Patent ID: 8318093

Claim:
A spin valve detector array useful for the detection of magnetic nanoparticles, the detector array comprising: a plurality of detection sites, wherein each of the plurality of detection sites comprise: a first ferromagnetic layer; a non-magnetic layer facially contacting the first ferromagnetic layer; a second ferromagnetic layer facially contacting the non-magnetic layer; an ultrathin passivation layer facially contacting the second ferromagnetic layer; and a binding molecule bonded to the passivation layer, wherein the binding molecule is at least one of a nucleic acid, a natural DNA, a synthetic DNA, a natural RNA, a synthetic RNA, a peptide, a protein, an antibody, a lipid, a virus, a polymer, a toxin compound, a pharmaceutical compound, a biohazard compound, or an explosive compound; a DC bias field source; and an AC tickling field source.