivner, Thomas V., Turner, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/977,611
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 340/551, 340/573, 340/574, 340/605, 340/572, 340/572.1, 340/572.4, 340/572.6, 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 324/243, 324/236, 324/329, 600/550
• US Class Current: 340/551
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/105 forming directly coupled primary and secondary coils or loops

Abstract

A metal detection system for detecting metal within a body cavity of an individual. The metal detection system includes a first metal detector for detecting metal within an anal/vagina body cavity of an individual, and a second metal detector for detecting metal within an oral/facial body cavity of the individual. A chair supports a first detector sensor and a second detector sensor that connects to the first metal detector and the second metal detector, respectively. The system further includes a processor that interconnects with the first and second detectors. The processor connects to a control panel having indicators responsive to a first output signal and second output signal generated upon detection of metal by the first metal detector and the second metal detector, respectively.

Claims

1. A metal detection system for detecting metal within the body cavities of an individual comprising:

a first metal detector having a first non-invasive detector sensor, said first non-invasive detector sensor positioned in proximity to the anal/vaginal area of an individual for detecting metal within an anal/vagina body cavity of an individual and generating a first output signal;

a second metal detector having a second non-invasive detector sensor, said second non-invasive detector sensor positioned in proximity to the oral/facial area of an individual for detecting metal within an oral/facial body cavity of the individual and generating a second output signal;

means for supporting an individual to locate the anal/vagina body cavity in proximity to the first detector sensor for detecting metal within the anal/vagina body cavity and to locate the oral/facial body cavity in proximity to the second detector sensor for detecting metal within the oral/facial body cavity; and

a processor interconnected to the first and second detectors, said processor responsive to the first output signal and second output signal for activating an indicator identifying the detection of a metal object and the location thereof.

2. The metal detection system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for supporting further includes a chair having a support platform extending therefrom, said support platform supporting the second detector sensor.

3. The metal detection system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the chair further includes a seat supporting the first detector sensor.

4. The metal detection system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the means for supporting further includes a vertical adjuster and a rotational adjuster, each adjuster positions the second detector sensor to a desired position.

5. The metal detection system in accordance with claim 1 wherein each metal detector further includes:

an oscillator; and

the first and second detector sensors include;

a field generation coil connected to and excited by the oscillator to generate an electromagnetic field disrupted by the presence of metal objects within the body cavity of the individual;

a receive coil responsive to the generated electromagnetic field; and

said processor receiving and processing a receive signal from the receive coil of a detector sensor to generate the identification of a metal object.

6. The metal detection system in accordance with claim 5 wherein the field generation coil and the receive coil are substantially co-planar and coaxially aligned with each other within a grounded resistive shield.

7. The metal detection system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a control panel connected to the processor, said control panel includes first and second alarms corresponding to the first and second metal detectors, said first and second alarms indicate the detection and location of a metal object.

8. The metal detection system in accordance with claim 7 wherein the control panel further includes an alarm for generating an audible alarm upon the detection of a metal object.

9. A metal detection system for detecting metal within a body cavity of an individual comprising:

a chair having a sitting area and a backrest area;

a first non-evasive metal detector mounted to the sitting area of said chair for detecting metal within an anal/vagina region of the individual and a second non-evasive metal detector mounted to the backrest area of said chair for detecting metal within an oral/facial region of the individual, each metal detector including;

a coil set generating an electromagnetic field and responding to an interruption of the electromagnetic field;

a processor for receiving and processing a signal representing an interruption of the electromagnetic field of the coil set to generate an output signal indicative of the presence of the metal object within the anal/vagina region and/or the oral/facial region body cavity disrupting the electromagnetic field; and

an alarm responsive to the output signal.

10. A metal detection system for detecting metal within a body cavity of an individual comprising:

at least one non-evasive metal detector having a corresponding non-evasive detector sensor responsive to a metal object within the anal/vagina or the oral/facial region of an individual, said at least one non-evasive metal detector detecting metal within the anal/vagina or oral/facial region of an individual and generating a detection signal;

means for supporting an individual to locate the anal/vagina or oral/facial region in proximity to a corresponding detector sensor; and

a processor connected to at least one non-evasive metal detector and responsive to the detection signal for generating an alarm indicating the presence and location of a detected metal object.

11. The metal detection system in accordance with claim 10 wherein the at least one metal detector further includes:

an oscillator;

a field generation coil as a part of the detector sensor, said field generation coil connected to and excited by the oscillator to generate an electromagnetic field disrupted by the presence of metal objects within the body cavity of the individual;

a receive coil as a part of the detector sensor, said receive coil responsive to a disruption of the generated electromagnetic field and outputting a receive signal; and

a processor for receiving and processing the receive signal from the receive coil to generate an output signal upon detection of the metal object within a body cavity of an individual.