MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DETECT AND CONFIRM ANALYTES

• US 20150377987A1
• Filed: 06/11/2015
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Menon Biosensors, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Menon Biosensors, Inc.
• Inventors: Menon, Suresh M., Newman, David E., Chan, Steven C.
• Granted Patent: US 10,386,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 25/00 Nanomagnetism, e.g. magnetoimpedance, anisotropic magnetoresistance, giant magnetoresistance or tunneling magnetoresistance
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 24/084 Detection of potentially hazardous samples, e.g. toxic samples, explosives, drugs, firearms, weapons
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/12 Measuring magnetic properties of articles or specimens of solids or fluids involving magnetic resonance G01R33/20
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/1269 of molecules labeled with magnetic beads magnetic particles for bio assay G01N33/54326
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/1276 of magnetic particles, e.g. imaging of magnetic nanoparticles G01R33/1269 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/307 specially adapted for moving the sample relative to the MR system, e.g. spinning mechanisms, flow cells or means for positioning the sample inside a spectrometer
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/448 Relaxometry, i.e. quantification of relaxation times or spin density G01R33/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/465 applied to biological material, e.g. in vitro testing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/24 Nuclear magnetic resonance, electron spin resonance or other spin effects or mass spectrometry

Abstract

A system and method are provided to detect target analytes based on magnetic resonance measurements. Magnetic structures produce distinct magnetic field regions having a size comparable to the analyte. When the analyte is bound in those regions, magnetic resonance signals from the sample are changed, leading to detection of the analyte.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance system comprising:

a magnet system which generates a magnetic field in a sample area;

a pulse generator configured to produce electromagnetic pulses at a selected frequency;

a coil coupled to the pulse generator and configured to transmit the electromagnetic pulses generated by the pulse generator to the sample area and to receive responsive magnetic resonance signals from the sample area;

a receiver coupled to the coil so as to receive the magnetic resonance signals from the coil and configured to convert the magnetic resonance signals into a digital form; and

a controller in communication with the pulse generator and the receiver, and configured to control the operation of the pulse generator so as to cause the pulse generator to produce electromagnetic pulses at a selected frequency;

said controller being further configured to receive the digital form of the magnetic resonance signals from the receiver caused by the electromagnetic pulses being transmitted to the sample area by the coil in the presence of the magnetic field, and to analyze the digital form of the magnetic resonance signals.

2. The magnetic resonance system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface coupled with the controller, wherein the user interface a transmits information, which results in recording or archiving test results, displaying a threat alert message, illuminating an alarm or beacon, activating an acoustical alarm or controlling another device.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a concentrating magnet system that generates a non-uniform magnetic field in an area occupied by a sample.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a uniform magnet system that generates dipole-dipole forces between paramagnetic bodies placed within the uniform magnet system.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the coil is interchangeable to accommodate change in the sample area or replacement of a contaminated coil.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sample collector having a concentrator to collect sample material;

a mixer configured to receive sample material from the concentrator and to mix sample material with a liquid; and

a fluidic transport system in communication with the mixer and extending into the sample area for transporting the sample material mixed with the liquid to the sample area.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a concentrating magnet.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the concentrating magnet comprises a field-concentrating pole piece.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the shape of the pole piece is selected so that the magnetic field produced by the concentrating magnet is non-uniform and produces a gradient throughout the sample area.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the concentrating magnet is mounted within the magnet system.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

15. A magnetic resonance system comprising:

a concentrating magnet system which generates a non-uniform magnetic field in an area occupied by a sample;

a magnetic resonance measurement device having a sample area; and

a fluidic sample delivery system having a sample container and a delivery system for transporting liquid samples to the concentrating magnet system and the sample area.

16. The magnetic resonance system of claim 15, wherein the sample container is a flow cell and the concentrating magnetic system comprises a permanent magnet and a flux concentrator in proximity to the flow cell, wherein the flux concentrator conveys magnetic flux from the permanent magnet into the flow cell, thereby producing a non-uniform magnetic field throughout the flow cell.

17. The magnetic resonance system of claim 16, wherein the flux concentrator is a field-concentrating pole piece.

18. The magnetic resonance system of claim 17, wherein the flux concentrator is shaped to produce a linear magnetic field region along the surface of the flow cell.

20. The magnetic resonance system of claim 15, wherein the concentrating magnet system comprises a disk-shaped permanent magnet topped with a shaped pole piece that redirects magnetic flux from the permanent magnet to the sample container.

21. The magnetic resonance system of claim 20, wherein the shaped pole piece is a circular steel disk comprising semi-circular notches cut from the circumference of the disk and spaces between the semi-circular notches, wherein the sample container is between two circular notches and the pole piece emits the redirected magnetic flux radially to the sample container.

22. The magnetic resonance system of claim 21, wherein the disk-shaped permanent magnet is a NdFeB permanent magnet disk.

23. The magnetic resonance system of claim 22, wherein the NdFeB permanent magnet disk has a strength of 42 MGOe.

24. The magnetic resonance system of claim 15, wherein the concentrating magnet system produces a non-uniform radial gradient magnetic field with a magnetic field of 0.7 Tesla in the area occupied by the sample that is closest to the pole piece and a magnetic field of 0.2 Tesla in the area occupied by the sample that is farthest from the pole piece.

19. (canceled)

25. A magnetic resonance system comprising:

a magnet system which generates a magnetic field in an area occupied by a sample so as to magnetize paramagnetic bodies placed in the system and to generate dipole-dipole forces among those bodies;

a magnetic resonance measurement device having a sample area; and

a fluidic sample delivery system having a sample container and a delivery system for transporting liquid samples to the concentrating magnet system and the an area occupied by the sample.