SubscribeThe rapid identification of explosives and potentially hazardous materials including toxic industrial chemicals (TICs), toxic industrial materials (TIMs), drugs and narcotics is becoming increasing critical to military and civilian first responders.
Recent breakthroughs in miniature optics and chemometric algorithms coupled with increasing palm-top computing power have enabled a new class of rugged handheld instruments based on well-proven Raman spectroscopy.
Raman spectroscopy has been validated as a useful tool for rapid identification of chemicals, explosives, and narcotics [Eckenrode, 2004] [Harvey, 2002] [Moore, 2004]. It identifies molecules by measuring the characteristic wavelength-shift in laser light scattered from those molecules. The scattered light is specific to each molecular type and thus serves as a unique fingerprint or signature.
The signatures are matched to a library of thousands of chemicals for definitive identification. As a laser scattering technique, Raman spectroscopy allows "line-of-sight" interrogation of samples through clear packaging or containers. Various toxic chemicals, chemical weapons, narcotics, and other unidentified potentially hazardous substances can be analyzed in glass vials, or plastic bags; greatly reducing the possibility of evidence corruption, cross contamination, or risk to neighboring response personnel.
Military and civilian first responders around the globe are embracing handheld Raman instruments because of:
- Accuracy of results
- Speed of measurement
- Hand held / light weight / battery powered
- No sample preparation - Non-contact, even through plastic and glass
- Huge library
- Mixture analysis
 Light weight and easy to deploy, Photo: US DoD |  Instant, non-contact results |
Ahura's FirstDefender was developed for the rapid identification of chemical substances such as explosives, chemical weapons, narcotics, or toxic industrial chemicals for military and civilian first responders. We were driven the customer need for ruggedness, portability, instantaneous results, easy to use, non-destructive/non-contact and most of all high accuracy. FirstDefender is truly unique in its ability to deliver on all these criteria
The Ahura system is an ergonomic handheld system that weighs <4 lbs which can definitively identify unknown (solid, liquid, powder) samples in tens of seconds in a nondestructive manner. This system meets a subset of MIL-STD-810F ruggedness standards and incorporates an ever-expanding onboard library of >4000 spectra. The FirstDefender product uses commercial lithium ion batteries to power the system for >5 hours. Following analysis, the FirstDefender allows the user to easily store, archive, and download results in an industry-standard binary SPC format.
On-board mixture analysis
Ahura rely on advances in ultra compact "Optical Engines". These are tiny lasers and thin-film filter which are integrated using state-of-the-art micro-fabrication. This technology allows for the integration of dozens of micro optical elements into a single compact (1 inch square) hermetically sealed package. Each optical engine is produced in a controlled clean-room environment and each process is designed to be robust and reliable with mean times to failure beyond 10,000 hrs (for active devices). Each of our optical engines passes strict thermal shock, mechanical shock, mechanical vibration, and hermiticity standards.
The First Defender has been embraced by military and civilian first responders as well as government agencies around the globe for the immediate and conclusive identification of chemicals warfare agents, toxic industry chemicals (TICs), toxic industry materials (TIMs), explosives, narcotics, and white powders.
The First Defender has DecisionEngine 2 software with a vast onboard library of spectroscopic signatures of molecules. This makes it possible to also identify mixtures of chemicals even when the materials are diluted or mixed with benign substances. Up to six components of a mixture can be effectively identified. The onboard library has the stored Raman spectrums of more than 4000 chemicals and includes military and industrial explosives.
Chemical precursors used to fabricate explosives such as hydrogen peroxide, ammonium nitrate, fuel oil, acetone, and sulfuric acid can also be identified. Spectral libraries can be added in minutes by the user for additional compounds of interest. The system is also able to analyze samples through various transparent and translucent glass and plastic containers and to identify materials mixed with other contaminants.
Effective through glass and plastic packaging
Until today, people had to use table top lab instruments to make an equivalent measurement. Usually it involved collecting the sample, sealing it in bags, and sending it out for analysis. Other instruments require spectral subtraction routines and interpretation by a chemist to yield an equivalent result.
The FirstDefender proves very useful in the identification of chemical weapons, hazardous materials, narcotics and forensics and pharmaceutical and industrial applications.
Ahura Corp.'s customers include the US military, state and local governments and several agencies under the Department of Homeland Security. The company has more than 40 patents and is working on several military and civilian grants to develop new products.
Contact Details:
Eric Schmidt, Vice President - Business Development, Ahura Corporation, 46 Jonspin Road, Wilmington, MA 01887 USA Phone: +1 978 642 1120 E-mail: eschmidt@ahuracorp.com URL: www.ahuracorp.com
