The world’s first handheld X-ray gun that can search through metals, rubber, and other objects to find drugs, bombs, or even people is now on the market.
Massachusetts-based American Science and Engineering Inc. introduced the MINI Z Backscatter imaging scanner last week.
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In a news release, the company said the potential for operational flexibility because of the compact size was unsurpassed.
"Leveraging the breakthrough capabilities of our Z Backscatter detection technology, the MINI Z system is AS&E's initial offering of what will be a family of portable backscatter products," Chuck Dougherty, AS&E's president and CEO,
said in the release. "The MINI Z system is a game-changer for law enforcement and border security officials who are constantly challenged to quickly and accurately detect potential threats in hard-to-reach environments as they work to ensure the highest level of public safety."
The company said it miniaturized the technology in its Z Backscatter Van system.
A blogger at
Defense One saw the X-ray gun in use. “At a recent demonstration, the device could see through boxes, bags, car seats and airplane wings to reveal various organic compounds — everything from bricks of simulated cocaine to paper, ammonia and other potentially explosive materials. Even a handful of grapes,” Patrick Tucker wrote.
“Backscatter X-rays are less powerful and don’t actually penetrate deep into organic tissue. Instead, the photons of the beam hit the surface of organic material and scatter and ricochet, which is detected by a sensor,” Tucker wrote. “The MINI Z can shoot these rays continuously, as opposed to taking a single burst picture like a Polaroid One Shot.”
“The ability to continually generate that X-ray beam is a big factor and a big change,” Joe Reiss, vice president at AS&E, told Defense One.
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