Businessweek

Implant Sciences Corporation develops, manufactures, and sells sensors and systems for the security, safety, and defense industries. The company has developed proprietary technologies used in explosives and narcotics trace detection (ETD and NTD, respectively) applications, and markets and sells handheld ETD, and benchtop ETD and NTD systems that use its proprietary technologies. Its products are marketed and sold to various locations in the United States and internationally. These systems are used by private companies and government agencies to screen baggage, cargo, other objects, and people for the detection of trace amounts of explosives and narcotics. Products The company has developed various explosives detection systems designed for use in aviation and transportation security, high threat facilities and infrastructure, military installations, customs and protection, and mail and cargo screening. The systems use its proprietary Quantum Sniffer technologies, including a photon-based, non-radioactive ion source in combination with ion mobility spectrometry (IMS), a classic detection tool sensitive to the speeds with which ions of various substances move through the air to electronically detect minute quantities of explosives vapor and particles. Quantum Sniffer QS-H150 Portable Explosives Detector The Quantum Sniffer QS-H150 Portable Explosives Detector employs a patented vortex collector for the detection of explosives particulates and vapors with or without physical contact and in real-time. The QS-H150 could detect vapors and nanogram quantities of explosives particulates for various explosives substances considered to be threats. Such substances include military and commercial explosives, improvised and homemade explosives, propellants, and taggants. The QS-H150 has automatic self-calibration. It monitors its environment, senses changes that would affect its accuracy, and re-calibrates accordingly. Quantum Sniffer QS-B220 Benchtop Explosives and Narcotics Detector The company’s QS-B220 Benchtop Explosives and Narcotics Detector uses dual IMS with non-radioactive ionization for the detection and identification of a range of military, commercial, and improvised explosives, as well as narcotics. The QS-B220 uses a sample trap, which is wiped on the surface to be interrogated for explosives or narcotics particles. The QS-B220 has automatic self-calibration. It monitors its environment, senses changes that would affect its accuracy, and re-calibrates accordingly. For detection, the sample is collected with a standard trap, ionized, and analyzed using IMS technology. The presence of a threat is indicated by visible and audible alarms, and the substance is identified and displayed on the integrated touch screen display. Users might save data locally or send data through standard interfaces, such as USB and LAN. Multi-level password-protected data security is standard. The company introduced the QS-B220 at the Force Protection Equipment Demonstration, sponsored by the Department of Defense and Department of Energy in 2011. In 2011, the QS-B220 received a ‘Developmental Testing & Evaluation (DT&E) Designation’ from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under the Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technology Act of 2002. Products under Development Quantum Sniffer QS-Hx Portable Explosives Detector The company is developing a next-generation handheld detector that would use dual IMS non-radioactive ionization for the detection and identification of a range of military, commercial, and improvised explosives, as well as narcotics. The QS-Hx would have automatic self-calibration, multi-level password-protected data security, and would include a data management interface with data export to a network for recordkeeping, providing a link with the central command centers and logistics systems used by major carriers. Miniature Mass Spectrometer The company developed its own proprietary IMS technology. It obtains miniaturized quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS) detector technology. When used in conjunction with an IMS, the QMS detector senses the molecular weight of the chemical species resulting in an ‘orthogonal’ detection method in which a fundamental characteristic of a substance is measured. The company is developing interfaces for integrating the QMS detector into its future products. Hyphenated Detectors The company is developing hyphenated systems employing conventional ion mobility, differential mobility, and QMS. It has one patent issued in real-time trace detection by IMS and QMS, and two hyphenated system patents pending. Marketing and Sales The company markets and sells its products through direct sales and marketing staff located in the United States, in addition to a global network of independent and specialized sales representatives and distributors. Strategy The company’s growth strategy is to focus on penetrating the U.S. market through the U.S. transportation security administration ‘qualification’ and the retention of primary industry advisors, to capitalize on its expanded sales and marketing capabilities to drive and support sales growth in its international markets, and to utilize its core intellectual property to extend its product offerings and through licensing or joint development agreements. Intellectual Property The company’s intellectual portfolio contains 19 security-related patents and patents pending, including 13 patents have been issued and are active, 4 patents are pending and it licenses 2 patents. The 13 issued patents expire in the years 2022 through 2030. Research and Development The company spent approximately $3,180,000 on internally funded research and development for the year ended June 30, 2012. Competition In the trace explosives and narcotics detection industry, the company’s primary competitors include Morpho Detection, Inc.; Smiths Detection, Inc.; and NucTech Company Limited. History Implant Sciences Corporation was founded in 1984. The company was incorporated in 1984.