Sensor device with magnetic washing means
AssigneeKoninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
InventorsJeroen Hans Nieuwenhuis, Petrus Johannes Wilhelmu van Lankvelt
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Abstract
The invention relates to a sensor device, particularly a magnetic sensor device (200), for detecting magnetic particles (2) in a sensitive region (202) of a sample chamber (201). Magnetic particles (1) can be moved with the help of magnetic forces from the sensitive region (202) into a dump region (203), which is arranged such that the magnetic particles (1) cannot return to the sensitive region (202) by pure sedimentation. The separation between the sensitive and the dump region can optionally be enforced by a barrier (204).
Claims10
A microelectronic sensor device (100, 200) for the detection of magnetic particles (1, 2), comprising
- a) a sample chamber (101, 201) in which a fluid containing the magnetic particles (1, 2) can be provided;
- b) at least one sensor element (111, 211) for detecting magnetic particles (2) in an associated sensitive region (102, 202) at the bottom of the sample chamber;
- c) a magnetic manipulator (120, 220) for moving magnetic particles (1) from the sensitive region (102, 202) to a dump region (103, 203) of the sample chamber, wherein magnetic particles cannot reach the sensitive region (102, 202) from the dump region (103, 203) by sedimentation.
A method for the detection of magnetic particles (1, 2), comprising the following steps:
- a) providing a sample fluid containing the magnetic particles (1, 2) in a sample chamber (101, 201);
- b) moving magnetic particles (1) with magnetic forces from a sensitive region (102, 202) at the bottom of the sample chamber (101, 201) to a dump region (103, 203) of the sample chamber, wherein magnetic particles (1) cannot reach the sensitive region (102, 202) from the dump region (103, 203) by sedimentation;
- c) detecting magnetic particles (2) in the sensitive region (102, 202).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.