Quantum Magnetics Awarded Patent for Technology to Detect Concealed Explosives and Contraband.

Business Editors

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2001

Quantum Magnetics, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of InVision Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:INVN), announced today that the U.S. Patent Office awarded the company a patent to recognize its innovative method for detecting explosives and contraband using nuclear quadrupole resonance (QR) technology. The invention has enabled the company to develop a scanning system for detecting concealed explosives and narcotics that has proven to be less time-consuming, less costly and more reliable than current detection methods.

Quadrupole Resonance (QR) is a branch of radio frequency spectroscopy that exploits the inherent electrical properties of atomic nuclei. Explosives and narcotics have specific QR "fingerprints" due to their chemical structures, which differ from other substances. Quantum's patented technology is able to pinpoint specific explosives and contraband, thus eliminating the guesswork of today's scanning systems.

Lowell Burnett, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Quantum Magnetics, said, "We are pleased the patent has finally been approved so the company may now move forward more quickly in providing highly improved detection systems for use by our country's enforcement officers. The need for a simple procedure for detecting drugs and explosives inside sealed containers, mail parcels, and other small packages, quickly and accurately, is immeasurable."

"This technology demonstrates the broad applicability of Quantum's quadrupole resonance technology, and provides an opportunity for corporate diversification into the security control arena, a potential multi-billion dollar market," said Sergio Magistri, President and Chief Executive Officer of InVision Technologies. "Today's scanning methods depend largely on an operator screening multiple x-ray images. By targeting only explosives and contraband, enforcement agencies worldwide can precisely identify such materials with fewer false alarms and at a lower cost," he added.

Founded in 1987, Quantum became a wholly owned subsidiary of InVision Technologies in 1997. Quantum develops and commercializes promising technologies such as quadrupole resonance (QR), magnetic resonance (MR), low-cost magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and magnetic tensor gradiometry (MTG). Through government funded research and development programs, the company uses its technologies to solve problems in landmine detection, bomb detection, including facility and aviation security, drug and concealed weapon detection, process control and nondestructive evaluation.

In recent years, Quantum's defense and defense-related business activities have grown substantially. Principally, these activities have funded research and development of Quantum's core detection technologies. Although only some of Quantum's research initiatives have the potential to deliver significant returns from commercial production, this risk is mitigated by the fact that these R&D efforts are fully funded by the federal government. These efforts include:

PROGRAMS USING QUADRUPOLE RESONANCE (QR)

Hand-held Explosives Detector for Personnel Screening. With support from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Quantum has developed the first prototype, handheld QR device for detecting explosives concealed under an individual's clothing. Work is progressing on rendering the prototype field-testable, in anticipation of operational trials at an airport. Such a system, which resembles a hand-held metal detector "wand" connected to a small electronics console, can also find use in Force Protection applications.

Screening Personnel for Explosives Using QR. Funded by TSWG, Quantum is developing the world's first explosives detection portal using QR technology. Once QR is developed as a personnel screening technology, it will be combined with other detection modalities to produce a portal that can detect any explosive carried by an individual.

Vehicle-Mounted Mine Detection System. Quantum is developing an advanced, vehicle-mounted sensor for the U.S. Army's ground standoff mine detection system (GSTAMIDS) program. The goal of this program is to develop a system for road clearance with a very low false alarm rate. The Quantum sensor is based upon quadrupole resonance (QR) detection of the explosive within the mines, which is highly chemically specific and thus provides a low rate of false alarms.

Backpack-mounted Mine Detection System. Supported by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), Quantum is developing a man-portable mine detection system based on QR detection. The system is being designed for use by the U.S. Marine Corps.

Quadrupole Resonance Detection of Bacterial Spores. With funding from the Chemical and Biological Defense program, Quantum is investigating the QR detection of bacteria via the crystallization of certain organic compounds that occurs when the bacteria form inert spores.

Fusion of QR and X-ray Data for Enhanced Detection of Explosives in Baggage. In this project, funded by the Technical Support Working Group (TSWG), Quantum is investigating methods to improve the detection of explosives by automated combination of quadrupole resonance data with X-ray images. Preliminary results indicate substantial gains in performance that may eventually lead to low-cost explosives detection systems (EDS).

PROGRAMS USING PASSIVE MAGNETIC SENSING

(MAGNETIC TENSOR GRADIOMETRY)

Magnetic Tensor Gradiometer (MTG) Technology for Naval Applications. In two programs monitored by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Coastal Systems Station (CSS), Quantum is developing an advanced, man-portable MTG sensor technology for the detection, location and classification of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and underwater naval mines. In one recently completed program, Quantum developed and delivered the key components of a man-portable system for UXO surveys on land. In an ongoing program, Quantum is developing an MTG for incorporation into a low-cost autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) for shallow-water mine and obstacle surveys.

Detection of Underground Facilities. Quantum, with funding from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (Hanscom AFB), completed the initial phase of development of a low-cost MTG sensor. The future plan is to integrate the MTG sensor with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to perform magnetic surveys over remote terrain, with the objective of detecting clandestine underground facilities.

MAGNETIC METHODS OF NONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION

Liver Iron Scanner. A large number of people in the world suffer from liver iron overload diseases, the most common of which is hemochromatosis. At present, widespread noninvasive screening of patients is not carried out, due to the high cost and complexity of current screening systems. With support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Quantum is developing an inexpensive screening system for liver iron overload diseases.

Non-invasive Strain Gauge for Advanced Composites. Funded by the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), Quantum is using the latest developments in quadrupole resonance technology to create a gauge to measure strain at any location within a composite structure non-invasively. Such a system will satisfy a crucial unmet demand in the monitoring and maintenance of composite structures. Such a strain gauge promises to accelerate the already rapid growth of the composite materials and structures industry.

Nondestructive Evaluation of Solid Rocket Propellant. As a subcontractor on a Navy program, Quantum is working together with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Corporation and Alliant Techsystems to develop a method, based on magnetic resonance (MR), to detect degradation of propellant properties non-invasively. The success of this program promises to greatly reduce the costs associated with maintaining U.S. strategic and tactical missile inventories.

InVision Technologies develops, manufactures, markets and supports explosive detection systems based on advanced computed tomography (CT) technology for civil aviation security. Today, over 240 FAA-certified CTX systems have been shipped worldwide to provide the traveling public with the best security against terrorism available. The company also develops, manufactures, markets and supports CT-based systems for other applications, including wood scanning and drug detection. InVision's wholly owned subsidiary, Quantum Magnetics, develops and commercializes patented and proprietary technologies. These include, but are not limited to, quadrupole resonance (QR) patents licenses from the Naval Research Laboratory, that are based on a state-of-the-art, low-cost version of magnetic resonance adapted for explosive detection. InVision's wholly owned subsidiary, Inovec, develops, manufactures, markets and supports scanning optimization and control systems for the forest products industry. Today, over 600 systems have been installed in mills worldwide to produce more lumber from each log and to control product quality. Additional information about InVision can be obtained on the company's web site at http://www.invision-tech.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements including statements regarding projected revenues and the plans or objectives relating to the company's products or services. Investors are cautioned to consider the important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements in this news release. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including risks inherent to doing business with public agencies, such as limited funding; risks inherent with the timely development of products and the acceptance and pricing of new products; and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's SEC reports, including the most recent reports on Forms 10-Q and 10-K.