Handheld metal detectors also known as security wands are widely used devices at the checkpoints from offices to airports or any location. These are light weight devices that detect the presence of metals and create an audible alarm or vibration on detection. The metals such as iron (Fe), nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) are detected by active as well as passive metal detectors while as the metals like copper (Cu) brass (Br) and aluminium (Al) are detected only by active handheld metal detectors.
Handheld metal detectors are used to find concealed knives and weapons, foil wrapped drugs and other concealed metallic objects.
The precision of detection of targets need to be adjusted & such options are made available in the metal detectors otherwise the metal detectors will ignore very small amounts of metals like the button on your jeans or small earrings or small pins. In addition to the precision and sensitivity adjustment, the alarm & vibration mode, alarm model only and vibration mode only can be adjusted. The batteries, chargeable or disposable are used to keel handheld metal detectors up and running.
The metal detectors are certified to pose not any health risk to individuals especially with the safety of screening procedures with hand-held metal detectors among patients with implanted cardiac rhythm devices sometimes can become the concern. The case reports suggest that the hand-held metal detectors used for security screening generate electromagnetic fields that may interfere with pacemaker and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) function. The security wands did not affect the function of pacemakers or ICDs and are in general certified for the same so that the use of hand-held metal detectors for security screening is probably safe for patients with pacemakers and ICDs
| Basic metal detectors | 4 ~8 inch ( 100 ~200mm) |
| Standard metal detectors | 12~18inch (300 ~450mm) |
| High end specialised metal detectors | 65 inches ( 2000mm) |
The general specifying factors considered while selecting the metal detectors are
Power supply whether uses alkaline or NiMH rechargeable batteries, Control panel with LED display, vibration modes and audible alarms, Sensitivity levels, Battery life, Material used to manufacture, Compliance with the NIJ 0602.02, NIJ 0602.03, CE conformity for EU region
