Sample Collection Chamber for Scent Detection

Detecting illicit substances and materials is an essential component of transportation and event security. K-9 units are often used to supplement threat detection protocols, especially when screening individual persons or objects. However, effective K-9 detection of trace amounts of illicit substances requires close contact between the subject and the K-9 units which can increase screening times and lead to bottlenecks in security checkpoints.

The envisioned Sample Collection Chamber would allow for contact-less, accurate illicit substance detection when screening subjects for threats, capturing and concentrating particles and vapors for the K-9 units. A subject would step into the chamber, where pressurized air is blown over the subject and then captured in a receptacle where it would be screened by K-9 or swabbed for compound detection. The Sample Collection Chamber could also be used to enable a self-service screening option at security checkpoints.

An alternative application for the Sample Collection Chamber concept would be for use in disease detection with K-9-assisted diagnostics.

For a more detailed description download the PDF below.