Abstract: A magnetic nanoparticle imaging system has driving coils driven at multiple frequencies, the driving coils positioned to provide magnetic fields and field gradients to an imaging zone, and a static bias field magnet positioned to provide a static magnetic field and/or field gradient to the imaging zone. Magnetic sensors are positioned to sense magnetic fields from the imaging zone, and a signal processor processes signals from the sensors to find at least signal magnitude and phase at harmonics and/or intermodulation products of the multiple frequencies. In embodiments, the signal processing apparatus also determines signal magnitudes and phase of at least second and third harmonics of the first frequency, and maps location of nanoparticles in the imaging zone based upon the magnitudes of harmonics and magnitudes of the intermodulation products.

Abstract: A magnetic nanoparticle imaging system has driving coils driven at multiple frequencies, the driving coils positioned to provide magnetic fields and field gradients to an imaging zone, and a static bias field magnet positioned to provide a static magnetic field and/or field gradient to the imaging zone. Magnetic sensors are positioned to sense magnetic fields from the imaging zone, and a signal processor processes signals from the sensors to find at least signal magnitude and phase at harmonics and/or intermodulation products of the multiple frequencies. In embodiments, the signal processing apparatus also determines signal magnitudes and phase of at least second and third harmonics of the first frequency, and maps location of nanoparticles in the imaging zone based upon the magnitudes of harmonics and magnitudes of the intermodulation products.

Abstract: A system for magnetic assessment of body iron stores includes excitation coils adapted to generate multiple-frequency alternating current (AC) magnetic fields and to partially magnetically saturate iron. The system further includes one or more detection coils adapted to detect the AC magnetic fields. A signal processor uses lock-in amplifiers and linear regression to measures changes to the multiple-frequency AC magnetic fields caused by proximity to iron. A method for magnetic assessment of body iron stores includes generating multiple-frequency AC magnetic fields and detecting changes to the AC magnetic fields caused by proximity to iron. The method further includes partially magnetically saturating iron, thereby generating non-linear responses, harmonic frequencies, and intermodulation frequencies.

Abstract: A magnetic susceptibility tomographic device has sensitive magnetic sensors about a measurement volume and AC bias coils for providing magnetic fields within the volume. Sensing circuitry reads the sensors, and a processor executes magnetic susceptibility tomography (MST) routines from memory to divide the measurement volume into voxels, to determine differences between applied and measured field strengths of magnetic fields at each voxel and thereby determines magnetic susceptibility of each voxel, and to construct tomographic images representative of magnetic susceptibility as MST images. Embodiments with SQUID and fluxgate sensors are described. Applications to direct measurement of tissue magnetic susceptibility, and to locating and quantifying tagged magnetic nanoparticles are disclosed, including antibody-tagged nanoparticles for use in cancer diagnosis and treatments, and the retrieval of taggant identification codes from an object.

Abstract: A magnetic susceptibility tomographic device has sensitive magnetic sensors about a measurement volume and AC bias coils for providing magnetic fields within the volume. Sensing circuitry reads the sensors, and a processor executes magnetic susceptibility tomography (MST) routines from memory to divide the measurement volume into voxels, to determine differences between applied and measured field strengths of magnetic fields at each voxel and thereby determines magnetic susceptibility of each voxel, and to construct tomographic images representative of magnetic susceptibility as MST images. Embodiments with SQUID and fluxgate sensors are described. Applications to direct measurement of tissue magnetic susceptibility, and to locating and quantifying tagged magnetic nanoparticles are disclosed, including antibody-tagged nanoparticles for use in cancer diagnosis and treatments, and the retrieval of taggant identification codes from an object.

Abstract: An authentication method based on the use of an inanimate physical object that includes storing first object data in a storage medium, wherein the first object data is generated based on a first image of at least a portion of the physical object, capturing a second image of the at least a portion of the physical object, and generating second object data based on the second image. The method further includes searching the storage medium and determining that the second object data and the first object data are a match, and authenticating an individual associated with the physical object in response that determination. Also provided are embodiments of an authentication system that may be adapted to implement the method.

Abstract: An authentication method based on the use of an inanimate physical object that includes storing first object data in a storage medium, wherein the first object data is generated based on a first image of at least a portion of the physical object, capturing a second image of the at least a portion of the physical object, and generating second object data based on the second image. The method further includes searching the storage medium and determining that the second object data and the first object data are a match, and authenticating an individual associated with the physical object in response that determination. Also provided are embodiments of an authentication system that may be adapted to implement the method.

Abstract: A lock system that includes a passively powered lock device having an electric lock mechanism and a key device having a power supply, wherein the key device stores a lock credential associated with the lock device. The key device is structured to be operatively coupled to the lock device. The key device is also structured to provide power to the lock device for powering the lock device and moving the electric lock mechanism from a locked condition to an unlocked condition when the key device is operatively coupled to the lock device. The lock device is structured to receive an authentication message from the key device, verify based on the authentication message that the key device stores the lock credential, and move the electric lock mechanism from the locked condition to the unlocked condition based on the verification that the key device stores the lock credential.