Provided is a magneto-resistance effect element formed by sequentially laminating a ferromagnetic fixing layer, a ferromagnetic free layer, and a protective layer, which is capable of efficiently detecting the magnetic field above the magneto-resistance effect element without deteriorating the function as the magnetic sensor. The GMR laminated film for the magneto-resistance effect element includes the ferromagnetic free layer, and the protective layer formed on the ferromagnetic free layer to be protected from oxidation. The protective layer is formed as an oxide antiferromagnetic substance, and has its film thickness of 10 nm or smaller.

The inventive concepts presented herein relate to methods of identifying molecules identification of molecules using apparatuses including: electromagnetic write-head(s); magneto-resistive read sensor(s), and processor(s). An exemplary method includes scanning one or more of a plurality of biosample tracks of a biosample substrate using an electromagnetic write-head to magnetically excite one or more molecules of interest using an alternating magnetic field. The one or more molecules of interest are disposed on one or more of the biosample tracks. A resonant response of the one or more molecules of interest is measured using a magneto-resistive sensor. The resonant response is compared to a table of known resonant responses to identify the one or more molecules of interest.

A measurement system includes a container configured to contain a solvated target molecule and at least one magnetoresistive (MR) sensor device including at least one MR sensor disposed near the container and configured to measure a magnetic field generated by the solvated target molecule, each of the at least one MR sensor including a pin layer having a pinned direction of magnetization, a free layer having a direction of magnetization that varies with an applied magnetic field, and a non-conductive layer separating the pin layer and the free layer.

The present invention relates to systems and methods that utilize a combination of immunoassay and magnetic immunoassay techniques to detect an analyte within an extended range of specified concentrations. In particular, a device includes a housing, a heterogeneous surface capture immunosensor within the housing and configured to generate a first signal indicative of the concentration of the analyte in an upper concentration range, and a homogeneous magnetic bead capture immunosensor within the housing and configured to generate a second signal indicative of the concentration of the analyte in a lower concentration range.

A non-invasive drug release monitoring and quantification method and system is provided using magnetic particle imaging to monitor in vivo drug release. A living body is imaged with a magnetic particle imager after the living body has been injected with a nanocomposite composed of a biodegradable polymer shell layer containing a cluster of magnetic nanoparticles and a drug. A magnetic particle signal is detected and obtained which represents the release of magnetic nanoparticles from the PLGA shell layer, which is the result of a disassembly of the biodegradable polymer shell layer due to biological degradation of the biodegradable polymer shell layer in an acidic environment of the living body resulting in drug release and magnetic nanoparticle release. The release of the drug in the living body is quantified using a previously obtained reference linear relationship defined between the magnetic particle signal and the drug release rate.

A magnetic particle imaging apparatus includes magnets [106,107] that produce a gradient magnetic field having a field free region (FFR), excitation field electromagnets [102,114] that produce a radiofrequency magnetic field within the field free region, high-Q receiving coils [112] that detect a response of magnetic particles in the field free region to the excitation field. Field translation electromagnets create a homogeneous magnetic field displacing the field-free region through the field of view (FOV) allowing the imaging region to be scamled to optimize scan time, scanning power, amplifier heating, SAR, dB/dt, and/or slew rate. Efficient multi-resolution scanning techniques are also provided. Intermodulated low and radio-frequency excitation signals are processed to produce an image of a distribution of the magnetic nanoparticles within the imaging region. A single composite image is computed using deconvolution of multiple signals at different harmonics.

The present disclosure is directed towards characterizing liquids through the use of magnetic discs that rotate in response to dynamic magnetic fields. In some embodiments, a light beam is transmitted into the liquid while the magnetic discs rotate, and one or more parameters of a light beam signal associated with the transmitted light beam are identified. Various characteristics of the liquid may be detected based on the one or more parameters of the light beam signal.

A device for magnetically detecting microscopic biological objects includes a microfluidic channel having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet; a plurality of magnetic sensors arranged against an inner wall of the microfluidic channel; and a permanent magnet arranged against an outer wall of the microfluidic channel, in such a way that the plurality of magnetic sensors is immersed in a magnetic field created by the permanent magnet; the plurality of magnetic sensors including a first magnetic sensor; a second magnetic sensor opposite the first magnetic sensor; a third magnetic sensor downstream of the first and second magnetic sensors.

A significant enhancement of detection capabilities of the room temperature MPQ is seen using optical lithography-defined, ferromagnetic iron-nickel alloy microdisks. Irreversible transitions between strongly non-collinear (vortex) and a collinear single domain states, driven by an ac magnetic field, translate into a nonlinear magnetic response that enables ultrasensitive detection of material at relatively small magnetic fields.

A magnetic sensor includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface, which is opposite the first surface, and a detection unit provided on the first surface. The detection unit includes a magnetoresistive effect element, the resistance value of which changes in accordance with an input magnetic field, provided on the first surface, and a protective layer that covers at least the magnetoresistive effect element. The magnetoresistive effect element is configured in a linear shape extending in a first direction on the first surface. The detection unit has a first width, which is a length in a second direction, orthogonal to the first direction, and a second length, which is greater than the first width. The first width is the length of the detection unit on the first surface, and the second width is the length of the top surface of the detection unit.