Opto-magnetic Sensor Using Oscillating Magnetic Field
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical sensor technologies face challenges with spurious phenomena such as temperature variations, sample evaporation, optical coupling variations, and mechanical instabilities, which lead to false positives and require extensive instrumentation and stabilization, making them less suitable for field applications.
Innovation Solution
An opto-magnetic device that uses superparamagnetic particles and an oscillating magnetic field to modulate the refraction index, allowing for rapid and accurate analyte concentration measurement by varying the magnetic field's gradient, thereby reducing the impact of spurious effects and enabling quicker signal acquisition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional optical sensors are used to measure analyte concentration, then measurement precision can be achieved, but spurious phenomena (temperature variations, evaporation, mechanical instabilities) cause false positives and require extensive stabilization instrumentation
Solution Approach 1:
Magnetic particles are introduced as intermediary elements that bind to analyte molecules and serve as transducers. These particles convert molecular recognition events into magnetic moment changes, which are then detected optically. This intermediary mechanism isolates the measurement from direct environmental interference, reducing spurious effects while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional direct optical sensing mechanisms with a magnetic-mediated detection system. Instead of measuring refractive index changes directly, the system uses magnetic particle oscillation in response to oscillating magnetic fields, converting the measurement mechanism from purely optical to magnetooptical, thereby reducing sensitivity to optical path instabilities
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional optical sensors are used, then analyte detection is possible, but extensive instrumentation and stabilization are required, making the system complex and unsuitable for field applications
Solution Approach 1:
Magnetic particles serve as portable intermediaries that enable detection in field conditions. Their magnetic properties allow for simple oscillation excitation and detection without requiring complex stabilization infrastructure, making the system adaptable to field applications while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses oscillating magnetic fields at specific frequencies to excite magnetic particles, creating a dynamic measurement regime. By modulating the magnetic field frequency and amplitude, the system can optimize signal detection while minimizing the impact of environmental disturbances, reducing the need for complex stabilization instrumentation
3Measurement precision
If magnetic particles are used to enhance sensitivity, then detection sensitivity increases, but the system remains vulnerable to spurious phenomena requiring additional control measures
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies periodic oscillating magnetic fields to excite magnetic particles at resonant frequencies. This periodic excitation creates a dynamic signal that can be distinguished from static or slowly varying spurious effects through frequency filtering, enhancing detection sensitivity while reducing vulnerability to environmental interference
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms to track and compensate for drift in magnetic particle resonance frequencies caused by environmental changes. By continuously monitoring the resonance characteristics and adjusting the excitation frequency accordingly, the system maintains high detection sensitivity while compensating for spurious effects
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 solution significantly reduces the impact of spurious phenomena, allowing for precise and rapid analyte concentration measurement within tens of seconds, improving the sensor's adaptability for field applications and increasing the signal/noise ratio.
Implementation Method 1
uses superparamagnetic particles and an oscillating magnetic field to modulate the refraction index
Implementation Method 2
uses superparameteric particles and an oscillating magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
An opto-magnetic device includes an integrated optical circuit having an input for an input optical radiation and at least one output for an output optical radiation. The optical circuit defines an area sensible to the variations of a local refraction index probed by the optical radiation, destined to come in contact with the sample. A plurality of probe molecules are included to anchor to the sensible area, and a plurality of magnetic particles are included to anchor to molecules of the analyte, bound to the probe molecules upon a molecular recognition. A magnetic actuator is configured to generate a variable magnetic field and oscillate the magnetic particles to cause variation of the refraction index probed by the optical radiation in the sensible area, and a variation of at least one characteristic parameter of the output optical radiation correlated to a concentration of the molecules of the analyte.