Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
  • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
  • F42B12/00—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material
  • F42B12/02—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect
  • F42B12/36—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information
  • F42B12/40—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information of target-marking, i.e. impact-indicating type

Definitions

• the present invention concerns devices, systems, kits and methods for tagging, and in particular the invention is concerned with tagging at a distance (remote tagging).
• the invention is of particular utility in the apprehension of suspects and enables a suspect to be marked for later identification.
• the invention may be used, for example, in tagging an escaping attacker, thief or other criminal to provide evidence for later prosecution.
• Tags that have been employed include invisible dyes that become visible under UV light (e.g. for tagging bank notes), and microdots with unique identifiers for marking personal property. More recently DNA has been employed having a unique code. DNA is particularly useful, since it is much smaller and more difficult to remove even than microdots; even one molecule can be amplified to reveal its code, and therefore complete the identification process. Such a system is disclosed, for example, in published international application WO 2010/122159.
• Riot situations are of particular concern, especially in recent times. It is notable that modem public disorder situations are becoming easier to organise thanks to modern communications, in particular the use of social networks and mobile messaging facilities.
• the communication means available to rioters allow them to cause trouble in one location and then disperse to a second agreed location very quickly to regroup. In such situations, there may not be time for a police officer to detain rioters before they regroup or disperse.
• the present invention provides an apparatus for marking a target via projectile motion, comprising a capsule encapsulating a liquid having a marker, tagging agent, or taggant suspended therein, the capsule being configured to rapture upon impact with a target.
• a device for remote tagging which device comprises projectile delivery element configured to deliver a projectile to a remote target, wherein the projectile comprises a capsule with an outer casing surrounding a marker, tagging agent, or taggant and wherein the projectile delivery element is configured to deliver the projectile at low velocity.
• the marker, tagging agent, or taggant is not especially limited. Typically it is unique, such that it may uniquely identify the target when detected later. In some embodiments it need not be entirely unique to identify the target to sufficient likelihood for evidential purposes, and may thus be non-unique, although in such cases it is preferably at least uncommon.
• the marker, tagging agent, or taggant comprises a nucleic acid, such as DNA.
• the marker, tagging agent, or taggant may comprise a peptide, polypeptide, a rare earth or rare earth compound, or a metal or metal compound such as a metal oxide.
• the marker, tagging agent, or taggant may also be a mixture of one or more of the above.
• DNA, other nucleic acids, peptides and polypeptides may be specifically designed to be unique or uncommon, depending upon the degree of design in the DNA or amino acid sequence.
• a mixture of other compounds such as a rare earth mixture, a rare earth compound mixture, a mixture of metals, a metal compound mixture, or a metal oxide mixture
• the present invention can be used to provide a mobile marking system, with a far superior range over spray systems, and wherein the marking capability is not affected by adverse weather conditions.
• the present invention can also be used to mark vehicles, where there is insufficient opportunity to place a tracking device or otherwise mark the vehicle.
• a batch of capsules, each containing a particular, unique DNA marker can be withdrawn from a police armoury, for example, and the identification of the person withdrawing the capsules and that person's intended deployment location recorded. This allows the time, place and person deploying the capsules to be determined for a particular situation, thereby enabling a suspect being marked with said unique DNA marker to be uniquely linked to a scene or event.
• low velocity is a sufficient velocity such that the outer casing ruptures on impact thus contacting the tagging agent with the target, and at sufficient velocity such that the projectile does not cause significant damage to the target.
• low velocity is less than 330 feet per second (100.6 ms "1 ), preferably less than 300 feet per second (91.5 ms “1 ), preferably less than 280 feet per second (85.4 ms “1 ), preferably less than 250 feet per second (76.2 ms "1 ), preferably less than 225 feet per second (68.6 ms “1 ), preferably from 150-250 feet per second (45.7-76.2 ms "1 ), preferably from 175-225 feet per second (53.3-68.6 ms "1 ) preferably about 200 feet per second (about 61.0 ms '1 ).
• the liquid further comprises a colouring agent or dye, to allow the DNA marker to be visibly detected on a target it has impacted upon.
• a colouring agent or dye to allow the DNA marker to be visibly detected on a target it has impacted upon.
• it is invisible.
• it comprises an invisible marker, such as an ultra violet (UV) and/or an infra-red (IR) marker, and/or heat, to simplify locating it.
• UV ultra violet
• IR infra-red
• the DNA marker may be detected using an UV light source.
• the liquid comprises an infra-red (IR) indicator
• the DNA marker may be detected using IR detection equipment.
• the liquid is configured to retain heat, the DNA marker may be detected using thermal imaging equipment.
• the outer casing of the capsule is not especially limited. In some embodiments, it is not capable of damaging an individual at low velocity. Typically the outer casing is deformable, and or readily breakable on impact.
• the material from which it is formed is not especially limited, provided that it is capable of delivering the marker, or tagging agent.
• the capsule casing is formed from a polymeric substance. Thus it may comprise one or more materials selected from gelatine, a gelatinous compound, polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerine, sorbitol, water, a fatty acid, a starch, a surfactant, and an emulsifier.
• a suitable capsule may thus be similar to conventional paintball ammunition used in the sport of paintballing.
• the capsule may comprise a plastic shell less than about 0.4mm thick. It is, ideally, spherical.
• the plastic shell of the capsule is preferably sufficiently thin walled such that the pressure of the liquid encapsulated within it will cause the walls of the capsule to rapture upon impact with a target. It typically also retains sufficient strength to be handled normally during storage and loading without unintended rapture.
• the capsule is about 0.68 calibre (about 18 mm diameter), has a maximum volume of approximately 3 ml and, when the encapsulated liquid is predominantly water, has a weight of approximately 3 g.
• a suitable launcher such as a paintball marker (or paintball gun)
• the impact energy of the capsule via projectile motion is around 13 to 16 joules. This, preferably accompanied by a reduced velocity which lowers the impact energy still further, may be considered safe for use in crowd situations.
• the effective range of a capsule fired from a paintball marker is, typically, between 0 to 25 m.
• the marker or tagging agent comprises a nucleic acid, preferably DNA.
• the outer casing of the capsule is typically selected such that the casing is not detrimental to the DNA itself (thus it does not react to degrade the DNA information), but remains deformable and/or readily breakable on impact, and not dangerous for use in crowds. Suitable materials for this have been described above.
• the DNA in the marker is typically resistant to washing, should a suspect attempt to wash an item of marked clothing, and preferably is formulated such that it is capable of embedding into any target surface.
• the DNA marker can comprise naturally occurring DNA or synthesised DNA.
• botanical DNA is used to create a unique DNA sequence, which is then used as the DNA marker.
• One way to form the unique DNA sequence is to segment botanical DNA, before the segments are shuffled and reassembled to form the unique DNA sequence.
• the encapsulated liquid is not especially limited, provided that it is compatible with the marker or tagging agent.
• the encapsulated liquid comprises water or aqueous solution. Water, or aqueous solution, is preferred when the marker or tagging agent is DNA.
• the encapsulated liquid is embedded with a custom DNA sequence, such as the SelectaDNATM marker product developed and sold by Selectamark Security Systems pic.
• kit for remote tagging which kit comprises:
• each projectile in a set comprises a tagging agent unique to that set, and different from the tagging agent in every other set;
• a method of tagging comprising firing a projectile at a target, using the device, kit and/or system as defined above.
• a low velocity projectile for tagging a target which projectile is a projectile as defined above.
• a method of marking a target comprising deploying a capsule encapsulating a liquid having a unique DNA marker suspended therein at the target, the capsule being configured to rapture upon impact with the target, and later determining whether the unique DNA is present on the target.
• the encapsulated liquid further comprises an ultra violet (UV) indicator, and the step of determining involves exposing the target to a UV light source to identify the unique DNA.
• the encapsulated liquid further comprises an infra-red (IR) indicator, and the step of determining involves using IR detector equipment on the target to identify the unique DNA.
• the capsule and liquid encapsulated therein is heated before deployment, and the step of determining involves using thermal imaging equipment on the target to identify the unique DNA.
• the UV or IR indicater may itself be unique or uncommon to aid in finding the marker. This may be achieved, for example, by employing a unique, or uncommon, proprietary UV (or IR) blend.
• the unique DNA marker of the capsule is recorded against a time, date and/or location of its deployment, so that a target identified as having contact with the unique DNA can be linked to a scene.
• capsules are provided in small batches all carrying the same unique marker. Such batches may be issued to a single user for firing from a single weapon during any one deployment thus ensuring maximum traceability. If a suspect is marked with that unique code it must have been fired from the single weapon by the relevant officer during that deployment. Ideally at the end of a deployment any remaining capsules from batches that were used may be disposed of, or alternatively kept as evidence.
• the nature of the projectile delivery element, or weapon is not significant provided that it is capable of delivering the capsule to the target with sufficient force to cause rapture most of the time. Indeed it could be fired from a device such as a catapult as well as launchers such as compressed gas powered guns.
• the projectile delivery element comprises a pistol or a rifle, although other mechanisms of delivery may be envisaged by the skilled person.
• Some typical capsules and projectile delivery elements (weapons) for use in the present invention are shown respectively in Figure 1 and Figure 2.
• the projectile delivery elements may advantageously be fitted with further evidence gathering equipment, if desired, including audio-visual equipment for capturing sound and/or pictures that may also aid in the identification process. Lights, and/or sights (such as laser sights) may also be included, if desired.
• a spherical capsule 5 comprising a shell 6 having a 0.68 Calibre (18 mm diameter) and a maximum volume of approximately 3 ml.
• the wall thickness of the capsule shell is less than about 0.4 mm.
• the capsule is sufficiently thin-walled that the pressure of the liquid encapsulated within it will cause the walls of the capsule to rupture upon impact with a target.
• the capsule encapsulates a liquid 7 in which is suspended a unique DNA marker. Together with the encapsulated liquid, the capsule has a weight of approximately 3g.
• the impact energy of the capsule via projectile motion is around 13 to 16 joules.
• the effective range of a capsule fired from a paintball marker is, typically, between 0 to 25 m but the projectiles will fly further up to around 50 m.
• the encapsulated liquid is, preferably, water in which is suspended a custom DNA sequence, such as the SelectaDNATM marker product developed and sold by Selectamark Security Systems pic.
• the liquid also contains one or more of a coloured dye marker, a UV dye marker or an IR dye marker.
• one or more capsule (which are preferably filled with identical markers) is to be loaded in the magazine of a projectile mechanism such as a paintball gun - usually powered by compressed air. These are then to be deployed by firing the capsules at targets in order to mark them for later forensic analysis and DNA sequencing. Batches (having a suitable number of identical capsules) can be issued to a person operating a gun so that by suitable record keeping, the batch may be clearly linked to a single weapon and incident to provide evidence for later conviction.
• a projectile mechanism such as a paintball gun - usually powered by compressed air.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Medicines Containing Antibodies Or Antigens For Use As Internal Diagnostic Agents (AREA)

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Citations (7)

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• 2013
  • 2013-05-15 EP EP13724781.3A patent/EP2850381A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2013-05-15 US US14/401,102 patent/US20150285601A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-05-15 WO PCT/EP2013/060087 patent/WO2013171279A1/fr not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (7)

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