Apparatus and method for detecting paramagnetic and superparamagnetic biomarkers

An apparatus for concentrating paramagnetic and/or superparamagnetic materials in a sample fluid, the apparatus comprising:

• a magnet container having a first end and a second end, wherein the magnet container includes therein a fluid, one or more magnets and a helix-shaped incline, wherein the helix-shaped incline has an annular configuration and a central through-hole, and
• a material container having a first end and a second end, wherein the material container is retained in the central through-hole of the helix-shaped incline of the magnet container so that the first end of the material container is aligned to the first end of the magnet container and the second end of the material container is aligned to the second end of the magnet container, and wherein the material container includes therein the sample fluid, wherein the sample fluid includes one or more paramagnetic and/or superparamagnetic materials,
• wherein the one or more magnets are positioned on the helix-shaped incline, which is configured to regulate a rate of descent by gravitational force of the one or more magnets in the fluid in the magnet container from the first end to the second end of the magnet container when the magnet container is oriented in a non-horizontal position at a rate that results in attraction of the paramagnetic and/or superparamagnetic materials in the sample fluid in the material container located in the central through-hole of the helix-shaped incline toward the one or more magnets as the one or more magnets move down the helix-shaped incline in the magnet container such that at least a portion of the paramagnetic and/or superparamagnetic materials moves in the material container in a direction and at a rate of descent that substantially matches the direction and rate of descent of the one or more magnets in the magnet container to thereby concentrate the at least a portion of the paramagnetic and/or superparamagnetic materials in the sample fluid in the material container.

An apparatus for concentrating paramagnetic and/or superparamagnetic materials in a sample fluid, the apparatus comprising:

• a cylindrical magnet container, wherein the magnet container includes therein a fluid and one or more magnets, wherein the fluid has a viscosity and the one or more magnets each has a size and a shape,
• an inclined plane having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the inclined plane is higher than the second end of the inclined plane,
• a material container having a first end and a second end, wherein the material container is positioned on the inclined plane so that the first end of the material container is aligned to the first end of the inclined plane and the second end of the material container is aligned to the second end of the inclined plane, and wherein the material container includes therein the sample fluid, wherein the sample fluid includes one or more paramagnetic and/or superparamagnetic materials, and
• means to maintain the magnet container on the material container when the cylindrical magnet container moves over the material container,
• wherein when the magnet container is placed on the material container, oriented to roll down from the first end to the second end of the inclined plane, and rolls down the inclined plane, the viscosity of the fluid and the size and shape of the one or more magnets are configured to regulate a rate of descent down the inclined plane by gravitational force of the one or more magnets in the fluid in the magnet container at a rate that results in attraction of the paramagnetic and/or superparamagnetic materials in the material container toward the one or more magnets as the magnet container moves down the inclined plane such that at least a portion of the paramagnetic and/or superparamagnetic materials moves in the sample fluid in the material container in a direction and at a rate of descent that substantially matches the direction and rate of descent of the magnet container to thereby concentrate the at least a portion of the paramagnetic and/or superparamagnetic materials in the sample fluid in the material container.