U.S. patent application number 11/987679 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-04 for canine certification method.
Invention is credited to William T. Habacivch, Theodore A. Hartz.
Application Number | 20090139459 11/987679 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40674464 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090139459 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Habacivch; William T. ; et
al. |
June 4, 2009 |
Canine certification method
Abstract
A certification method for working canines which allows for
quantified measurement of the canine's ability to detect scents at
various levels. Said method employs standard scientific measures
including the use of controls to verify the minimum level at which
a canine can sense a particular scent including those generate by
both illegal narcotics and explosive devices. The method is used to
compare and determine a particular canine's ability as compared to
other canines that have also been subject to the test. The method
will allow handlers and other third parties the ability to evaluate
the acuity of a each individual canine.
Inventors: |
Habacivch; William T.;
(Mechanicsburg, PA) ; Hartz; Theodore A.;
(Mohnton, PA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GATES, HALBRUNER & HATCH, P.C.;CLIFTON R. GUISE, ESQ.
1013 MUMMA ROAD, SUITE 100
LEMOYNE
PA
17043
US
|
Family ID: |
40674464 |
Appl. No.: |
11/987679 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
119/420 ;
119/421 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 11/132 20130101;
A01K 15/02 20130101; A01K 29/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
119/420 ;
119/421 |
International
Class: |
A01K 29/00 20060101
A01K029/00; G01N 33/00 20060101 G01N033/00 |
Claims
1. A method to certify an animal's acuity to detect scents at
varying concentrations, comprising the steps of: a. using a sealed
testing chamber, b. placing an animal in said sealed chamber; c.
instructing the animal to signal or display when they detect a
scent; d. introducing the scent into the chamber at low
concentration; e. increasing the concentration of the scent in the
chamber; f. observing the animal to detect the animal's signal or
display, g. recording the level of scent concentration at which the
animal displays, and, h. issuing a certification if the animal
detected the scent at a predetermined threshold.
2. The method according to claim 1, in which said animal is a
canine.
3. The method according to claim 2, in which the handler enters the
chamber with the canine.
4. The method according to claim 3, in which an operator records
the level of concentration at which the canine detects scent in a
computer database.
5. The method according to claim 4, in which the scents used are
those generated by explosives or controlled substances.
6. The method according to claim 5 in which said canine is a canine
specifically trained to use its sense of smell to detect
explosives, illegal drugs, narcotics and similar controlled
substances.
7. The method according to claim 6, in which a separate chamber is
used to permit the handler and canine the opportunity to acclimate
to the space.
8. The method according to claim 7, in which a control of pure air
is occasionally introduced to verify test results.
9. The method according to claim 8, in which statistical analysis
is performed on the test results of various canines to determine a
specific canine's relative ability.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OF DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
[0003] Not Applicable
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT
DISC
[0004] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] 1. Field of the Invention
[0006] The field of invention comprises a method of animal
husbandry more particularly in the training and certifying canines
for their acuity in locating and detecting scents.
[0007] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0008] Canines have an acute sense of smell and have been used for
many years to detect the presence of explosives, illegal drugs,
narcotics and similar controlled substances. Trained canine teams
are employed by the police, military, government agencies, and
private firms. There is a wide range of training methods employed
in the field and periodic certification of effectiveness is
essential to the integrity of the industry. Certification is
generally completed using trial searches for scent samples
administered by the owners, trainers or suppliers of canines. There
are no quantitative measurement standards that are employed in the
field. The field tests are simply a pass/fail test where the canine
either locates the scented object or does not locate the scented
object.
[0009] Scent acuity has been measured in the laboratory but
measurement techniques have not been employed on a regular basis in
the field and have not been applied to the canine and handler team.
The development of practical scent threshold testing will validate
a canine's scent detection capability and training and determine
the ongoing fitness of a canine for work.
[0010] The need for a method to accurately measure canine
effectiveness in the field has increased for a variety of reasons
including (i) increased safety concerns involving homeland security
especially ports and public transportation, (ii) more fraudulent
sales of untrained canines to government agencies, (iii) increased
legal challenges to searches, (iv) advances in research in canine
behavior, and (v) the potential for creating new training
methods.
[0011] This invention is a method to certify the effectiveness of
canine training for narcotics and explosives detection by measuring
the scent threshold at which a trained canine signals the presence
of the scent. The preferred embodiment is one which utilizes a
commercially available dynamic olfactometer to measure the level of
the scent at which the animal first detects the presence of a scent
which it is trained to detect
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The current invention sets forth a certification method for
working canines which allows for quantified measurement of the
canine's ability to detect scents at various levels. Said method
employs standard scientific measures including the use of controls
to verify the minimum level at which a canine can sense a
particular scent. The method is used to compare and determine a
particular canine's ability as compared other canines that have
also been subject to the test. The method will allow handlers and
other third parties the ability to evaluate the acuity of a test
subject canine.
[0013] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a
commercially available olfactometer is employed to measure the
level of the scent in a similar fashion to measurement techniques
employed in agriculture and waste management. The typical procedure
used to measure noxious odors employs humans reacting to a scent at
varied threshold levels. The level, "odor value," where the scent
is detected is measured by the olfactometer. The "odor value" is
reported as a dilution ratio of the volume of clean air to odorous
air and is called an odor unit (ou.). The same technology is
employed the present invention with the "odor value" recorded when
the canine indicates or displays upon detecting the scent. Scent is
administered at a low concentration level which is gradually
increased to higher levels until the canine indicates its
presence.
[0014] As part of the above method, the existence and level of
scent in the testing chamber is verified before and after each
certification examination by using a commercially available
portable vapor detection device. This verifies that the chamber is
"clean" prior to the next testing cycle. In addition, canine
handlers and canines are tested prior to entering the chambers for
each examination in order to ensure that the canine and handler are
not carrying any particulate of an explosive, illegal drug,
narcotic and similar controlled substance into the chamber.
Further, as an element of the method at least one odor-free sample
in each set of three samples is introduced to validate the
effectiveness of the system. If a canine reacts to the odor-free
sample, the test is considered invalid, certification is denied and
retesting is required.
[0015] As an extension of the preferred embodiment, the testing and
certification method is performed in a mobile testing laboratory
which can be transported to the various locations where the working
canines are housed for in the field certification.
[0016] As part of the preferred embodiment, the level at which each
canine triggers on a particular scent is recorded in a computer
database. Statistical analysis is then applied to the data to
determine an individual canine's relative ability to detect a
certain scent as compared to other canines. This information is
then useful to quantify a given canine's ability to detect scents,
which is useful in determining if the canine is able to be used as
a bomb or drug canine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1. is Part 1 of 2 of a block diagram of a system for
evaluating and certifying the effectiveness of a canine's ability
to detect certain scents and varying concentrations.
[0018] FIG. 2. is Part 2 of 2 of a block diagram of a system for
evaluating and certifying the effectiveness of a canine's ability
to detect certain scents and varying concentrations.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] With reference to the figures, a system and method is herein
described, shown and otherwise disclosed in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention. Broadly, the present
invention concerns a system and method for certifying the olfactory
acuity of a canine.
[0020] The preferred embodiment for the method of testing and
certifying one or more animals' ability to detect a scent comprises
the following steps:
[0021] 1. The chamber is flushed of all air and filled with clean
air. Clean air as defined in is air of such quality and character
to have no impurities or contaminates that would cause the canine
to scent on a false positive of the explosive, illegal drug,
narcotic or similar controlled substance.
[0022] 2. A dynamic olfactometer, of a type commercially available,
is used to verify the quality and condition of air in chamber and
to calibrate the olfactometer using known scent samples.
[0023] 3. The canine and handler are permitted to enter a false
chamber of similar size and construction to permit the canine to
acclimate to the confined space.
[0024] 4. The canine and handler exit the false chamber and enter
actual chamber.
[0025] 5. An audio/visual recording of the certification is
initiated.
[0026] 6. Using the dynamic olfactometer the chamber with the
canine and handler inside is then verified to be a clean chamber
without the presence of any impurities or contaminates by using the
dynamic olfactometer.
[0027] 7. An initial sample at a low concentration is injected into
the chamber.
[0028] 8. Gradually the concentration of the scent is raised to
higher levels of concentration.
[0029] 9. The operator observes the canine to determine at which
point the canine displays or indicates the presence of the scent. A
canine is trained to use many different means to display to its
handler that an explosive, illegal drug, narcotic or similar
controlled substance is present, including barking, pointing,
sitting and similar behavioral makers all of which are capable of
being observed by the operator on a video screen or through a
transparent viewing port.
[0030] 10. The minimum concentration level at which the canine
displays is recorded in a computer database along with the name,
breed and other relevant information regarding the canine. The
concentration level, or "odor value," where the scent is detected
as measured by the olfactometer as a dilution ratio of the volume
of clean air to odorous air. This concentration level is recorded
in units of ou.
[0031] 11. The audio/visual recording of the certification is
terminated.
[0032] 12. If the canine detected scent at the appropriate
threshold level of ou's, the operator will issue a certificate of
performance to the canine and handler along with an audio visual
recording of the certification process.
[0033] 13. Statistical analysis is applied to the data of all
canines tested to establish mean level of detection for each scent,
the minimum concentration detectable and other valuable information
to assist in certifying future animals. Further, this statistical
information can be used to adjust the threshold level as more data
is gathered.
[0034] In the preferred embodiment the chamber in step one is an
impermeable container having transparent or partially transparent
sides to allow for viewing by the observer and large enough to
comfortably accommodate a canine and handler.
[0035] It is contemplated within the preferred embodiment that this
method will be repeated several times with the use of various
samples. Further, to verify the accuracy of the test at random
times no scent will be injected into the chamber to determine if
the canine is properly sensing the scent. If the canine signals the
presence of scent when none is present the canine will fail the
certification process.
[0036] In the preferred embodiment, a separate mock testing chamber
will be available to the canine and handler in order to allow both
parties to become comfortable with the chamber prior to beginning
the certification process.
[0037] In another embodiment of the invention is one in which all
of the testing is conducted within a mobile testing unit. This will
allow the certification to take place on location at canine
training facilities, law enforcement facilities or any location
where the canines are located or kenneled.
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