Wearable Inexpensive Reagentless Chemical Threat Detector

Rapid identification of asymmetric warfare modes, including unconventional chemical agents and toxic industrial chemicals based attacks, is vital to the protection of U.S. armed forces personnel. Existing detection methods use bulky and expensive laboratory equipment to analytically determine the identity and concentration of chemical threats, negating their battlefield use. Colorimetric indicators such as the currently deployed M8 and M9 detection papers are the fastest, cheapest, lightest and easiest type of detector to use; however, these cannot detect vapor form chemical agents, and are highly susceptible to false positives from bug spray, smoke, gasoline and strong bleach. Lynntech proposes a passive colorimetric sensor array based wearable badge capable of detecting a variety of chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals. The sensor array will consist of a combination of two sets of chemistries. One set consists of submicron engineered moieties sensitive to chemical warfare agents, while the other set comprises dipole sensitive molecules responsive to toxic industrial chemicals. These will operate on a field rugged support to colorimetrically (visual color change) signal exposure to, identity of and levels of chemical threat molecules. The sensors will be sensitive, rugged, reagentless and low cost and will meet the specifications outlined in the solicitation. BENEFIT: This development effort will lead to inexpensive and reagentless chemical threat exposure assessment visual monitors for our combatants.  The monitor badge will be versatile in that it can be worn on current personal protective equipment such as gas masks and NBC garments and provide easy visual signaling to the warfighters.  DOD components will thus protect our combatants and effectively counter potential asymmetric chemical warfare.  This technology will be commercialized for early warning of chemical threat sneak attacks against high risk locations such as at airports, government and commercial buildings for local law enforcement and security personnel.