SBIR Phase I: Evaluating ADFMR magnetometers for portable, non-invasive functional bioimaging

该SBIR第一阶段项目研究了将基于声驱动铁磁共振(ADFMR)的磁性传感器用于神经成像的可行性。有关大脑活动的信息对于包括癫痫、创伤性脑损伤和阿尔茨海默病在内的各种疾病的诊断和治疗至关重要。最强大的非侵入性测量大脑活动的技术是脑磁图(MEG)，它使用需要液氦冷却和磁屏蔽才能运行的磁力计。由于这些要求，目前的MEG系统既大又贵，限制了它们的采用和可获得性。ADFMR传感器可以在不需要低温和磁屏蔽的情况下测量生物磁场，从而显著降低此类系统的尺寸、成本和功耗。这项改进后的技术的便携性将允许在目前可能的情况下，在精心控制的成像套件之外进行功能神经成像。这可以允许诊断以前无法联系到的患者(即。在ICU、手术室或救护车中)以及这项技术的新用途的开发(即，在移动过程中进行长期监测、扫描)。这种经过改进的便携式脑磁图还可以实现第一个实用的便携式脑机接口？该SBIR第一阶段项目研究ADFMR传感器测量极小磁场的能力，例如人脑产生的磁场。ADFMR现象已被证明是一种比传统激发铁磁共振的方法更省电、更省体积的替代方法，允许将其用作芯片级磁强计的传感机制。在拟议的计划中，将研究一些提高现有ADFMR器件性能的方法。首先，将开发一个紧凑的模型，以允许对ADFMR器件及其相关检测电路进行快速建模。利用这一模型的结果，将制造器件，以便在实验上验证各种机制，以降低探测器电路中的1/f噪声，并优化ADFMR吸收曲线，以实现对外加磁场的最大灵敏度。这些传感器元件最初将使用标准台式表征设备进行测试。在台式演示之后，将通过开发完全集成的磁强计原型来解决整个传感器系统小型化方面的挑战。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This SBIR Phase I project examines the feasibility of using magnetic sensors based on Acoustically Driven Ferromagnetic Resonance (ADFMR) for neurological imaging. Information about brain activity is critical to the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of disorders including epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, and Alzheimer's disease. The most powerful non-invasive technique for measuring brain activity, magnetoencephalography (MEG), uses magnetometers that require liquid helium cooling and magnetic shielding to operate. Due to these requirements, current MEG systems are large and expensive, limiting their adoption and accessibility. ADFMR sensors could allow for the measurement of biomagnetic fields without the need for cryogenics and magnetic shielding, dramatically reducing the size, cost, and power consumption of such systems. The portability of this improved technology would allow for functional neuroimaging outside of the carefully controlled imaging suites where it is possible today. This could allow for diagnosis of previously unreachable patients (ie. in the ICU, operating room, or ambulance) as well as the development of new uses for this technology (ie. long-term monitoring, scanning during movement). This improved, portable MEG could also enable the first practical, portable brain-computer interface ? applicable across a wide variety of applications in both defense and consumer sectors.This SBIR Phase I project investigates the ability for ADFMR sensors to measure extremely small magnetic fields, such as those generated by the human brain. The ADFMR phenomenon has been shown to be a much more power and size efficient alternative to traditional methods of exciting ferromagnetic resonance, allowing for its use as a sensing mechanism for chip-scale magnetometers. In the proposed program, a number of methods to improve the performance of current ADFMR devices will be investigated. First, a compact model will be developed to allow for fast modeling of ADFMR devices and their associated detection circuitry. Using the results of this model, devices will be fabricated in order to experimentally validate various mechanisms for the reduction of 1/f noise in the detector circuitry and for the optimization of the ADFMR absorption profile for maximum sensitivity to applied magnetic fields. These sensor elements will initially be tested using standard benchtop characterization equipment. Following a benchtop demonstration, challenges in miniaturizing the full sensor system will be addressed by developing fully integrated magnetometer prototypes.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.