TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY Modular Forensic Evidence Collection System

TECHNOLOGY LICENSING OPPORTUNITY

Modular Forensic Evidence Collection System

A new tool to assist in collecting trace forensic criminal evidence that can be attached to any commercial vacuum system.

Opportunity:   Idaho National Laboratory (INL), managed and operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC (BEA), offers the opportunity to explore a license and/or collaborative research agreement to commercialize this modular forensic evidence collection system. This technology transfer opportunity is part of a dedicated effort to convert government-funded research into job opportunities, businesses, and, ultimately, an improved way of life for the American people.

Overview:        This technology was initially developed for collecting nuclear forensics evidence. Before creating this technology, the INL researchers tried using other commercially available collection systems for criminal forensics collection but found the performance lacking. Existing collection systems were prone to leaking particulate around air filters and could not deal well with wet collections. They were challenging to disassemble without compromising the evidence and spreading loose particulate or other materials captured in the collection cup.  

Description:    INL’s evidence collection system uses cyclonic airflow to provide a high flow rate through a collection jar while retaining both large and fine particulates, ensuring complete capture of all materials in a clear evidence collection jar. This feature eliminates the need to remove items from the vacuum system by hand and transfer them to an evidence container, as was needed with today’s comparable system. The device firmly holds the internal filter during use, a common problem with commercially available collection systems. Attachments in these systems can quickly become loose and decoupled, allowing air to flow behind the filters. INL’s concept allows for multiple filters with progressively smaller pore sizes to be stacked one behind the other to collect and segregate different-sized particulates simultaneously and separately.  

Benefits:         

• Simultaneous collection of multiple-size coarse material.
• Robust filter mounting to prevent side flow.
• Direct use of sample collection jars to avoid sample transfers and the chance of losing materials.
• We optimized material movement across filter membranes to distribute particle loading and reduce chances for damage and clogging.
• Use of back-flow flaps to reduce material loss during handling.
• Ability to collect and handle wet evidence.
• Modular construction permits attachment to different vacuum systems, wands/brushes, filters, sizes, and collection jars.

Applications:  

• Forensic sample collection
  • Law enforcement
  • Vacuum system manufacturers

Development Status:  TRL 7. The system prototype has been demonstrated in an operational environment.  

IP Status:         Provisional Patent Application No. 17/659,935, “Modular Particle Collection System and Related Methods,” BEA Docket No. BA-959.

INL seeks to license the above intellectual property to a company with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Exclusive rights in defined fields of use may be available. Added value is placed on relationships with small businesses, start-up companies, and general entrepreneurship opportunities.

Please visit Technology Deployment’s website at https://inl.gov/inl-initiatives/technology-deployment for more information on working with INL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Companies interested in learning more about this licensing opportunity should contact Andrew Rankin at td@inl.gov.