Wurm David, Ewert Peter, Fierlinger Peter, Wakai Ronald T, Wallner Verena, Wunderl Lena, Wacker-Gußmann Annette
Chair E66, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, 80636 Munich, Germany.
Department of Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatric Cardiology, German Heart Center, 80636 Munich, Germany.
J Clin Med. 2023 May 10;12(10):3380. doi: 10.3390/jcm12103380.
Fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG) is considered the best technique for diagnosis of fetal arrhythmia. It is superior to more widely used methods such as fetal, fetal electrocardiography, and cardiotocography for evaluation of fetal rhythm. The combination of fMCG and fetal echocardiography can provide a more comprehensive evaluation of fetal cardiac rhythm and function than is currently possible. In this study, we demonstrate a practical fMCG system based on optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs).
Seven pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies underwent fMCG at 26-36 weeks' gestation. The recordings were made using an OPM-based fMCG system and a person-sized magnetic shield. The shield is much smaller than a shielded room and provides easy access with a large opening that allows the pregnant woman to lie comfortably in a prone position.
The data show no significant loss of quality compared to data acquired in a shielded room. Measurements of standard cardiac time intervals yielded the following results: PR = 104 ± 6 ms, QRS = 52.6 ± 1.5 ms, and QTc = 387 ± 19 ms. These results are compatible with those from prior studies performed using superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) fMCG systems.
To our knowledge, this is the first European fMCG device with OPM technology commissioned for basic research in a pediatric cardiology unit. We demonstrated a patient-friendly, comfortable, and open fMCG system. The data yielded consistent cardiac intervals, measured from time-averaged waveforms, compatible with published SQUID and OPM data. This is an important step toward making the method widely accessible.
胎儿磁心动图（fMCG）被认为是诊断胎儿心律失常的最佳技术。在评估胎儿心律方面，它优于更广泛使用的方法，如胎儿心电图和胎心监护。fMCG与胎儿超声心动图相结合，能够比目前更全面地评估胎儿心律和功能。在本研究中，我们展示了一种基于光泵磁力仪（OPM）的实用fMCG系统。
7名妊娠过程正常的孕妇在妊娠26至36周时接受了fMCG检查。记录使用基于OPM的fMCG系统和一个适合人体大小的磁屏蔽装置进行。该屏蔽装置比屏蔽室小得多，有一个大开口，便于进入，能让孕妇舒适地俯卧。
与在屏蔽室获取的数据相比，数据质量没有明显下降。标准心脏时间间期的测量结果如下：PR = 104 ± 6毫秒，QRS = 52.6 ± 1.5毫秒，QTc = 387 ± 19毫秒。这些结果与先前使用超导量子干涉装置（SQUID）fMCG系统进行的研究结果相符。
据我们所知，这是第一台在儿科心脏病科用于基础研究的采用OPM技术的欧洲fMCG设备。我们展示了一个对患者友好、舒适且开放的fMCG系统。从时间平均波形测量得到的数据得出了一致的心脏间期，与已发表的SQUID和OPM数据相符。这是使该方法广泛可用的重要一步。
