Abstract: The present invention can provide a method of determining the presence, location, quantity, or a combination thereof, of a biological substance, comprising: (a) exposing a sample to a plurality of targeted nanoparticles, where each targeted nanoparticle comprises a paramagnetic nanoparticle conjugated with one or more targeting agents that preferentially bind with the biological substance, under conditions that facilitate binding of the targeting agent to at least one of the one or more biological substances; (b) subjecting the sample to a magnetic field of sufficient strength to induce magnetization of the nanoparticles; (c) measuring a magnetic field of the sample after decreasing the magnetic field applied in step b below a threshold; (d) determining the presence, location, quantity, or a combination thereof, of the one or more biologic substances from the magnetic field measured in step (c).

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for detecting, measuring, or locating cells or substances present in even very low concentrations in vivo in subjects, using targeted magnetic nanoparticles and special magnetic systems. The magnetic systems can comprise magnetizing subsystems and sensors subsystems, including as examples SQUID sensors and atomic magnetometers. The magnetic systems can detect, measure, or location particles bound by antibodies to cells or substances of predetermined types. Example magnetic systems are capable of detecting sub-nanogram amounts of these nanoparticles.

Abstract: The present invention can provide a method of determining the communication of substances between a first region and a second region of a patient's body.

Abstract: The present invention can provide a method of determining the presence, location, quantity, or a combination thereof, of a biological substance, comprising: (a) exposing a sample to a plurality of targeted nanoparticles, where each targeted nanoparticle comprises a paramagnetic nanoparticle conjugated with one or more targeting agents that preferentially bind with the biological substance, under conditions that facilitate binding of the targeting agent to at least one of the one or more biological substances; (b) subjecting the sample to a magnetic field of sufficient strength to induce magnetization of the nanoparticles; (c) measuring a magnetic field of the sample after decreasing the magnetic field applied in step b below a threshold; (d) determining the presence, location, quantity, or a combination thereof, of the one or more biologic substances from the magnetic field measured in step (c).

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for detecting, measuring, or locating cells or substances present in even very low concentrations in vivo in subjects, using targeted magnetic nanoparticles and special magnetic systems. The magnetic systems can comprise magnetizing subsystems and sensors subsystems, including as examples SQUID sensors and atomic magnetometers. The magnetic systems can detect, measure, or location particles bound by antibodies to cells or substances of predetermined types. Example magnetic systems are capable of detecting sub-nanogram amounts of these nanoparticles.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods of detecting cancer, methods of treating cancer using targeted hyperthermia, methods of treating cancer using targeted chemical agents, methods of treating cancer comprising accurate measurements of the efficacy of treatments. The effect of nanoparticles on magnetic fields can be used to determine the location of a tumor, and a measure of the number of cells in the tumor. This location and measure can be used to guide therapy, and provide information regarding the most effective therapy to be applied. The same nanoparticles can be used to facilitate hyperthermia treatments, and to allow targeted application of chemical therapeutic agents.

Abstract: A Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetic sensor system and method can image organic transplant condition, such as status, acceptance, or rejection, in-vivo. This represents a major advane in transplant imaging technology with a new market for biomagnetic sensor devices. In-vivo transplant condition determination provides a greater range of imaging methodologies over existing methods in sensitivity, and enables early detection of rejection with the ability to determine the need for anti-rejection drugs.

Abstract: A method for measuring the average viscosity of a test fluid uses calibrated magnetic nanoparticles, with certain chosen hydrodynamic diameters and actual lateral dimensions (e.g. diameters), that are mixed into a small volume of the test fluid and a single magnetic relaxation curve measurement to provide data for viscosity determination. The distribution of hydrodynamic particle sizes of an ensemble of magnetic nanoparticles that are magnetically blocked at room temperature can be determined. Modifications of the method can be used to determine the distribution of viscosities in a complex fluid at the sub-microscopic level providing a novel type of viscosity measurement.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing biopsies in-vivo using magnetically labeled nanoparticles is disclosed. One embodiment of the apparatus is called a magnetic needle. When used in a biopsy, one embodiment of the present invention collects diseased cells in-vivo which have been tagged with magnetic nanoparticles coated with receptors for specific diseased cells.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing biopsies in-vivo using magnetically labeled nanoparticles is disclosed. One embodiment of the apparatus is called a magnetic needle. When used in a biopsy, one embodiment of the present invention collects diseased cells in-vivo which have been tagged with magnetic nanoparticles coated with receptors for specific diseased cells.

Abstract: The present invention can provide a method of determining the presence, location, quantity, or a combination thereof, of a biological substance, comprising: (a) exposing a sample to a plurality of targeted nanoparticles, where each targeted nanoparticle comprises a paramagnetic nanoparticle conjugated with one or more targeting agents that preferentially bind with the biological substance, under conditions that facilitate binding of the targeting agent to at least one of the one or more biological substances; (b) subjecting the sample to a magnetic field of sufficient strength to induce magnetization of the nanoparticles; (c) measuring a magnetic field of the sample after decreasing the magnetic field applied in step b below a threshold; (d) determining the presence, location, quantity, or a combination thereof, of the one or more biologic substances from the magnetic field measured in step (c).

Abstract: SQUID imaging of a subject's head after the subject having been administered superparamagnetic nanoparticles comprising: an iron-containing core, a coating covering the core and a probe molecule conjugated to the coating wherein the probe molecule locates the superparamagnetic nanoparticle to a target in the brain that is characteristic of the neurodegenerative disease; magnetizing the superparamagnetic nanoparticles using external magnetic coils; and measuring the decaying remanence magnetic fields of the superparamagnetic nanoparticles attached to the target and not from unattached superparamagnetic nanoparticles to obtain magnetic field measurements.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing biopsies in-vivo using magnetically labeled nanoparticles is disclosed. One embodiment of the apparatus is called a magnetic needle. When used in a biopsy, one embodiment of the present invention collects cancer cells in-vivo which have been tagged with magnetic nanoparticles coated with antibodies for specific cancer or tumor cells.

Abstract: An improved pick-up coil system for use with Superconducting Quantum Interference Device gradiometers and magnetometers involving the use of superconducting plates near conventional pick-up coil arrangements to provide imaging of nearby dipole sources and to deflect environmental magnetic noise away from the pick-up coils. This allows the practice of gradiometry and magnetometry in magnetically unshielded environments. One embodiment uses a hemispherically shaped superconducting plate with interior pick-up coils, allowing brain wave measurements to be made on human patients. another embodiment using flat superconducting plates could be used in non-destructive evaluation of materials.