Adachi Yoshiaki, Kawabata Shigenori
Applied Electronics Laboratory, Kanazawa Institute of Technology, Kanazawa, Japan.
Department of Advanced Technology in Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Front Med Technol. 2024 Apr 16;6:1351905. doi: 10.3389/fmedt.2024.1351905. eCollection 2024.
We are engaged in the development and clinical application of a neural magnetic field measurement system that utilizes biomagnetic measurements to observe the activity of the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Unlike conventional surface potential measurements, biomagnetic measurements are not affected by the conductivity distribution within the body, making them less influenced by the anatomical structure of body tissues. Consequently, functional testing using biomagnetic measurements can achieve higher spatial resolution compared to surface potential measurements. The neural magnetic field measurement, referred to as magnetoneurography, takes advantage of these benefits to enable functional testing of the spinal cord and peripheral nerves, while maintaining high spatial resolution and noninvasiveness. Our magnetoneurograph system is based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) similar to the conventional biomagnetic measurement systems. Various design considerations have been incorporated into the SQUID sensor array structure and signal processing software to make it suitable for detecting neural signal propagation along spinal cord and peripheral nerve. The technical validation of this system began in 1999 with a 3-channel SQUID system. Over the course of more than 20 years, we have continued technological development through medical-engineering collaboration, and in the latest prototype released in 2020, neural function imaging of the spinal cord and peripheral nerves, which could also be applied for the diagnosis of neurological disorders, has become possible. This paper provides an overview of the technical aspects of the magnetoneurograph system, covering the measurement hardware and software perspectives for providing diagnostic information, and its applications. Additionally, we discuss the integration with a helium recondensing system, which is a key factor in reducing running costs and achieving practicality in hospitals.
我们致力于开发一种神经磁场测量系统并将其应用于临床，该系统利用生物磁测量来观察脊髓和周围神经的活动。与传统的表面电位测量不同，生物磁测量不受体内电导率分布的影响，因此受身体组织解剖结构的影响较小。因此，与表面电位测量相比，使用生物磁测量进行功能测试可以实现更高的空间分辨率。被称为磁神经图的神经磁场测量利用了这些优势，能够在保持高空间分辨率和非侵入性的同时，对脊髓和周围神经进行功能测试。我们的磁神经图系统基于与传统生物磁测量系统类似的超导量子干涉器件（SQUID）。在SQUID传感器阵列结构和信号处理软件中纳入了各种设计考量，使其适用于检测沿脊髓和周围神经的神经信号传播。该系统的技术验证始于1999年，当时使用的是一个3通道SQUID系统。在20多年的时间里，我们通过医学与工程的合作持续进行技术开发，在2020年发布的最新原型中，已经能够对脊髓和周围神经进行神经功能成像，这也可用于神经系统疾病的诊断。本文概述了磁神经图系统的技术方面，涵盖了用于提供诊断信息的测量硬件和软件方面及其应用。此外，我们还讨论了与氦气再冷凝系统的集成，这是降低运行成本并在医院实现实用性的关键因素。
