Medical Imaging
Mechanical Force Detection of Magnetic Fields Using Heterodyne Demodulation
WARF: P04127US
Inventors: Daniel van der Weide, Charles Paulson, Thomas Grist, Modhurin Banerjee
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) is seeking commercial partners interested in developing a new, high-frequency magnetic field detector that uses mechanical force to directly detect a magnetic field.
Overview
Although detecting high-frequency magnetic fields is important in MRI, NMR and magnetic resonance force microscopes, it is more difficult to design magnetic field sensors at high frequencies (greater than 1 GHz) than at low frequencies. The sensors most commonly used for high-frequency magnetic sensing are inductive coils, where current induced in a coil is measured and the magnetic field is inferred from this measurement.
The Invention
UW-Madison researchers have developed a new, high-frequency magnetic field detector that uses mechanical force to directly detect a magnetic field. The device incorporates a coil-on-cantilever design, with a conductive loop placed on a vibrating cantilever beam with one fixed end. The frequency of the alternating current in the loop is chosen so the magnitude of the cantilever’s mechanical vibration at its mechanical resonant frequency reflects the magnitude of the magnetic field. The vibration of the cantilever is then detected by reflecting a laser beam off a reflective portion at the cantilever’s free end.
Applications
- Detecting alternating magnetic fields in extremely narrow frequency ranges for MRI, NMR or magnetic resonance force microscopes
Key Benefits
- Significantly reduces noise and improves sensitivity as compared to inductive coil sensors
- Could improve the spatial resolution of MRI devices
- Minimizes the amount of metal in the vicinity of the MRI magnetic field
- Can be adapted for NMR analysis
- Compact size
- Multiple cantilevers and loops can be integrated into a single device to allow simultaneous parallel detection of multiple frequencies.
Additional Information
For More Information About the Inventors
For current licensing status, please contact Jeanine Burmania at [javascript protected email address] or 608-960-9846