Microwire-controlled autoclave and method

The combination comprising:

• an object treatment chamber;
• an object to be treated positioned within said chamber;
• a magnetically susceptible microwire sensor element associated with said object within said chamber and operable to sense a parameter related to the temperature of the object during the treatment thereof;
• and
• a detector including an antenna assembly proximal to said chamber and operable to generate an alternating magnetic field in the region of said sensor, and to detect a magnetic response of said sensor as a measure of said parameter.

A method of at least in part controlling a process for treatment of an object within a closed chamber, comprising the steps of:

• providing a chamber configured to hold an object to treated, and a magnetically susceptible microwire sensor element associated with said object and operable to sense a parameter related to the temperature of the object during the treatment thereof;
• generating an alternating magnetic field in the region of said sensor;
• detecting a response of the sensor element to said generated field, and using the detected response to at least in part determine said parameter;
• and
• using said detected parameter to at least in part control said process.