Digital Barcode Nanowire Magnetic Decoding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing miniaturized and multiplexed bio-analysis devices for disease diagnosis and genomics face challenges with laser-based instrumentation requirements, high costs, and difficulties in distinguishing barcode segments in nanowires due to optical detection limitations and interference issues, as well as the vulnerability of magnetic planar tags to external magnetic fields.
Innovation Solution
A digital barcode nano-wire system using hard magnetic and non-magnetic segments with a spacer, coated with gold or silver, and employing magnetic sensors for decoding, which allows for alignment, sorting, and encoding with pulsed magnetic fields, enabling cost-effective and compact bio-sensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If laser-based instrumentation is used for decoding barcodes in nanowires, then decoding capability is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical detection systems (lasers, CCD cameras) with a magnetic detection system. Magnetic sensors detect the magnetic signature of hard magnetic segments in the barcode nanowires, eliminating the need for complex laser-based instrumentation while achieving the same decoding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from optical properties (reflectance, color) to magnetic properties (magnetic moment, magnetization pattern). This parameter change enables simpler detection using magnetic sensors instead of complex optical systems.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If optical detection is used for nanowire barcodes, then barcode information can be read, but detection precision deteriorates due to nanowire diameter limits and interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes optical detection with magnetic detection. Magnetic sensors can detect the magnetic fields generated by hard magnetic segments in nanowires without being limited by optical diffraction limits or interference issues that plague optical detection of such small structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite nanowire structures containing hard magnetic segments (for encoding) and soft magnetic segments (for magnetic coupling to beads). This composite structure enables magnetic detection with high precision while maintaining the nanoscale dimensions of the wires.
3Adaptability or versatility
If soft magnetic materials are used in planar tags, then magnetic encoding is possible, but reliability decreases due to low remanence and vulnerability to external fields
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different magnetic properties to different segments of the nanowire. Hard magnetic segments (with high remanence) are used for encoding information, while soft magnetic segments are used for magnetic coupling to beads. This local differentiation of material properties enables both encoding capability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite nanowires with alternating hard and soft magnetic segments. The hard magnetic segments provide stable, external-field-resistant encoding, while the soft magnetic segments enable magnetic coupling to beads for manipulation and detection, achieving both versatility and reliability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If color-coded microbeads are used for multiplexing, then probe identification is achieved, but cost and device complexity increase due to laser and CCD requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical detection (lasers, CCD cameras) with magnetic detection using simple magnetic sensors. This substitution maintains multiplexing capability through magnetic barcode identification while dramatically reducing device complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses inexpensive magnetic nanowire barcodes that can be synthesized through simple electrodeposition processes, replacing expensive color-coded microbeads that require complex optical detection systems. The magnetic barcodes achieve the same multiplexing function at lower cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enables efficient decoding of biomolecules using magnetic sensors, increasing multiplexing ability and reducing costs by eliminating the need for laser-based instrumentation, while being resistant to external magnetic interference.
Implementation Method 1
a hard magnetic segment showing digital information
Implementation Method 2
a coating film coating the hard magnetic segment, the spacer and the non-magnetic segment surface with gold (Au) or silver (Ag)
Implementation Method 3
Decoding the information on the planar tags requires optical detection which is expensive to procure
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a barcode nano-wire for decoding a hard magnetic segment by using highly sensitive magnetic sensors and a bio-sensing system using the barcode nano-wire. Integration of hard magnetic and non-magnetic segments produces the barcode nanowire and magnetic segments are detected using highly sensitive magnetoresistance sensors. The non-magnetic segment uses a non-magnetic material and a specific biomolecule for bioanalysis is immobilized at a specific portion of the barcode nano-wire. The hard magnetic material has an advantage of higher coercivity and high remanence magnetization, which is considered as an important parameter in selecting the material. The hard magnetic segments produce distinguishable strong stray fields for individually detecting segments using conventional magnetic sensors for multiplexed bioanalysis.