Patent ID: 8310232

Claim:
A device for the detection of one or more analytes, the device comprising: (i) a permanent magnet defining a magnetic field; (ii) a support defining a well for holding a liquid sample comprising magnetic particles and the one or more analytes and having an RF coil disposed about the well, the RF coil configured to detect an echo response produced by exposing the liquid sample to a bias magnetic field created using the permanent magnet and an RF excitation; (iii) an electrical element in communication with the RF coil, the electrical element configured to amplify, rectify, transmit, and/or digitize the signal corresponding to the echo response; and (iv) a removable cartridge sized for convenient insertion into and removal from the device and having a compartment comprising one or more populations of magnetic particles having binding moieties on their surfaces, wherein the binding moieties are operative to alter an aggregation of the magnetic particles in the presence of the one or more analytes.