The embodiments described herein relate generally to screening passengers and, more particularly, to screening passengers that wear medical devices or that have implanted medical devices.
At least some known passenger screening systems detect contraband. As used herein, the term “contraband” refers to illegal substances, explosives, narcotics, weapons, a threat object, and/or any other material that a person is not allowed to possess in a restricted area, such as an airport. The contraband detection involves a combination of sensors and structures to control a flow of passengers. Although passengers are referred to herein, any person and/or object may be scanned using the system and apparatus described herein.
For example, one known checkpoint system first screens passengers with a whole-body walk-through metal detector (WTMD). In such a checkpoint system, when a threat item or anomaly is detected from a whole body scan, the passenger is directed to a wanding station, which is a physical structure that controls the progress of the passenger. Importantly, if a threat item or anomaly is detected by the whole body scan, then the passenger may be considered a threat. As such, his or her mobility is controlled by the structure of the wanding station. Within that controlled structure, or at its egress, a security officer can use a metal detection wand to perform a localized scan of the passenger's body to resolve the alarm. If the passenger is then cleared, he or she may proceed beyond the physical structures of the wanding area. However, there are limits to such systems.
For example, at least one known metal detection wand is a quadrupole resonance (QR) wand that includes a QR sensor for producing QR signals. The QR wand can detect metal and/or predefined chemical compounds, such as explosive, narcotics, and/or other contraband compounds, using the QR sensor. Radio frequency interference (RFI) of the QR signals produced by the QR wand is managed by an auxiliary system that remotely measures RFI and then performs a subtraction to obtain a correct signal. However, this electronic approach has limitations involving dynamic range, for example, as well as motion of an RFI reference relative to the QR sensor. Also, such an approach is theoretically limited in the case of multiple sources of RFI, which might occur in an airport setting. The QR wand may also be limited with respect to sweeping scans in which whole portions of a passenger's body or the ground are to be scanned by sweeping the QR wand. Moreover, known QR wands are generally operated at or near an ambient temperature of the venue, which limits the accuracy of data obtained with such QR wands. For example, known QR wands are generally operated at a nominal operating frequency that is associated with the room temperature of the venue, which may limit the accuracy of data obtained with such QR wands. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a QR sensor system that overcomes the difficulties associated with the known QR wand.
Implanted medical devices are designed to be as small and light as possible, while maintaining the longest possible battery life. Accordingly, such medical devices use very low power electronics, which implies low voltage operation and limited frequency response for the active components (e.g. op amps). The combination of low voltage operation and limited frequency response can lead to increased susceptibility to high frequency overload of the active components which then interferes with the proper functioning of the overall device.
One workaround is to place low-pass filters on the external connections of medical devices to block interference from cell phones operating at a frequency greater than approximately 0.5 GHz. However, these filters become larger as the blocking frequency is reduced. Because QR frequencies are typically one thousand times lower than frequencies used by cell phones, the filters would become too large for use with medical devices. In general, passengers wearing or carrying a medical device are informed of the risks associated with medical devices being exposed to normal imaging or scanning systems. Passengers may also carry a card that indicates that such passengers should not be subjected to security scans that could result in an adverse interaction. However, it is possible that language barriers, forgetfulness, or a misunderstanding could lead to undesirable exposure to the passenger.
In one aspect, a method is provided for screening a passenger at an inspection checkpoint. The method includes performing a preliminary screen of the passenger using a screening device, and detecting whether a medical device is present on or within the passenger based on a result of the preliminary screen. When the medical device is not present, a primary scan of the passenger is performed, and when the medical device is present, a secondary screen of the passenger is performed at a secondary screening station.
In another aspect, an inspection checkpoint includes a preliminary screening station having a screening device configured to detect a presence of a medical device on or within a passenger, a primary scanning system configured to perform a primary scan of the passenger when the medical device is not detected, and a secondary screening station configured to perform a secondary screening of the passenger when the medical device is detected.
In another aspect, a screening device includes a transmission coil that is configured to apply radio frequency (RF) energy into a region of interest of a passenger at a frequency that is associated with a normal human body temperature, and a reception coil that is configured to detect an energy perturbation in response to the RF energy representative of a medical device on or within the passenger.
The embodiments described herein may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Exemplary embodiments of methods, systems, and apparatus for use in screening passengers are described herein. The embodiments described herein facilitate identifying the presence of medical devices implanted within passengers, including implantable cardiac defibrillators, pacemakers, insulin pumps, electro-stimulation devices, and/or electrotherapy devices. Identifying such devices prior to screening a passenger using an imaging device facilitates reducing opportunities for the imaging device to adversely interact with such medical devices an possibly causing malfunctions, for example.
Passenger imaging system 110 is configured to detect whether contraband and/or an anomalous item is associated with a passenger. In the exemplary embodiment, passenger imaging system 110 may be a millimeter wave system, an X-ray backscatter system, and/or any other suitable security system. Further, in the exemplary embodiment, passenger imaging system 110 includes a portal (not shown) in which the passenger is positioned during imaging.
In the exemplary embodiment, inspection checkpoint 100 also includes a preliminary screening station 118 that facilitates screening passengers for medical devices, such as pacemakers and the like. In the exemplary embodiment, passengers are screened at preliminary screening station 118 using a handheld wand (not shown in
Moreover, handle 214 includes an input device 220 for receiving operator inputs. For example, an operator may adjust a frequency of pulses transmitted by detector 202 and/or an intensity of the pulses transmitted by detector 202. Alternatively, input device 220 may be used to activate and/or deactivate screening device 200. For example, an operator may deactivate screening device 200, via input device 220, during periods of inactivity. Further, detector 202 includes one or more indicators, which may be visual indicators, such as lights, or aural indicators, such as speakers. For example, a first indicator 222 may be selectively illuminated when a medical device is detected on or within a passenger. Similarly, a second indicator 224 may be selectively illuminated when no medical device is detected on or within the passenger.
In the exemplary embodiment, screening device 200 is coupled to a computer, such as control system 116. Accordingly, control system 116 transmits operational commands and/or receives screening data from screening device 200. Control system 116 and screening device 200 communicate via a cable 226. Cable 226 may also be used to provide power to screening device 200. In an alternative embodiment, screening device 200 is cordless and is powered by one or more batteries (not shown).
In the exemplary embodiment, detector 202 and, more particularly, transmission coil 302 and reception coil 304, is operated at or near a normal human body temperature, i.e., approximately 37.0° C. In some embodiments, however, detector 202 is operated within a range of the normal human body temperature, such as plus or minus approximately six degrees Celsius. Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment, detector 202 is operated at an operating frequency that is associated with the normal human body temperature. In some embodiments, however, detector 202 is operated within a range of operating frequencies that is associated with a range of temperatures that includes the normal human body temperature. For example, in some embodiments, the operating frequency of detector 202 is shifted by approximately 100 Hz per degree Celsius. Moreover, in some embodiments, the operating frequency of detector 202 is shifted inversely with respect to temperature. For example, the operating frequency of detector 202 decreases as the temperature increases. In one embodiment, the operating frequency of detector 202 is controlled by an operator at control system 116. Moreover, in some embodiments, detector 202 is capable of operating at multiple frequencies. For example, detector 202 may be operated initially in a safe mode, using a lower power, to detect a medical device, and may then be operated in a detection mode, using a higher power, to detect contraband.
In the exemplary embodiment, reception coil 304 detects any perturbation in energy in response to the pulses transmitted by transmission coil 302. For example, reception coil 304 detects an opposite magnetic field, such as a reflected pulse, that is emitted by a medical device within the region of interest in response to the pulse transmitted by transmission coil 302. Reception coil 304 generates a signal representative of, for example, an intensity of the reflected pulse and/or a time period during which the reflected pulse was detected, and transmits the signal to control system 116.
In the exemplary embodiment, control system 116 is coupled to screening device 200 via cable 226. Control system 116 receives the signal from reception coil 304 via cable 226 and analyzes the signal to determine whether a medical device is present on or within the passenger. Control system 116 includes a sampling circuit 306, such as a processor or a controller, which analyzes the signal. Sampling circuit 306 monitors a length of the time period that the reflected pulse is detected, and compares the length to an expected length of time of a reflected pulse that may be received from a passenger that does not have an implanted medical device. In one embodiment, sampling circuit 306 uses a preselected averaging time that is related to the higher frequency and/or the lower power used by transmission coil 302. Based on the analysis of the signal, control system 116 causes detector 202 to output a result using, for example, first indicator 222 and/or second indicator 224.
In the exemplary embodiment, passenger 402 enters 502 inspection checkpoint 100 via entrance 102 (shown in
If no medical device is detected 506, a primary scan of passenger 402 is performed 510 using passenger imaging system 110. More specifically, passenger imaging system 110 uses a modality to collect data related to passenger 402 and objects associated with passenger 402. Using the data collected by passenger imaging system 110, an operator, such as a TSA agent or a security officer, and/or control system 116 determine 512 if an alarm object is associated with passenger 402. As used herein, the term “alarm object” refers to an object that is suspicious and/or unclear from the collected data related to passenger 402. The suspicious object may include contraband. As described above, the term “contraband” refers generally to illegal substances, explosives, narcotics, weapons, a threat object, and/or any other material that a passenger is not allowed to possess in a restricted area, such as an airport. Alternatively, the primary scan may of passenger 402 may be performed 510 using detector 202 is capable of operating at multiple frequencies. For example, screening device 200 may be operated initially in a safe mode, using a lower power, to detect whether a medical device within or worn by passenger 402, and may then be operated in a detection mode, using a higher power, to determine 512 if an alarm object is associated with passenger 402.
When it is determined 512 that the alarm object is not associated with passenger 402, passenger 402 proceeds through inspection checkpoint 100 to composing area 112 (shown in
Exemplary embodiments of methods, systems, and apparatus for screening a passenger are described above in detail. The methods, systems, and apparatus are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein but, rather, operations of the methods and/or components of the system and/or apparatus may be utilized independently and separately from other operations and/or components described herein. Further, the described operations and/or components may also be defined in, or used in combination with, other systems, methods, and/or apparatus, and are not limited to practice with only the systems, methods, and storage media as described herein.
A computer or control system, such as those described herein, includes at least one processor or processing unit and a system memory. The computer typically includes at least some form of computer readable media. By way of example and not limitation, computer readable media include computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Communication media typically embody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and include any information delivery media. Those skilled in the art are familiar with the modulated data signal, which has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of computer readable media.
Although the present invention is described in connection with an exemplary passenger screening system environment, embodiments of the invention are operational with numerous other general purpose or special purpose passenger screening system environments or configurations. The passenger screening system environment is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of any aspect of the invention. Moreover, the passenger screening system environment should not be interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any one or combination of components illustrated in the exemplary operating environment. Examples of well known passenger screening systems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use with aspects of the invention include, but are not limited to, personal computers, server computers, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumer electronics, mobile telephones, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environments that include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.
Embodiments of the invention may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program components or modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. Aspects of the invention may be implemented with any number and organization of components or modules. For example, aspects of the invention are not limited to the specific computer-executable instructions or the specific components or modules illustrated in the figures and described herein. Alternative embodiments of the invention may include different computer-executable instructions or components having more or less functionality than illustrated and described herein.
The order of execution or performance of the operations in the embodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and embodiments of the invention may include additional or fewer operations than those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particular operation before, contemporaneously with, or after another operation is within the scope of aspects of the invention.
In some embodiments, the term “processor” refers generally to any programmable system including systems and microcontrollers, reduced instruction set circuits (RISC), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmable logic circuits, and any other circuit or processor capable of executing the functions described herein. The above examples are exemplary only, and thus are not intended to limit in any way the definition and/or meaning of the term processor.
When introducing elements of aspects of the invention or embodiments thereof, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 61/301,465 filed Feb. 4, 2010 and U.S. Patent Application No. 61/322,081 filed on Apr. 8, 2010, which are both hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61301465 | Feb 2010 | US | |
61322081 | Apr 2010 | US |