Abstract:
This apparatus and method allows collection concentrated sample of content in shipping packages without unsealing the package by forcing airflow via existing hidden gaps ( 101 ) or, if necessary, creating one by a small incision. The air is injected into the hidden gaps by either probe ( 114 ) or socket device ( 138 ) to disturb and agitate contents inside the package, causing the contents to loosen and blend particulates on the surface into the air stream. Airborne particles ( 135 ) are channeled into detection device ( 134 ), where the particulates are concentrated. Display and warning apparatus ( 137 ) receives and records the analysis results from detection device ( 134 ). If the analysis finds that predetermined selection and sensitivity criteria for target hazard or contraband is met, then the warning apparatus initiates appropriate alert protocols.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/281,680 entitled “Package Biochemical Hazard and Contraband Detector” filed on Oct. 28, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/344,635 entitled “Biological and Chemical Hazard (BACH) Package Tester” filed on Oct. 26, 2001 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The following relates to apparatus and method to detect hazardous or illegal contraband hidden within shipping, delivery, mail, or postal packages for analysis and defense without fully unsealing the packages by probing the interior with airflow and collecting concentrated sample particles.  
         [0003]     According to US Department of Justice guide (NIJ Guide 101-00), most of the well known biological weapon agents such as, anthrax, Brucellosis, Tularemia, Cholera, Glanders, Melioidosis, Plague, Marburg Virus, Smallpox Virus, Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis, Ebola Virus, Q Fever, Botulinum Toxin, Staphylococcal enterotoxin B, Tricothecene mycotoxins, and Ricin could take aerosol form. The agency further states, “The primary infection route from exposure to biological agents is through inhalation.” 
         [0004]     During the year 2001, envelopes containing anthrax spores were sent via US Postal Service. The cutaneous form of anthrax spores caused havoc as it infected people who came in direct contact with the hazardous powder; however, the inhalation form of anthrax spores caused even greater fear and devastation, as the fine airborne spores randomly contaminated nearby packages and killed indiscriminately and capriciously. Moreover, the inhalation form was much deadlier than the cutaneous form, as many died even with antibiotic treatments. Soon afterward, the fear of other biological agents and the envelopes containing non-toxic materials preyed on the fear. Although no one suffered illness or death, these “hoax-envelopes” flood was nearly as effective in terrorizing the public and consuming valuable resources as the real biological attacks, as every incident had to be treated like the real thing.  
         [0005]     In response, the US Government irradiated mail packages bound for various government agencies and certain targeted private sectors. Even after a three billion dollars budget and nearly a year since the incident, the majority the mail packages to the general public have yet to be irradiated or otherwise protected. Some of the reasons are listed below:  
         [0006]     The irradiation is an expensive process, takes long time to implement, and it alone cannot pinpoint the contaminated or hoax mail.  
         [0007]     The possibility of infection among those unfortunate postal workers prior to irradiation at a central processing unit can be tragic.  
         [0008]     The irradiated mail may cause health problems for the recipients. Many congressional workers had complained of headache, nose bleeding, diarrhea, and other ailments.  
         [0009]     Many members of the public oppose and fear the irradiation process.  
         [0010]     The irradiated mail must be stored for several days to lower the level of radiation, which delays delivery and incur storage cost.  
         [0011]     No clear procedure exists to avoid irradiating products that can be damaged, destroyed, or even made harmful if they were exposed to massive doses of radiation, such as electronic devices, film, glass and food items.  
         [0012]     Exposing metal to ionizing radiation can induce radioactivity if enough of it collects on the surfaces. And there&#39;s a lot of metal in the mail in the form of binders, paperclips, and pens, not to mention all of the consumer products containing metal that are routinely shipped via the U.S. Postal Service.  
         [0013]     The irradiation needs nuclear materials to keep it operating. Transporting radioactive material, worker safety, and environmental contamination from the kinds of leaks, spills, and mishaps can lead to disasters.  
         [0014]     The terrorist may attack the irradiation facility, transport, or storage to obtain the irradiated material to create a “dirty bomb.” 
         [0015]     The effectiveness of the process may be exaggerated. A New Jersey official described some of the challenges in a memo. “After much discussion about the penetration of the electron beam,” she wrote, “it was determined that the package would have to be turned over and run through irradiator a second time. The problem is that the spores in the envelopes would presumably fall to the bottom by gravity, thus avoiding the beam for both passes.” 
         [0016]     Another patent pending idea by Gary Mize called “Bio-safe Mailbox” uses time released toxins like chlorine dioxide or methyl bromide in a mailbox prior to pick up. This idea also suffers many problems associated with irradiation. The toxins that are used to destroy the biological agents are dangerous chemicals themselves, probably only effective against the limited few biological agents, and ineffective against chemical toxic agents.  
         [0017]     Moreover, reconfiguring every mailbox to release and recycle these chemicals could be not only very expensive but also potentially harmful, as toxins may be released to environment. Not to mention that these processes can be thwarted easily, using lead foils to block the irradiation and airtight package can stop the decontaminants.  
         [0018]     The danger to the public using delivery service, however, is not new. Long before the biochemical terrorism, illegal contrabands such as bombs, poisons, illegal drugs, etc. . . . have been sent using US Postal mail.  
         [0019]     Available technologies like Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS), vapor detection, gas chromatograph, reactive chemicals, etc. have had only limited use for detecting hazards and contraband inside delivery packages, because collecting concentrated content samples from a sealed container proved to be difficult.  
         [0020]     X-ray and swab collection method, often used in airports, would be ineffective, too costly, and time consuming to use for delivery services due to high volumes. Tens of millions letters and packages that uses delivery services per day cannot be individually viewed and swabbed.  
         [0021]     A better sample collection and concentration apparatus and method must be utilized, if advanced analytic technologies are to be implemented.  
       OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES  
       [0022]     Whether it is real or hoax, the best defense against bio-terrorists or other criminal activities, is catching and prosecuting the perpetrator. To catch the offenders, law enforcement must be able to identify the crime quickly and secure the evidence without destroying or altering it. As selection, detection, and identification technology improve, such as nucleic acid amplification or antibody binding method, obtaining enough concentrated sample, quickly cueing the existence of the possible target agents inside the package, and preserving the evidence become critical.  
         [0023]     The idea described here is inexpensive and an effective apparatus and method to collect concentrated possible biochemical hazard and other illegal contrabands samples in packages for analysis.  
         [0024]     Given that the envelope has been the choice of a delivery vehicle by the terrorists and many other illegal activities, I will use the envelope as an example but other shipping packages can also utilize similar apparatus and method.  
         [0025]     By taking advantage of:  
         [0026]     Most shipping or mail packages are semi-sealed and have gaps or openings where packaging material edges meet. This is to prevent air from being trapped inside the package and turning it into a balloon, because a ballooned envelope takes up excess space and causes problems when transporting.  
         [0027]     Shipping or mailing packages usually do not contain particles that resemble the size and weight of biological pathogens or chemical toxins. And bombs and illegal drugs exhibit specific particle characteristic signatures.  
         [0028]     The possible harmful particles in the package are of such size and weight that they should become airborne and mobile by introducing air or gas flow via above gap.  
         [0029]     The process results in the following objects and advantages:  
         [0030]     To provide a cheap and effective apparatus to thwart biochemical terrorism, rather than using expensive and dangerous ultraviolet sterilization method, slow x-ray process, or expensive new mailboxes without unsealing the package.  
         [0031]     To provide safe and easy operation, as the process does not require dangerous radiation or chemicals.  
         [0032]     To provide a method to help quickly apprehend criminals and reduce exposure, because the method could detect the presence of foreign particles early and stop it from going to the addressee or another transfer agent.  
         [0033]     To provide defense against hoax biological terror attacks, unlike prior-arts.  
         [0034]     To provide better and concentrated sample collection.  
         [0035]     To provide additional testing for many illegal contrabands like illegal drugs and bombs.  
         [0036]     Further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the drawing and ensuing description.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0037]     In accordance with the present invention, a simple, safe, and effective concentrated sample collection and cueing apparatus and method against biochemical hazard and illegal contrabands without fully unsealing shipping, delivery, mail, or postal packages. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0038]     In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.  
         [0039]      FIG. 1  shows a standard sealed US envelope with a small gap or opening highlighted.  
         [0040]      FIG. 2  shows a sealed express mail package also with a gap highlighted.  
         [0041]      FIG. 3  shows an airtight container with the above envelope inserted with clamps, sensors, and probe control box.  
         [0042]      FIG. 4  shows the right frontal right half view of the inserted and clamped secure envelope from  FIG. 3 .  
         [0043]      FIG. 4A  shows a perspective view of  FIG. 4  to illustrate the probe and control box in more detail.  
         [0044]      FIG. 5  shows variants of probe shapes.  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  shows the airtight box in  FIG. 3  when being rotated upside down  
         [0046]      FIG. 7  shows the envelope being infiltrated by a pair of scissors or a syringe (optional feature).  
         [0047]      FIG. 8  shows the airtight box in  FIG. 3  attached to a detection device and then to a warning system.  
         [0048]      FIG. 8A  shows a side view of the airtight box with an inflated envelope in the middle sandwiched against the side compressor clamp with sensors.  
         [0049]      FIG. 9  shows a frontal view with a socket lip device variant to the probe used in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0050]      FIG. 9A  is side view of  FIG. 9 .  
         [0051]      FIG. 10  shows the above socket/lips like device in detail. 
     
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS IN DRAWINGS  
       [0000]    
       
         
           
               101 . Hidden gap or opening in mailing package  
               102 . Envelope  
               103 . Envelope adhesive area  
               105 . Express Mail shipping package  
               106 . Envelope Flap  
               107 . Possible biochemical hazard material (inside the envelope)  
               108 . Side compressor clamp pairs connected to sensors for checking inflation of the envelope  
               109 . Airtight container or box in this embodiment  
               110 . Airtight box door  
               111 . Conveyer system (to deliver the envelope to the box)  
               112 . Mechanical clamp pairs (to hold the envelope in place)  
               114 . Mechanical probe  
               114 A. Strait probe  
               114 B. Narrow probe  
               114 C. Bent Probe  
               114 D. Slanted Probe  
               114 E. Hollow channel running down the middle on the probe  
               115 . Probe control box  
               116 . Probe movements from rest to under the envelope flap  
               117 . Side clamp movements (coming together to squeeze the envelope)  
               118 . Tube to pump air or gas into the envelope  
               119 . Tube for vacuum out the air or gas  
               122 . Inflation or ballooning of envelope sidewalls by air  
               123 . A rod guide for the probe control box movement  
               124 . Lowering motion of the control box along the rod guide  
               125 . Axis to turn the box  
               126 . The airtight box rotating around the axis  
               130 . Mechanical scissor (cutting motion)  
               131 . Syringe like device (punching a hole)  
               133 . Forced movement of air or gas  
               134 . Detection or Analytic device (for concentration and analysis of particulates)  
               135 . Possible biochemical hazard material airborne  
               137 . Display and warning apparatus  
               138 . Socket lips device  
               139 . Airflow into the envelope socket device above  
               139 A. Residual airflow  
               140 . Hole connected tube to force air into envelope via the socket device  
               141 . Hole in the box with vacuum tube to collect sample particles  
               142 . Airflow measurement device  
               143 . Backward pressure on the clamp  
           
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0000]     Description—FIGS.  1 ,  2 —The Gap  
         [0092]     As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the vast majority of envelopes or packages used in the US have small gaps or openings on the top corners where edges come together that can be probed without unsealing the subject. Opening  101  still exists even when flap  106  on envelope  102  or package  105  is closed and sealed.  
         [0093]     In  FIG. 2 , an adhesive area  103  does not extend all the way out to the corner edge of the envelope. This creates the gap above, which exists to vent air in and out when being handled. Without it, the envelope will not flatten as trapped air creates ballooning, which will then cause problems as it travels through the processing plants.  
         [0094]     The small opening is well concealed and covered by the flap. This cover usually keeps possible hazardous and contraband particles  107  trapped inside the envelope.  
         [0095]     FIGS.  5 ,  10 —Alternative Embodiments of Probe  
         [0096]      FIG. 5  is a closer look at variants of a probe. The probe shape can be varied like a straight tip  114 A, a narrowed tip  114 B, a bent tip  114 C, or a slanted tip  114 D; however, regardless of the exact shape or material, the probe is thin, dull, pointed, and hollow device that can easily be slipped in the gap. Materials of the probe can be metal, ceramic, plastic, etc. . . .  
         [0097]     The outer shape of the probe may resemble the end of a letter opener knife, but a hollowed middle channel  114 E extends from the tip to the end, which enables the air or gas movement back and forth from control box  115 .  
         [0098]      FIG. 10  shows a socket or lips device  138  in detail. It&#39;s called a socket or lips device because the device&#39;s two front walls sandwich an envelope corner with opening  101  in the middle like a socket or lips would hold on to an item by grasping two opposite walls on the target item.  
         [0000]     Operations— FIGS. 3, 4 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  8 A,  9 ,  9 A  
         [0099]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , envelope  102  travels by conveyer belt mechanism  111  or gloved human hands to an airtight container  109 , which is a box in this embodiment.  
         [0100]     Once inside the airtight box, secure envelope  102  by holding clamps  112  on an outer edge of the envelope sides. In this embodiment, top and bottom clamps are utilized. Lock it in the box by closing airtight door  110 .  
         [0101]     Once envelope  102  has been secured by the operations  1  and  2  above, move side compressor clamps  108  with optical or pressure sensors (not shown) close against the side walls of the envelope. So, when the envelope inflates in operations below, the ballooning envelope sidewalls push back the side clamps by operations below.  FIG. 3  also illustrates the probe attached to control box  115  at rest prior to exploring the gap.  
         [0102]     By using optical or mechanical sensors, mechanically slide small probe  114  under the envelope flap by following arrow movements  116 . This operation is detailed below.  
         [0103]      FIG. 4  shows the exposed front right half of the airtight box from  FIG. 3  in detail with some items inside mechanical control and sensor box  115  with attached the probe. The control box contains mechanical devices with sensors (not shown) to guide probe  114  underneath envelope flap  106 . The exact mechanical and sensor devices to guide the probe into the gap are not part of the invention. The control box contains two air hoses inside. First hose  118  injects the air or gas to the probe tip and inflates  122  the envelope during the insertion process show in movement  116 . Second hose  119  will be then used later for collecting a sample by vacuuming the air and particles inside the envelope after ballooning, as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 8 A.  
         [0104]      FIG. 4A  shows a detailed perspective view of  FIG. 4  with one embodiment of the probe and the to control box movement. The probe is attached control box  115 , which is attached to guiding rod  123 . Lower and rest the control box apparatus along guide rod  123  on top of the envelope and insert it under the flap by mechanically traveling up along the side of the envelope. As the probe slides up and approaches near the flap, the probe expels a constant air stream from its tip, to push the envelope wall and the flap further apart to enlarge the gap.  
         [0105]      FIG. 6  shows an optional embodiment of the airtight box in  FIG. 3  upside down to show possible rotation of the whole box apparatus in  FIG. 3 . Mechanically rotate  126  the whole airtight box over on axis  125  by turning on a motor (not shown) attached to the axis. As the box turns, gravity and centrifugal force will help to loosen the particles. Additionally, other motions like shaking or vibrating could achieve similar results. Perform this step on the probed and ballooned envelope.  
         [0106]     If the envelope fails to balloon by flowing air from the probe tip, cut a small opening with a pair of scissors  130  or poke a hole with a syringe  131  to create an opening that can be used to introduce air or gas inside the envelope, as seen in  FIG. 7 . If neither cutting nor poking is desirable, then the envelope can be treated via another method like proposed Ultra Violet Ray sterilization, which is not part of the invention.  
         [0107]     As in  FIG. 8A , determine if the gas has successfully penetrated the interior of the envelope and expanded envelope sidewalls  112  by checking the pressure exerted against the side clamp  108 . Afterward, force the envelope to deflate to induce the air/gas out of the envelope carrying the possible hazardous material by squeezing envelope-walls together  117  on both sides with the side clamps.  
         [0108]     Looking back to  FIG. 8 , collect the airborne biochemical hazard particle sample  135  via probe channel  114 E using vacuum hose  119  and hole  141  in the box. Send the sample to detection device  134 , which can be a laser analyzer, a photometer, an optical particle counter (OPC), a condensation particle counter (CPC), an optoelectronic sensor, or other particle/optical/biological/chemical analysis method. The analytic devices are not part of the invention.  
         [0109]     Afterward, display unit  137  shows analyzed and stored results. The unit can be a combination of computer or electronic devices. The exact technical specification of the unit is not part of the invention. If certain selection and sensitivity criteria is reached in any one or more of criteria, like particle count, particle mass, particle density, particle concentration, chemical reaction, generic response, etc. . . . then an alarm alerts the operator by sound, flashing screen, e-mail, and/or other communication methods.  
         [0110]     In an alternative embodiment as shown in  FIG. 9 , instead of using the probe, a socket or lips device  138  could gently fit against the envelope corner. Blow the air or gas  139  into the envelope via the socket device&#39;s hollow channel  140 . As in the above procedures, check the inflation as in  FIG. 9A  and then deflate the envelope by the side clamps as in  FIG. 8A .  
         [0111]     As the side clamps compress against the envelope, use vacuum tube opening  141  attached to the wall of the airtight box and collect the airborne particles sample. Once collected, implement the same hazard detection and alert method, described above in operation  10  and  11 .  
         [0112]     Another way to check for successful the airflow injection is illustrated in  FIG. 9 ; airflow meter  142  measures the flow of residual airflow  139 A. The residual flow rate and amount should diminish when some airflow penetrate inside the envelope. Also, the injected airflow should cause backward pressure  143  on the top and bottom clamps.  
         [0113]     Possible Additional Feature  
         [0114]     The particle sample can be collected into a sealed container by this device for further testing. Or, the whole airtight box may be removed and sent into the lab for further testing.  
         [0115]     Problems could arise from probing underneath the envelope. This may be against the law for the US post office; however, addressee should not have a problem. Addressee can even open the envelope fully by incision and fully test the contents. So, a pair of scissors or a cutting device could be used to either partially or fully create an incision to affect the particle test.  
         [0116]     Alternatively, to avoid probing underneath the flap, the air can be simply pumped out utilizing a hole with a vacuum hose attached  141  on the wall of the box by squeezing the existing air pockets already in the envelope with the side clamp without inflating it. Alternatively, the envelope sidewalls could be pulled apart to let the air in through the gap by grasping on the envelope sidewalls using vacuum suction or light adhesive on the side compressor clamp  108  on the envelope side walls. This action creates air inflow to the envelope, just as air is drawn into an accordion by pulling its side apart.  
         [0117]     Forced gas  133  into the envelope interior can be a toxin to kill any hazardous particles that might be inside the envelope.  
         [0000]     Advantage  
         [0118]     From the description above, a number of advantages of my biochemical tester and method become evident:  
         [0119]     Operation is quick and simple.  
         [0120]     By checking the package inflation or flow rate of the air, operation can be assured of success.  
         [0121]     To provide the capability to vent contagions from the package or used to deliver toxins to kill the contaminant particles without unsealing the package.  
       CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE  
       [0122]     Accordingly, the reader will see that the biochemical tester and accompanying method of this invention can detect the presence of possible hazardous materials and illegal contraband in a shipping container simply, easily, safely, and assuredly.  
         [0123]     Furthermore, the testing apparatus and method has the additional advantages in that it provides quick alert against both real or false hazardous particles; it provides effective detection not only against biological, but chemical contrabands, such as poison, bombs, and illegal drugs; it allows preservation of the evidence for prosecution; it provides a verification method of successful operation via inflation of the package or measured airflow change; it allows testing of the vast majority of shipment or mail packages, including most envelopes, express mail packages, envelopes with forwarding address hole opening, many box packaging, etc . . . ; it provides an adaptable platform to launch future improved analytic devices and approaches; it allows safe operation in detection only mode by using only air in a preferred embodiment rather than using toxins or irradiation; it allows a much more effective and assured way to kill certain biological hazards via the verification process described above, if a toxin is used rather than just air and; its allows testing of packages in it original semi-sealed state.  
         [0124]     Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention.  
         [0125]     For example, rather than checking for inflation of a package, which may have stiff and rigid walls, the slower flow rate and volume of air or pressure exerted on holding clamps can be used to check for infiltration of gas inside a package.  
         [0126]     Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the example given.