New MEG System for Improved Quantification of Human Brain Dynamics

项目摘要/摘要 奥马哈MEG网站是世界上生产率最高、国际知名度最高的MEG组织之一。2018年 仅此一项，他们就在顶级期刊(如《脑》、《神经学》)上发表了20多篇同行评议的出版物，获得了 多项重大NIH奖项，并在人类神经科学的多个领域取得了重大影响的发现。 脑磁图，或称脑磁图，是一种先进的无创成像方法。 具有较高的时间(1ms)和空间精度(2-3 mm)的神经生理活动。浅谈该方法的应用 在过去的十年里，由于技术的进步和对神经的日益增长的兴趣， 振荡、动态连通性和其他时空精度极其重要的指标。这个 奥马哈梅格集团在这一增长中发挥了重要作用，并继续在梅格的许多领域处于领先地位 研究，在衡量科学生产力和影响的主要指标上往往超过所有其他MEG站点。然而， 这群人现在正处于十字路口，他们未来的增长，甚至生存，都受到氦的威胁。 他们目前的脑磁图仪器的短缺和计划淘汰。简而言之，这台仪器消耗了100多台 L每周得到的液氦，不仅非常昂贵，而且在目前越来越难获得 氦短缺的时代。该装置可以改装70%效率的氦回收器，但那将是 代价高昂，而且只是一个局部的、暂时的解决方案。除此之外，他们目前的设备已经有11年的历史了，而 供应商将在2019年底停止为他们的车型制造替换部件。因此，即使有了氦， 设备的寿命已接近尾声。鉴于这些担忧，我们提议用以下方式取代我们现有的MEG系统 Megin(前身为Elekta)最先进的Triux Neo Meg系统。这一新系统配备了：(1) 几乎100%高效的氦回收系统，(2)先进的装甲传感器和电子设备， 显著扩展了系统的动态范围，具有较低的本征噪声水平；(3)改善了空间 精密，(4)带有外部环境传感器的两层被动和主动屏蔽室，以及(5) 新的人体工程学设计和精细的定位系统，提高患者舒适度，确保最佳头部 相对于每个参与者中的数组的位置。因此，这一新制度是向前迈出的重要一步 奥马哈·梅格集团和整个外地，因为第一个Triux Neo安装最近在 美国。有了这款设备，奥马哈·梅格学院将继续发展壮大，并吸引最好的新教师 和初级科学家，并将继续站在所描述的几个主要主题领域的发现前沿 在该提案中，NIH和翻译神经科学界显然对此感兴趣。

Project Summary/Abstract The Omaha MEG site is one of the most productive, internationally-known MEG groups in the world. In 2018 alone, they published more than 20 peer-reviewed publications in top journals (e.g., Brain, Neurology), obtained numerous major NIH awards, and made high impact discoveries spanning multiple areas of human neuroscience. MEG, or magnetoencephalography, is an advanced method for noninvasively imaging population-level neurophysiological activity with high temporal (< 1ms) and spatial precision (2-3 mm). Application of the method has grown substantially over the past decade due to technical advancements and the growing interest in neural oscillations, dynamic connectivity, and other metrics where spatiotemporal precision is extremely important. The Omaha MEG group has had a major role in this growth and continues to lead the way in many areas of MEG research, often exceeding all other MEG sites on major measures of scientific productivity and impact. However, this group is now at a crossroads where their future growth, and even existence, is threatened by the helium shortage and the planned obsolesce of their current MEG instrument. Briefly, this instrument consumes over 100 L of liquid helium per week, which is not only very expensive but also increasingly difficult to obtain in the current era of helium shortages. The device could be retrofitted with a 70% efficient helium recycler, but that would be expensive and only a partial, temporary solution. Beyond this, their current device is almost 11 years old and the vendor will cease making replacement parts for their model at the end of 2019. Thus, even with helium, the device is nearing end of life. Given these concerns, we are proposing to replace our existing MEG system with a state-of-the-art Triux Neo MEG system from MEGIN (formerly Elekta). This new system is equipped with: (1) an almost 100% efficient helium recycling system, (2) advanced ARMOR sensors and electronics which significantly expand the system’s dynamic range and have lower intrinsic noise levels, (3) improved spatial precision, (4) a two-layer passively and actively shielded room with external environmental sensors, and (5) a new ergonomic design and fine positioning system to enhance patient comfort and ensure the most optimal head position relative to the array in each participant. Thus, this new system is a significant, major step forward for the Omaha MEG group and for the field as a whole, as the first Triux Neo installation was recently completed in the United States. With this device, the Omaha MEG group will continue to grow and attract the best new faculty and junior scientists, and will remain at the forefront of discovery in several major topic areas that are described in the proposal and of clear interest to the NIH and the translational neuroscience community.