Postal image augmented bio-warfare aerosolized agent trigger
US7356163B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 10, 2004 |
| Grant date | Apr 8, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 9, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2001/025
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for reliably detecting bio-warfare agents in the mail stream that may be released from posted items. The agents are detected as the mail pieces are being processed using typical postal automation machines equipped with image scanning capabilities, and two technologies are combined.One is an aerosol trigger that can be based on a variety of different existing approaches which detects particulates of a specific size range and examines the spectral characteristics of the particles when illuminated with an ultra violet (UV) or other light source. Other approaches may include: mass spectrometry, ion mobility, IR spectrometry and the like. The second technology involves scanning and analyzing images of suspect mail, pieces and correlating aerosol trigger events with mail piece image risk factors.The second technology provides for obtaining images which provide information indicative of mail which is more likely to be from suspicious sources and provide increased risk factors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.