A Uniform Magnetic Field Generator Combined with a Thin-Film Magneto-Impedance Sensor Capable of Human Body Scans

A detection system for magnetic inclusions of large bulk, such as that of a whole human body, is proposed in this paper. The system consists of both a uniform magnetic field generating apparatus capable of the insertion of a whole human body and also of a high-sensitivity magnetic sensor array installed in the strong magnetic field. The system can detect the magnetic inclusion simultaneously through its magnetization, which is advantageous for detecting low-remanence magnetic materials, such as a cluster of nanoparticles. The thin-film magneto-impedance sensor was reported to be capable of tolerating strong magnetic fields of more than 3000 Gauss (0.3 T) in the substrate’s normal direction and can retain its sensitivity even in strong fields. Through a combination of both uniformity of strength and the placement of its directionally aligned, static magnetic field in a particular measurement area and its array of single-dimensional thin-film magneto-impedance sensors, it was reported that it can estimate a magnetic sample’s 3D position by using a simple equation. The aim of the system developed in this study is to nondestructively detect a cluster of magnetic nanoparticles in a human body and also to detect the position and the concentration of the clustered magnetic particles. In this paper, a prototype system consisting of a magnetic field generator with an area of W500 mm × L400 mm × H210 mm and a uniform magnetic field of 370 Gauss (37 mT) is reported. It also reported that the thin-film magneto-impedance sensor installed in the system verified the detection of 2 mm × 1 mm small ellipsoidal magnetic chips at a distance of 27 mm from the sensor element.