Magnetostrictive substance detection system and method

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A method of detecting the presence of a substance comprising providing a cantilever comprising a magnetostrictive material and having a resonant frequency which is at an original resonant frequency;

• receiving the substance on the cantilever causing the resonant frequency of the cantilever to change from the original resonant frequency;
• applying a magnetic field to the cantilever causing the resonant frequency to change to a reference resonant frequency;
• and sensing when the resonant frequency becomes the reference resonant frequency.

A substance detection system comprising a cantilever comprising a magnetostrictive material and having a resonant frequency which is at an original resonant frequency, the cantilever being arranged to receive the substance causing the resonant frequency of the cantilever to change from the original resonant frequency, the system further comprising a magnetic field generator arranged to apply a magnetic field to the cantilever causing the resonant frequency to change to a reference resonant frequency and a sensor arranged to sense when the resonant frequency becomes the reference resonant frequency.