A SQUID magnetometer detects and measures magnetic fields generated by electric current, converting them into an electronic signal and producing a topographical map. It is used in medical applications, such as magnetoencephalography to map the function of neurons and magnetic cardiography to diagnose heart conditions. The equipment is contained within a cryogenic chamber cooled by liquid helium or nitrogen.
A superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer is an instrument for detecting and measuring magnetic fields generated by electric current. The magnetometer converts the magnetic fluctuations back into an electronic signal and transmits the signal to a monitoring device which produces a topographical map of the magnetic pulses. The sensitivity of a SQUID magnetometer allows it to be used as a medicinal diagnostic tool.
The SQUID magnetometer usually consists of a highly conductive coil connected to the sensor and probe. In medical applications, these components are usually contained within a cryogenic chamber called a Dewar. The apparatus is cooled by liquid helium or nitrogen. The temperature in this chamber can go as low as -459 degrees Fahrenheit (-273 degrees Celsius). The probe exits the chamber and connects to a flow ring, which transfers the signal to a monitor.
Magnetoencephalography uses SQUID magnetometers to map the function of neurons. A specially designed device for encephalography looks like a helmet containing 300 encapsulated sensors. In addition to positioning the helmet while the patient is in a sitting position, technicians usually apply various skin sensors that indicate the position of the head. Patients may also be asked to lie down on a table with their head encased in the helmet.
This noninvasive form of diagnostic medicine can measure activity within millimeter-sized or larger areas of the brain. SQUID magnetometers typically capture magnetic signals within milliseconds, producing a high-resolution image represented as spikes. Neurologists use SQUID magnetometers to diagnose epilepsy or Alzheimer’s disease. When used in conjunction with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, doctors can transpose magnetic field signals to specific areas of the brain.
Doctors can evaluate the depolarization and repolarization of the heart muscle using magnetic cardiography. The SQUID magnetometer used for cardiology resembles a large moving cylinder containing sensors. Technicians place the device on the patient, like a portable X-ray machine. By measuring the magnetic fields produced by the electrical signals emitted by the heart, cardiologists can diagnose and treat potentially life-threatening arrhythmias. Doctors can implement this method of cardiography in a catheter laboratory.
Biomedical applications of a SQUID magnetometer include many areas of the body. Obstetricians use magnetic cardiography to evaluate fetal heart conditions. This highly sophisticated technology also helps doctors diagnose gastroenterological disorders. The equipment is generally contained within a shielded room that prevents interference from electronic devices or other sources of magnetic fields.
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