Detection of electromagnetic fields as a determinant of an event

• US 6,150,812 A
• Filed: 10/18/1996
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fermion Oy (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Fermion Oy (Smiths Group International Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Pinsky, Carl, LaBella, Frank S.
• Primary Examiner(s): STRECKER, GERARD R
• Application Number:
  US08/696,880
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 324/300, 324/309, 324/344, 324/345, 324/204, 324/224, 324/225, 324/228, 324/234, 324/239, 324/244, 324/248, 324/251, 324/260, 324/261, 324/71.1, 324/71.2, 324/425, 204/400, 204/403, 204/404, 600/407, 600/409
• US Class Current: 324/261
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/72 by investigating magnetic variables

Abstract

Method and apparatus for detecting or analyzing chemical reactions, such as an enzyme reaction, and other events in which electron translation is accompanied by photon emission utilizing a magnetometer probe to detect a change in electromagnetic field strength as a characterization of the event. The event may be of unknown cause and a recorded time course of the change in electromagnetic field strength may be compared with known events to determine the cause of the unknown cause event.

Claims

1. A method of detection of an unknown event in which electron translation is accompanied by photon emission, which comprises:

detecting changes in electromagnetic field strength, the electromagnetic field being produced by atomically- or molecularly-generated magnetic fields, said changes being caused by photon emission accompanying electron translation in the unknown event;

recording a time course of said changes in electromagnetic field strength; and

comparing said recorded time course with predetermined time courses of changes in electromagnetic field strength of known events in which electron translation is accompanied by photon emission so as to determine the cause of the unknown event.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said event comprises a chemical reaction, a molecular interaction and/or a change of state of matter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said event is an enzyme reaction and the electromagnetic consequences of such enzyme reaction are detected and measured from samples at temperatures which are optimum for the enzyme reaction of interest.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said analysis is effected by FAST FOURIER TRANSFORM (FFT) procedures.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said PFT procedures are enhanced, augmented and/or assisted by at least one other form of signal analysis.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said other forms of signal analysis is pattern recognition and/or wave trend forecasting.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said changes in electromagnetic field strength are detected by a magnetometer capable of generating an electrical signal of strength proportional to the electromagnetic field strength produced by the event.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said change in electromagnetic field strength is recorded by recording the change in strength of the electrical signal produced by the magnetometer.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said magnetometer means is a Hall-effect probe.

9. An apparatus for detecting and recording an unknown event in which electron translation is accompanied by photon emission, which comprises:

magnetometer means for generating an electrical signal of strength proportional to changes in electromagnetic field produced by atomically- or molecularly-generated fields, said changes being produced by the unknown event in which electron transmission is accompanied by photon emission,

recording means for recording a time course of said electrical signal produced by said magnetometer means and a period of time for which said electrical signal is produced by said unknown event; and

analysis means for analyzing a time course of said electrical signal recorded by said recording means and for comparing said recorded time course with predetermined time courses of changes in electromagnetic field strengths of known events in which electron translation is accompanied by photon emission so as to determine the cause of the unknown event.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said magnetometer means is a superconducting quantum-interference detector probe.