# US 9,040,311 B2 · Calibration assembly for aide in detection of analytes with electromagnetic read-write heads

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- Number: US 9,040,311 B2
- Document ID: US9040311B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/099,358
- Filed: 2011-05-03
- Published: 2012-11-08
- Granted: 2015-05-26
- Earliest claimed: 2011-05-03
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: David Berman; Dylan Joseph Boday; Icko E.T. Iben; Wayne Isami Imaino; Stephen Leonard Schwartz; Anna Wanda Topol; Daniel James Winarski
- Inventors: David Berman; Dylan Joseph Boday; Icko E.T. Iben; Wayne Isami Imaino; Stephen Leonard Schwartz; Anna Wanda Topol; Daniel James Winarski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9040311B2

## CPC

- G01R 33/0035: {Calibration of single magnetic sensors, e.g. integrated calibration}
- G01N 27/72: by investigating magnetic variables
- G01R 33/09: Magnetoresistive devices
- G01R 33/1269: {of molecules labeled with magnetic beads (magnetic particles for bio assay G01N33/54326)}
- G01R 35/00: Testing or calibrating of apparatus covered by the other groups of this subclass
- G01R 35/005: {Calibrating; Standards or reference devices, e.g. voltage or resistance standards, "golden" references (G01R33/0035, G01R35/002 take precedence)}
- G01N 27/745: {for detecting magnetic beads used in biochemical assays (concerning the assays G01N33/54326; sensors therefor G01R33/1269; automatic analysers therefor G01N35/0098)}
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

Described are embodiments to ensure that the equipment utilized to detect antigens is reliable and accurate. Accordingly, one embodiment of the invention includes a calibration assembly having nanoparticles, with known magnetic properties, spaced apart at known y-axis locations along the calibration assembly. In one embodiment, the calibration assembly may be used to calibrate a matched filter of the write and read circuitry. Because the calibration assembly comprises nanoparticles with known magnetic properties the read response of the read circuitry to a particular nanoparticle may be stored in the matched filter as an ideal signal for that nanoparticle. The ideal signal stored in the matched filter may then be utilized for reliably and accurately detecting antigens. Still further, the ideal signal stored within the matched filter of the write and read circuitry may be utilized in a correlation test of a calibration assembly to ensure that the calibration assembly is within a manufacturer's or user's acceptable standards for calibration of their write and read assemblies.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of forming a calibration assembly, the method comprising:
forming at least one calibration trench within an outer layer, wherein said calibration trench extends along a y-axis;
forming an encapsulation layer within said calibration trench;
providing a plurality of nanoparticles spaced apart along said y-axis in said encapsulation layer, wherein each of said plurality of nanoparticles are provided at a known y-axis locations in said calibration trench, and wherein each of said plurality of nanoparticles have a known magnetic property; and
curing said encapsulation layer such that said plurality of nanoparticles are encapsulated within said encapsulation layer at said known y-axis locations.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising forming a plurality of magnetic servo alignment marks on said calibration assembly.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein said step of forming said plurality of magnetic servo alignment marks further comprises forming at least one servo alignment trench in said outer layer, parallel to said calibration trench and forming said plurality of magnetic servo alignment marks within said servo alignment trench.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising magnetizing said plurality of nanoparticles.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein said outer layer is selected from the group consisting of diamond-like-carbon, polytetrafluoroethylene, aluminum oxide, and polyamides.