PASS (Product Acoustic Signature System) | Spearhead Innovations

General Description
PASS uses acoustic inspection technology to rapidly, reliably, and safely interrogate sealed, liquid-filled containers and bulk solid commodities to:

Detect submerged contraband or hidden compartments
Classify/Identify material contents (by name if in database)
Expose containers/commodities that have been fraudulently labeled
Flag containers with contents different from surrounding containers
Determine container fill levels

Handheld and battery-operated, PASS is designed for fast and easy use on sealed containers of various sizes, including large jugs, propane tanks, 55-gallon drums, tanker trucks, and railroad cars. Since the device makes its determinations without opening containers, its handlers and the public are protected from potentially disastrous exposure to lethal or otherwise hazardous materials and vapors.

Technical Description
PASS measures the speed of sound through an unknown material at a known distance and temperature. This acoustic velocity is compared with values in a database to identify or classify material. When a signal does not reach a known distance, contraband or a hidden compartment is indicated.

Evaluation Criteria

THROUGHPUT:

2 minutes or less for detection
Continuous operation with no defined runs
Greater than 750 samples every 2 hours
The system or device is currently fully automated
Device or system is intended for multiple detection assays
0-1 solutions, buffer, eluents, and/or reagents
0 components
No set-up of the system is required
1-2 steps are required for detection

LOGISTICS:

Very brief (minutes-hours) training and minimal technical skills
Approximately the size of a toaster
Less than 1 kg
Satellite, wireless and wired connections are available
System or device uses batteries
4-8 hours battery life

OPERATIONS:

Can be used from 4°C to 41°C
Performance is not influenced by relative humidity
Greater than 3 years shelf life
5-10 years expected life
Results can be viewed in real-time
The system is not capable of autonomy
The system software is open and available for modification
The system hardware is open and available for modification

DETECTION:

Less than 10 µL
Excellent specificity. System has occasional false alarms under certain conditions (<2%)
System currently can identify liquid chemical agent

Tier Selection