US 11,747,329 B2
Magnetic gradient concentrator/reluctance detector for molecule detection
Daniel Bedau, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 19, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/823,592.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/938,984, filed on Nov. 22, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0156851 A1, May 27, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 33/543 (2006.01); G01N 33/58 (2006.01); G01N 33/573 (2006.01); G01N 33/542 (2006.01); C12Q 1/6869 (2018.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); G01N 27/74 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 33/54326 (2013.01) [B01L 3/502 (2013.01); C12Q 1/6869 (2013.01); G01N 27/745 (2013.01); G01N 33/542 (2013.01); G01N 33/54373 (2013.01); G01N 33/573 (2013.01); G01N 33/585 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A detection device, comprising:
one or more pole pieces;
at least one magnetic component configured to generate a magnetic field through the one or more pole pieces;
a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors coupled to at least one of the one or more pole pieces; and
detection circuitry coupled to the plurality of sensors, wherein the detection circuitry is configured to detect a characteristic of each of the plurality of sensors, the characteristic indicating presence or absence of one or more magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) coupled to at least one of a plurality of molecules to be detected;
and wherein:
at least one of the one or more pole pieces is operable to draw the one or more MNPs toward at least one of the plurality of sensors;
a first subset of the plurality of sensors is arranged in a first row;
a second subset of the plurality of sensors is arranged in a second row, the second row being substantially parallel to the first row; and
at least one reagent area is disposed between the first and second rows.