Method of determining state variables and changes in state variables

摘要

The present invention relates to a method of determining physical, chemical and/or biological state variables, particularly substance concentrations, temperature, pH and/or physical fields, and/or the change in these state variables in an examination area of an examination object by determining the change in the spatial distribution of magnetic particles in this examination area as a function of the effect of influencing variables on at least a partarea and/or in the conditions in at least a part-area of the examination area, by means of the following steps: a) introducing magnetic particles into at least part of the examination area in a first state in which in the examination area or in parts thereof at least some of the magnetic particles that are to be examined are agglomerated and/or coupled to one another in pairs or more, or introducing magnetic particles into at least part of the examination area in a second state in which the particles are deagglomerated and/or decoupled and can be agglomerated and/or coupled, b) generating a magnetic field with a spatial profile of the magnetic field strength such that there is produced in the examination area a first part-area having a low magnetic field strength and a second part-area having a higher magnetic field strength, c) changing the, in particular relative, spatial position of the two part-areas in the examination area or changing the magnetic field strength in the first part-area so that the magnetization of the particles is locally changed, d) detecting signals that depend on the magnetization in the examination area that is influenced by this change, and e) evaluating the signals so as to obtain information about the change in the spatial distribution of the magnetic particles and/or about physical, chemical and/or biological state variables or the change therein in the examination area. The invention further relates to magnetic particle compositions, in particular functionalized magnetic particle compositions and their use in a method according to the invention. The invention further also relates to an apparatus for the measurement of state variables in the examination area.

主权项

1. A method of determining physical, chemical and/or biological state variables in an examination area of an examination object by determining a change in a spatial distribution of magnetic particles in the examination area, the method comprising the acts of:
introducing into the examination area magnetic particles in a first state or in a second state wherein, in the first state, at least some of the magnetic particles that are to be examined are agglomerated and/or coupled to one another and wherein, in the second state, the particles are deagglomerated and/or decoupled; generating a magnetic field having a strength with a spatial profile such that there is produced in the examination area two part-areas including a first part-area having a low magnetic field strength and a second part-area having a higher magnetic field strength than the low magnetic field strength; changing spatial positions of the two part-areas in the examination area or changing the magnetic field strength in the first part-area to cause the change in the spatial distribution of magnetic particles so that magnetization of the particles is locally changed; detecting signals that depend on the magnetization in the examination area that is influenced by the changing act; evaluating the signals so as to obtain information about the change in the spatial distribution of the magnetic particles and about physical, chemical and/or biological state variables, wherein the physical, chemical and/or biological state variables include at least one of substance temperature, pressure, viscosity and pH; correlating the change in the spatial distribution of the magnetic particles in the examination area with at least one of a local temperature, pressure, viscosity and pH value to determine the at least one of the local substance temperature, pressure, viscosity and pH; determining the at least one of the local substance temperature, pressure, viscosity and pH; and providing an indication of the determined at least one of the local substance temperature, pressure, viscosity and pH.