SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MAGNETIC ASSESSMENT OF BODY IRON STORES

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A system for magnetic assessment of body iron stores, comprising:
a first excitation coil adapted to generate a magnetic field; a signal generator configured to provide alternating current (AC) signals with a plurality of different frequencies to the first excitation coil, thereby generating an AC magnetic field with a plurality of frequencies; one or more sensors adapted to detect the AC magnetic fields; and a signal processor coupled to the one or more sensors and adapted to measure changes to the AC magnetic fields caused by proximity of the first excitation coil and the one or more sensors to iron.