Patent ID: 8143073
Filing Date: 2012-03-27
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for carrying out an analysis process wherein probe molecules, immobilized on a substrate within an analysis area, are brought into contact with an analyte solution which contains target molecules as reaction partners, reaction events are detected between the target molecules and the probe molecules with the aid of magnetic marker particles coupled to at least one of the target molecules and the probe molecules, and a bonding force of the reaction events is determined by magnetic fields generated by the magnetic marker particles, the apparatus comprising: a flow cell including the analyte solution; a substrate within the flow cell including the analysis area and the probe molecules immobilized in the analysis area; sensors for magnetic-field measurement, the sensors being sensitive to the magnetic fields generated by the magnetic marker particles; first means for at least one of fluidic open-loop and closed-loop control; second means for production of at least an inhomogeneous magnetic field acting at least at times in the analysis area and for the removal of unbound magnetic marker particles coupled to target molecules from the analysis area using the at least one inhomogeneous magnetic field, the second means including a first coil pair formed from two axially separated coils having different diameters; third means for magnetic-field control of the sensors for magnetic-field measurement; fourth means for detection and evaluation of measurement values; and fifth means for correlation of the magnetic field generated by the magnetic marker particles and the bonding forces, wherein the first to fifth means form sequence control for determination of the bonding forces of the reaction events, wherein the two axially separated coils are arranged with their turn planes parallel to a flat plane of the analysis area and enclose the substrate between them, with one coil of the two axially separated coils arranged on an analysis side of the substrate and having a smaller diameter than the other coil of the two axially separated coils, the second means includes a second coil pair designed and arranged in the same way as the first coil pair, but with one coil of the two axially separated coils being arranged on the analysis side of the substrate and having a larger diameter than the other coil of the two axially separated coils, and the inhomogeneous magnetic field is produced by the one coil of the first coil pair having a different diameter than the other coil of the first coil pair, and the one coil of the second coil pair having a different diameter than the other coil of the second coil pair; and wherein the coils which are respectively associated with one side of the substrate are in the same plane.