Magnetic switching
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- positioning a device proximate to a biological environment that contains magnetic particles that are configured to selectively interact with an analyte of interest;
operating the device, during a first period of time, to collect, by way of exerting a first magnetic force, at least one of the magnetic particles in the biological environment, wherein the first magnetic force is an attractive magnetic force that is sufficient to collect the at least one of the magnetic particles in the biological environment proximate to the device; and
operating the device, during a second period of time, to exert a second magnetic force onto the magnetic particles in the biological environment, wherein the second magnetic force is different from the first magnetic force, and wherein the second magnetic force is sufficiently less than the first magnetic force that one or more of the magnetic particles collected proximate to the device during the first period of time are released during the second period of time;
wherein the device comprises a detector, and further comprising;
detecting one or more properties of the analyte of interest from the collected magnetic particles using the detector.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods of exerting magnetic forces to collect and manipulate magnetic particles disposed in a portion of subsurface vasculature using a wearable device are provided. The wearable device is configured to change the exerted magnetic force over time. For example, the exerted magnetic force could be sufficient to collect the magnetic particles during a first period of time and low enough to release the magnetic particles during a second period of time. The exerted magnetic force could be changed over time to vary some effect on the magnetic particles, for example to control a rate of release of collected magnetic particles. In some embodiments, the magnetic particles are configured to bind to an analyte of interest. The collection and manipulation of the magnetic particles can enable detection of one or more properties of the analyte, modification of the analyte, and/or extraction of the analyte bound to the magnetic particles.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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positioning a device proximate to a biological environment that contains magnetic particles that are configured to selectively interact with an analyte of interest; operating the device, during a first period of time, to collect, by way of exerting a first magnetic force, at least one of the magnetic particles in the biological environment, wherein the first magnetic force is an attractive magnetic force that is sufficient to collect the at least one of the magnetic particles in the biological environment proximate to the device; and operating the device, during a second period of time, to exert a second magnetic force onto the magnetic particles in the biological environment, wherein the second magnetic force is different from the first magnetic force, and wherein the second magnetic force is sufficiently less than the first magnetic force that one or more of the magnetic particles collected proximate to the device during the first period of time are released during the second period of time; wherein the device comprises a detector, and further comprising;
detecting one or more properties of the analyte of interest from the collected magnetic particles using the detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus, comprising:
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a magnetic field producer, wherein the magnetic field producer is configured to be positioned proximate to an external body surface that is proximate to a portion of subsurface vasculature containing magnetic particles belonging to a specified set of magnetic particles, wherein the magnetic particles are configured to selectively interact with an analyte of interest, wherein the magnetic field producer is configured to exert first and second magnetic forces onto the magnetic particles during respective first and second periods of time, wherein the first magnetic force is an attractive magnetic force that is sufficient to collect, during the first period of time, at least one of the magnetic particles in the portion of subsurface vasculature proximate to the device, wherein the second magnetic force is different from the first magnetic force, and wherein the second magnetic force is sufficiently less than the first magnetic force that one or more of the magnetic particles collected proximate to the device during the first period of time are released during the second period of time, and a detector configured to detect one or more properties of the analyte of interest from the collected particles. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification