Atomic Magnetometer For Fetal Biomagnetism

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究项目的长期目标是开发用于胎儿心脏磁图（fMCG）和胎儿脑磁图（fMEG）系统的光学磁强计阵列。根据磁力计技术的最新进展，提出的磁力计是SQUID磁力计的第一个可行替代方案；因此，该研究对生物磁学领域的潜在影响是巨大的。由于SQUID技术的高昂的获取和维护成本，fMCG和fMEG的应用受到了限制。原子磁强计可以减轻这些缺点，同时保持甚至超过SQUID磁强计的磁场灵敏度。一种新型的四通道原子生物磁强计阵列最近被证明用于成人和胎儿的MCG研究。下一步是对其进行改进，使其适用于传统的磁屏蔽室，并将其功能扩展到廉价的屏蔽几何形状。本项目的具体目标是：1。演示一种9通道原子磁强计阵列，用于直接与商业squid进行比较，用于检测妊娠20周胎儿的信号。2. 扩展原子磁强计的带宽和动态范围，以便在廉价的屏蔽环境中使用。3. 利用磁强计阵列对高危胎儿进行临床前研究。为了实现这些目标，研究人员将研究磁强计的新操作模式，以提高其带宽和动态范围。将考虑新的数据处理方法，并将对人类受试者进行发展测试。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The long-term goal of this research program is to develop an optical magnetometer array for use in fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG) and fetal magneto-encephalography (fMEG) systems. The proposed magnetometer, based on recent advances in magnetometer technology, represents the first viable alternative to SQUID magnetometers; thus, the potential impact of the research on the field of biomagnetism is enormous. Utilization of fMCG and fMEG has been limited by the high cost of acquisition and maintenance associated with SQUID technology. The atomic magnetometer can mitigate these disadvantages while maintaining or even surpassing the magnetic field sensitivity of SQUID magnetometers. A novel, four-channel atomic biomagnetometer array was recently demonstrated for adult and fetal MCG studies. The next steps are to refine it for use in conventional magnetically shielded rooms and to extend its capabilities to inexpensive shielding geometries. The specific aims of this project are: 1. to demonstrate a 9-channel atomic magnetometer array for direct comparison to commercial SQUIDs for detection of signals from 20 week gestation period fetuses. 2. To extend the bandwidth and dynamic range of the atomic magnetometer for use in inexpensive shielding environments. 3. To make pre-clinical studies of at-risk fetuses with the magnetometer array. To achieve these aims, the researchers will investigate new modes of operation of the magnetometer that improve its bandwidth and dynamic range. New data processing methodologies will be considered, and the developments will be tested with human subjects.