The WeCu system, which took six years to develop, was designed to alert authorities to a potential attacker or criminal. Using concealed biometric sensors, the system measures the subject's physical reactions to such stimuli as a photograph of a relative.

"For example, a subject could be sitting in a room with other people, when a photo of one of his relatives flashes on the screen," Givon said. "We would expect the subject to react differently to that image than the others do. The reaction could include a more rapid heartbeat, eye fluctuation, increased blood pressure, etc."

Executives said the system, designed to identify potential suicide bombers, was meant to replace such methods as profiling, body searches, baggage checks and dependence on intelligence. They said trained insurgency operatives have become canny to current methods used at airports.

In January 2010, the Israel Airport Authority unveiled a biometric system, Unipass, designed to identify suspicious passengers. The system has been deployed by Israel's El Al airlines.

Executives said WeCu has been demonstrated at several airports this year. They said the company has received grants from the Israeli and U.S. governments, including the U.S. Homeland Security Department.

In trials, the company reported a 95 percent success rate, alerting authorities to so-called "persons of interest." Executives said the system was praised by airport officers for preserving people's privacy and avoiding disruptions at check-in.

"We have no prior information about the person, and we don't care who he is, where he comes from, or what he believes," Givon said. "We don't even keep a data base of reactions, unless of course the subject reacts in a manner that raises alarm bells."