Discover the different

Applications

1. Epilepsy and brain mapping

Localization of epileptic discharges and pre-surgical functional brain
mapping are the most common clinical applications of MagnetoEncephaloGraphy (MEG).

Approximately 0.6% of the population are living with epilepsy. Around a third of patients do not respond to medication. These patients may be considered for surgery, with the aim of removing the region of the brain causing the seizures.

When planning for epilepsy surgery, multiple potential sites for resection may be identified through anatomical imaging. Multiple neuroimaging techniques are often used, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and scalp electroencephalography (EEG) but they do not  provide a high spatial resolution information to confirm the expected epileptogenic focus or choose between potential candidates. MEG is used in routine clinical practice as a non-invasively method to guide or avoid intracranial EEG, a very invasive one that can be undertaken sometimes.

MEG is also used clinically to map functional areas of the brain prior to tumor removal, affecting 1.6 million people per year. It is a crucial tool to preserve main functional areas of the brain during surgery to avoid irreversible disabilities resulting from their damage.

Case studies

2. Neurological disorders

Being the only brain imaging device with high spatial and temporal resolutions, MEG has numerous applications in neurological disorders research: early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, rehabilitation after strokes, diagnosis of mental disorder, autism….

We’re in the midst of a critical healthcare challenge: brain disorders, encompassing both mental and neurological conditions, are impacting millions globally. These disorders are not only disabling and costly but also frequently overlooked, hindering access to necessary care.

Widespread Impact: According to the WHO, 1 in 3 people suffer from a neurological disorder, and 1 in 4 face a mental health issue.

Significant Burden: Neurological conditions alone are leading causes of disability and the second largest contributors to mortality worldwide.

Exacerbating Factors: An aging population and increasing societal stressors are intensifying this crisis, posing a significant threat to public health.

https://www.ean.org/brain-health-mission

To achieve an effective prevention, early detection and intervention strategies, we need to boost the workforces of healthcare professionals within neurology and mental health; do investments in research, innovative treatments and new technologies (MEG could definitely be one of them!).

 

3. Cognitive Neuroscience

MEG is an invaluable tool to study the dynamics and connectivity of large-scale brain activity and their interactions with the body and the environment.

A key advantage of this approach over other techniques is that MEG can record brain activity directly and non-invasively with a very high (within milliseconds) temporal resolution and a very high (within millimeter) spatial resolution. It can thus generate an information-rich, dynamic representation of large-scale brain activity.

If you are interested in learning more about the future development of OPM-MEG system and, if would like to join us on this adventure let's start a conversation!

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Case Study #1

Helium Optically Pumped Magnetometers Can Detect Epileptic Abnormalities as Well as SQUIDs as Shown by Intracerebral Recordings

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by transient abnormal brain activities (interictal spikes) and seizures. In one third of patients, epilepsy is not controlled by medications. For these patients, a surgery is considered and patients undergo, in a pre-surgery step, an intra-cerebral Stereo-EEG recording (SEEG) for localizing the epileptogenic brain network.

In this case study, one patient with implanted EEG electrodes has been simultaneously recorded with MAG4Health OPM prototype (5 sensors) or SQUID MEG sensors. This kind of simultaneous recording is the only way to get a ground truth regarding the signals recorded on scalp.

OPM sensor technology holds great promise for improving source analysis and alleviating some of the limitations associated with MEG-SQUID. Its advantages include obviating the need for liquid helium, relative tolerance of patient motion and higher sensitivity to superficial cortical sources. These results validate, through intracerebral recording, the epileptic signal recorded by MAG4Health OPM prototype (5 sensors). 

This is a preliminary finding which should be further consolidated with our whole-head system (96 sensors) and several patients.

In 2024, the first MAG4Health OPM-MEG with 96 sensors was installed at Aston University, UK (see PR here: https://www.aston.ac.uk/latest-news/aston-university-institute-health-and-neurodevelopment-get-new-child-friendly-brain). This study was performed in collaboration with Epileptology & Brain rhythmology Unit and Dynamap Research team (INS, Marseille, FR).

The figure displays the SEEG electrodes, OPM and SQUID sensors (top right). A single interictal spike simultaneously recorded in SEEG and OPM (Figure c), or SEEG and SQUID (Figure a), is shown in the middle and left sections, respectively. Similar interictal spikes were selected by a neurologist between both SEEG sessions for comparing OPM and SQUID signals.

MAG4Health OPM prototype (5 sensors) recordings :

  • show a better signal to noise ratio (SNR) as compared to MEG-SQUID (Figure d versus b).
  • bring more information for clinicians thanks to the two axes measurement (radial and tangential to the scalp). 
eNeuro 2023 - PDF