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Quantum Magnetics Introduces New Imaging Weapons Detection System for Civil
Aviation Security
Applications
Business Editors/Technology Writers
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 2, 2001--
i-Portal(TM) Increases Speed of Secondary Screening
of Passengers by up to 50 percent
Quantum Magnetics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of InVision Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:INVN), announces the introduction of the i-Portal(TM) 100 weapons detection system, a new technology for weapons detection at the nation's airports.
Tests recently conducted by the National Safe Skies Alliance of Knoxville, TN indicate the i-Portal(TM) 100 system shows "promise" as
a second level, zonal detection system capable of locating possible
threats such as a gun or knife on the body with unprecedented
specificity. (The National Safe Skies Alliance is a federally funded
non-profit corporation engaged in aviation security equipment testing
for the Federal Aviation Administration.) The unit has been placed on
the FAA's approved list of concealed weapons detectors.
Quantum Magnetics' President and Chief Executive Officer, Lowell
Burnett, Ph.D., explained when making this announcement, "Ironically,
the testing of the i-Portal(TM) 100 system was interrupted by the
airport closures following the September 11 terrorist attacks. When we
resume testing, we will further study the system's ability to detect
various types of weapons. The testing to date established that the
system can present the checkpoint supervisor with a precise location
of a potential gun or knife on the body."
Mr. Tom Jensen, president of the National Safe Skies Alliance
(NSSA), said, "As an independent testing organization, Safe Skies does
not endorse products; however, our test data indicate that this
technology appears to be a major new development in the secondary
screening of passengers who have been rejected by a primary metal
detector. It might also be valuable as a pre-screening system because
the image can help passengers divest objects before entering the
security screening areas. I anticipate that further testing will be
done by NSSA in the near future to expand the database of these
results. These tests are performed for Quantum Magnetics and not for
the FAA."
The threats such as guns or knives detected by the i-Portal(TM)
100 system are displayed as a colored dot superimposed on a digital
image of each traveler, which is captured by the screening system as
the passenger is being scanned. These more precise threat locations
are displayed for the screener and the screener's supervisor, thus
allowing for effective yet rapid passenger inspection. Clearance time,
at the second level of screening, is reduced as much as 50%. The
system maintains an image and alarm archive for review at a later time
if desired. Product information is available from Quantum's web site:
qm.com.
InVision Technologies, Quantum Magnetics' parent company
headquartered in Newark, CA, is an established world leader in
supplying explosives detection systems for aviation security
domestically and abroad. InVision's President and Chief Executive
Officer, Sergio Magistri, Ph.D., said, "There are many passengers who
require secondary screening as a result of alarms initiated by a
primary metal detection system. The i-Portal(TM) 100 system's ability
to accurately and speedily resolve these alarms, while screening out
many sources of false alarms, could dramatically improve the
effectiveness and speed of this awkward and logistically difficult
part of the screening process at high-volume aviation checkpoints."
The i-Portal(TM) 100 system uses SecureScan 2000(TM) software,
developed by the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental
Laboratory (INEEL) with National Institute of Justice funding. Quantum
developed the sensors for INEEL. Milestone Technology, Inc. (an Idaho
company) obtained the worldwide exclusive licensing rights from INEEL
and granted a sublicense to Quantum Magnetics for transportation
applications as part of a wider cooperative effort between the two
companies. A similar product designed for entry-point screening for
buildings is sold by Milestone Technology, Inc., and is currently
being used at courthouses in Idaho.
InVision Technologies develops, manufactures, markets and supports
explosive detection systems based on advanced Computed Tomography (CT)
technology for civil aviation security. Today, over 250 FAA-certified
CTX systems have been shipped worldwide to provide the traveling
public with the best security against terrorism available. The company
also develops, manufactures, markets and supports CT-based systems for
other applications, including wood scanning and drug detection.
InVision's wholly owned subsidiary, Quantum Magnetics, develops and
commercializes patented and proprietary technologies. These include,
but are not limited to, Quadrupole Resonance (QR) patents licensed
from the Naval Research Laboratory, that are based on state-of-the
art, low-cost versions of magnetic resonance adapted for explosive
detection. InVision's wholly owned subsidiary, Inovec, develops,
manufactures, markets and supports scanning, optimization and control
systems for the forest products industry. Today, over 600 systems have
been installed in mills worldwide to produce more lumber from each log
and to control product quality. Additional information about InVision
can be obtained on the company's web site at
invision-tech.com. |
