Cdex, Inc. (fka CDEX)

[d4diddy]

Skitathoe,

"Would it be possible to develop a sensor that worked more like a camera that operated specifically on those frequencies."

It sounds like you're talking about detecting the natural UV/IR that incidents on the drug or explosive. In this case a sensor would have to detect the reflectance off the surface instead of the fluorescence. IMO, the intensity of the signal would not be sufficient to detect accurately.

They do have IR Reflectance (IRF) spectrometers currently in use at pharmacies. The unit works much like the Valimed accept it detects the reflectance off the surface instead of the fluorescence. Integarted into the IRF units is a camera that also records the color and physical size/shape of the pill. You can consider the camera as a sensor that records a "spectral fingerprint" in the visible region of the spectrum.

This is a patented technology exculsively licensed to McKesson and is in use at central fill location pharmacies around the nation.

The camera would have obvious limitations as a means to detect explosives since they are typically well hidden and trace explosives would be invisble.