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AssigneeReveal Imaging Technologies, Inc.
InventorsMichael Ellenbogen, Elan Scheinman
Estimating the term…
The CT threat resolution system includes an primary EDS scanning process to identify threats and the nature of threats and a plurality of secondary CT scanning processes to resolve threats. The primary EDS scanning process and secondary CT scanning processes can be either separate machines or multiple processes within a single scanner. The secondary scanning process may utilizes dual energy scanning and/or high resolution scanning to resolve threats based upon the nature of the threat. An alarm indicates threats which cannot be resolved by the secondary CT scanning process for further operator investigation. Threats may be reviewed and resolved by an operator before the secondary CT scanning process.
A threat resolution system configured to identify and resolving threats within packages comprising:
A method of scanning packages for resolution of threats, the method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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Active interrogation, i.e. by irradiating objects or goods using external radiation sources, e.g. using gamma rays or cosmic rays: using tomography
Geophysics
Term ended 21 Jun 2024 (estimated)
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Computed Tomography (CT) Explosives Detection System (EDS) for inspecting baggage for explosives or other contraband. More particularly, it relates to novel Computed Tomography (CT) scanners and processes to resolve threat alarms.
2. Discussion of Related Art
FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a conventional CT scanner.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a CT scanner system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a baggage review process according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The present invention relates to a CT scanning system and method for scanning baggage. It is particularly useful for scanning baggage at airports under current laws and TSA regulations. However, the system and method can be used for scanning baggage or packages at other locations or for other scanning processes to determine specific types of contents through scanning. The present invention includes one or more CT scanners. These scanners may be of any known types. The CT scanner operable in the present invention may be loaded by hand or automatically with a conveyor system. It may rotate the baggage or may rotate the x-ray source in obtaining data. It may create images of the bag in any known manner. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/442,246, entitled Method and Apparatus for CT Scanning of Baggage, filed on Jan. 23, 2003, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, discloses designs for various CT scanners which can be used in the present invention. CT technology involves acquiring x-ray views from at least 180 degrees around an object either by rotating the x-ray source or by rotating the object. The data acquired from these views are mathematically reconstructed into a tomographic or slice image through the object or a three dimensional representation of the object. This image can then be analyzed for explosives or other contraband automatically using sophisticated algorithms. This image can also be presented to a user for analysis.
A study of a couple of pilot sites utilizing the revised TSA operator threat resolution protocol, conducted from November of 2002 through January 2003, uncovered the following results regarding performance of a CT scanning system using the TSA operator threat resolution protocol: The operator can safely clear about 60%–70% of all machine alarm bags. Bags contain an average of nearly 2 threats per bag Most alarms generated by the new operator Alarm Resolution Protocol (ARP) are caused by shield alarms. Shield alarms are alarms caused by large amounts of metal that interfere with the CT scanners' ability to identify an object. All shield alarms must be opened and analyzed by hand. Up to 20% of machine alarms (about 5% of all bags) are shield alarms. Of the remaining alarm bags about 10%–20% can not be cleared by the operator because they can not identify the alarm object or the object appears tampered with.
While the TSA is investigating several technologies that have the potential to reduce the bag opening rate, none of these technologies address the shield alarm issue and none of these technologies take into account the specific alarms generated by the new operator ARP.