Whole body scanner that can reveal “syringe” bombs
The latest failed terrorist bomb attack onboard a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit illustrates the shortcomings of the current airport security systems to prevent the smuggling of non-metal explosive devices aboard. We must also recall the recent attack against Prince Mohamed in Saudi Arabia last August. The bomb was hidden in the anal cavity of the suicide bomber.
The privacy concerns of new imaging technologies have been discussed in the media for too long now, and despite the recognition that existing personal scanning technology at airports is insufficient decisions to deploy such systems have still not been taken. However, the situation has escalated after this latest attempted attack. As terrorists develop new ways to threaten the public then the concern about privacy is no longer the main priority. Though it quite rightly remains a concern. The balance must be achieved between these 2 issues and tests show that with the right technology then and a whole-body scan is far less invasive than a strip search.
What, then, is the most effective response to these challenges?
Without the penetration limitations of backscatter and milliwave technologies, the CONPASS system developed by ADANI will allow the operator of the system to observe metallic, non-metallic, organic and non-organic substances (i.e.-plastic, metal, glass, narcotics, plastic explosives, fine wires, paper currency, cell phones, precious stones, tobacco, etc.)hidden in or within the outer body, the clothing, prosthetics, or natural body cavities.
Existing technologies such as backscatter radiation, passive imagingwill only identify items on the surface of the skinand cannot detect objects hidden inside the human body. They are of limited value against those obvious threats that can be found in by existing metal detection systems (with its attendant, timewasting false positives) and “patting down.
The only equipment currently available that is proven to be effective in detecting items both inside the body and hidden within the passengers clothes such as swallowed drugs or other dangerous objects is the minimal dose X-ray transmission whole body scanner. These scanners are also able to see through prostheses that can potentially be used as containers for explosives.
This Adani CONPASS scanner completes a full scan in less than 8 seconds with a proven negligible radiation dose. The dose per scan is 0.25 microsievert (μSv) – one hundredth of the cosmic radiation dose to air passengers typically received during one flight from Europe to America.The American National Standards Institute ( ANSI) considers any dose less than 10 μSv to be negligible. The Adani CONPASS has an absorbed radiation dose so low that a crew member could be scanned three times a day for an entire year and still fall below the US federal government mandated acceptable guidelines (250 microsievert per year) for members of the public (the limit for employees is 1000 μSv/yr).
The UK Health Protection Agency concluded in January 2008 (Radiation Metrology Report 43409), that a single scan of 0.25 μSv is equivalent to the natural radiation dose from eating one Brazil nut or 30 minutes of daily living in Cornwall.
Moreover
These scanners offer a greater level of protection than existing systems and enable a more comprehensive approach to the examination of individuals to ensure that no unauthorized or dangerous items are on or in the body whilst emitting an acceptable level of radiation. The CONPASS system is currently installed in the Airports, Prisons and Mines around the world including the UK and the USA.
Below are actual examples of ADANI's scanning capability:
Left to right:
Cell phone hidden a rectal cavity,
Swallowed drugs in the stomach,
Internal structures within a prosthesis
ADANI is a scientific and industrial enterprise situated in Minsk, Belarus. It was founded in 1991 by a group of scientific engineers from the Belarusian State University. By now ADANI has become a leading developer and producer of hi-tech medical and security equipment in low dosage digital radiographic systems.
ADANI actively explore new markets in order to bring high quality products and solutions providing low dosage radiation solutions and looking to create new safety standards.
For further information contact :
Head Office
Tel: +375 17 214-58 46
Contact in EU:
Adani UK Ltd
Tel: +44 03335779813
Email: lysters@adaniuk.com
Contact in USA:
Virtual Imaging, Inc.
Tel: 954-428-6191