Wearable Chemical Detector for Aerosolized Threats

Traditional Chemical Warfare, Pharmaceutical Based and Non-Traditional Agents (CWAs, PBAs and NTAs) are substances that have high melting points and low volatilities which are delivered as a solid or liquid aerosols to the intended target. A person-wearable detector system that can adequately collect and prepare aerosol samples for detection based on proven vapor phase chemical sensors is therefore advantageous. This approach offers DHS a rapid low-cost solution to a critical field operational capability gap. Furthermore, this aerosol collection and sensing system must be light weight and small enough to be practically integrated into a wearable. To reliably deliver aerosols to vapor phase detectors, Design West Technologies, Inc. (DWT) proposes developing a collecting and processing module for use in conjunction with a proven carbon nanotube (CNT) sensor array in a wearable sensor badge. This approach utilizes a fan blower to collect aerosols, and a small heated mesh to improve vaporization of aerosols for uniform presentation to a proven sensor array. During Phase I, DWT will design and develop the aforementioned aerosol collector and evaporator, verify its functionality with a breadboard prototype, and use these results to develop this technology into a person-worn aerosol detector. Integrating a miniaturized CNT sensor array will lead to a low cost, compact and lightweight wearable detector that will detect and classify agents of interest. This advancement of wearable sensor technology for aerosol agents is well aligned with the critical missions of various operational components of the DHS, DoD and the broader first responder communities.