SBIR-STTR Award

Applied Research Corporation (ARC) plans to develop a new generation of biomagnetic instrumentation based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). More specifically, ARC will develop inexpensive, user-friendly multichannel electronics for SQUID signal conditioning and digitization. Together with the availability of liquid nitrogen SQUIDs, this will permit the development of a reasonably inexpensive device (less than $30,000) for a 16-channel magnetocardiograph or magnetoencephalograph. In Phase I, ARC will develop a 4-channel magnetocardiograph with an excellent signal/noise ratio. Electronic readout (preamp and lock-in amplifier) will be miniaturized onboard; an ADC and IEEE-488 bus will be included. In Phase II, a 32channel magnetoencephalograph will be developed.Awardee's statement of the potential commercial applications of the research:The method is complementary to ECG/EEG, with a market potential of 10 percent of these other methods. The total market can be estimated to be $100 to $500 million.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)