SBIR-STTR Award

This Phase I project will focus on developing key elements needed to achieve a wearable, high-density, magnetoencephalography (MEG) device based on optically-pumped atomic magnetometers (OPMs). OPM sensors have progressed to be comparable in sensitivity to liquid-helium-cooled superconducting sensors (SQUIDs) but without the complexity and bulk required by cryogenic cooling. An OPM-based MEG provides further advantages such as lower cost and the ability to place sensors directly on the subject's head. It has recently been shown that large, non-invasive "on-scalp" arrays of OPMs (1) will outperform traditional fixed helmet MEG devices by a factor of 7.5 higher signal, and (2) may reach the same resolution as invasive Electrocorticography (ECoG). However, there are a few advancements that must be made to evolve from the proof-of-concept systems of a few tens of sensors to a practical full head MEG system capable of producing high resolution images. In this project will address challenges like cross-talk between sensors, background field compensation, and sensor calibration and localization. We believe these innovations are necessary for a fully-integrated, wearable, high-density, and on-scalp MEG device using ultra-sensitive OPMs.

Public Health Relevance Statement:
Narrative MEG is a powerful tool in neuroscience for non-invasive imaging of neurophysiological activity of the cortex with millisecond temporal and sub-centimeter spatial resolution. We propose to develop key elements relating to optically-pumped atomic magnetometer (OPM) technology and believe these innovations are necessary for developing a fully-integrated, wearable, high-density, on-scalp MEG device using compact and highly-sensitive OPMs. Moving this technology beyond the laboratory to the larger community of neuroscientist and clinicians as a turnkey high-density system will have a significant impact in the field of biomagnetic research and diagnostics.

Project Terms:
Calibration; youngster; childrens'; children; Children (0-21); Child Youth; 0-11 years old; Child; Communities; Implanted Electrodes; electronic device; Electronics; Elements; epileptogenic; epileptiform; epilepsia; Seizure Disorder; Epileptics; Epileptic Seizures; Epilepsy; Floor; Head; He element; Helium; Helmet; Children's Hospital; Pediatric Hospitals; Laboratories; magnetoencephalographic imaging; MEG imaging; Magnetoencephalography; Methods; body movement; Movement; National Institutes of Health; NIH; United States National Institutes of Health; neurophysiological; neurophysiology; Neurosciences; Noise; optical; Optics; Patients; Philadelphia; Research; Risk; Scalp; Scalp structure; biological signal transduction; Signaling; Signal Transduction Systems; Intracellular Communication and Signaling; Cell Signaling; Cell Communication and Signaling; Signal Transduction; Sleep; Social Interaction; Technology; Telemetries; Telemetry; Testing; Theoretical Studies; Measures; base; density; Pump; sensor; improved; Phase; Series; Financial compensation; Compensation; Measurement; Research Project Grants; Research Projects; Research Grants; R01 Program; R01 Mechanism; R-Series Research Projects; Liquid substance; liquid; fluid; light weight; lightweight; tool; Diagnostic; Mechanics; mechanical; Electrocorticogram; electrocorticography; millisecond; Msec; Source; System; Location; interest; Magnetism; magnetic; High temperature of physical object; high temperature; Cell Volumes; Performance; superconducting quantum interference device; cryogenics; simulation; novel; Devices; Thickness; Thick; Address; autism spectrum disorder; autistic spectrum disorder; Kanner's Syndrome; Infantile Autism; Early Infantile Autism; Autistic Disorder; Autism; Resolution; Development; developmental; Image; imaging; Output; cost; design; designing; brain machine interface; innovation; innovative; innovate; usability; prototype; spatiotemporal; non-invasive imaging; noninvasive imaging; magnetic dipole; magnet dipole; high resolution imaging; experimental study; experimental research; experiment; sensor technology; sensing technology

In this Phase II project, we will build a complete high-density wearable full-head MEG system using our micro-OPM sensors and to cross-validate our system against current SQUID-based MEG systems. A complete system consists of (1) the sensor system - an array of 128 sensors and their control electronics that performs synchronous data collection and control; (2) a MEG cap that conforms to the shape of the head and holds the sensor array; (3) an integrated sensor scanning system to localize the position and orientation of each sensor relative to the head; (4) an integrated active coil system to compensate for the background field gradients using feedback from the sensor array during recording; and (5) a user interface software seamlessly controls and collects signals and metadata from all the sub-systems. The system will be delivered to our collaborators at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for cross- validation against the current SQUID MEG system in adults and children. We will also evaluate its performance in paradigms that are impossible with current technology, which could open services to patient groups currently denied, and broaden the range of applications for such systems.

Public Health Relevance Statement:
Narrative In this Phase II project, we will build a complete high-density wearable full-head MEG system using our micro-OPM sensors. The system will be delivered to our collaborators at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for cross-validation against the current SQUID MEG system in adults and children. We will also evaluate its performance in paradigms that are impossible with current technology, which could open services to patient groups currently denied, and broaden the range of applications for such systems.

Project Terms:
Adult; 21+ years old; Adult Human; adulthood; Child; 0-11 years old; Child Youth; Children (0-21); youngster; Data Collection; Ear; Electronics; electronic device; Feedback; Goals; Gold; Head; Helmet; Pediatric Hospitals; Children's Hospital; Infant; Methods; Patients; Philadelphia; Signal Transduction; Cell Communication and Signaling; Cell Signaling; Intracellular Communication and Signaling; Signal Transduction Systems; Signaling; biological signal transduction; Technology; Testing; base; density; human subject; sensor; improved; Phase; Adolescent; Adolescent Youth; juvenile; juvenile human; Measurement; Systems Integration; Shapes; instrument; Head Movements; Auditory; Scanning; Protocol; Protocols documentation; System; Location; Services; magnetic; Magnetism; Performance; cryogenics; novel; Participant; Devices; Position; Positioning Attribute; Validation; Metadata; meta data; design; designing; somatosensory; graphical user interface; Graphical interface; graphic user interface; software user interface; artemis; flexibility; flexible