ASSIGNMENT

                                 EXHIBIT 10.144

                                   ASSIGNMENT

      WHEREAS, I, Kevin McKinny, a United States citizen, residing at 612 Sonoma
Aisle, Irvine, CA, 92618 (hereinafter "ASSIGNOR") have invented certain new and
useful improvements in a METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING FLAWS IN A FLUID
CONDUIT for which I have filed United States Patent Application No. ___________
in the United States on March 11, 2004 (hereinafter the "Patent Application");

      WHEREAS, HiEnergy Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation having
offices at 1601B Alton Parkway, Irvine, California 92606 (hereinafter
"ASSIGNEE") desires to purchase the entire right, title, and interest in and to
the inventions disclosed in the Patent Application;

      NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of good and valuable consideration, the
receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, ASSIGNOR hereby further acknowledges
that it has sold, assigned, transferred and by these presents does hereby sell,
assign, transfer unto ASSIGNEE, its successors, legal representatives and
assigns, the entire right, title, and interest throughout the world in, to, and
under the said improvements, and the said Patent Application and all Patents
that may be granted thereon, and all provisional applications relating thereto,
and all divisions, continuations, reissues, reexaminations, renewals and
extensions thereof, and all rights of priority under International Conventions
and applications for Letters Patent that may hereafter be filed for said
improvements or for the said Patent Application in any country or countries
forei