The reporter learned from the Chinese Academy of Sciences that my first multi-channel OPM, a new prototype of MEG, has been successfully developed

Recently, the Institute of Biophysics of the institute developed China's first prototype of a new multi-channel MEG system based on an OPM, and successfully obtained high-quality MEG signals. This plays an important role in understanding the real-time dynamic process of brain function, spatial localization, and clinical applications of brain diseases. MEG equipment can reflect the location and time process of neural activity by detecting weak extracranial magnetic signals generated by neural activity in the brain. Compared with other brain imaging technologies, MEG devices can observe real-time dynamic processes of brain function that cannot be obtained by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), with significantly higher spatial positioning accuracy than EEG devices , and are safe and non-invasive, which is helpful for brain science research and clinical medicine. It also plays an important role in the localization of epileptic lesions and preoperative language functional area localization.

Traditional MEG equipment is based on superconducting quantum interferometers and needs to operate at ultra-low temperatures, which is expensive to purchase and operate. Additionally, the probe position is fixed and far from the scalp, resulting in poor adaptability. The MEG system based on OPM is a new technology in recent years, which can work at room temperature and the probe can be tightly attached to the scalp. It has the advantages of low construction/operation cost, high sensitivity, and high adaptability (can be made into a wearable system), and is expected to improve the popularity of MEG and expand into more research and clinical fields/ The advantages of operating costs, high sensitivity, and high adaptability (which can be made into wearable systems) are expected to increase the popularity of MEG and expand into more research and clinical fields.

The Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences has successfully constructed a 12 channel OPM MEG prototype, which includes innovative technologies such as a 96 channel 3D printed adjustable MEG helmet compatible with multiple detectors, and has successfully obtained high-quality MEG signals. In some applications, the use of much fewer probes than traditional superconducting quantum interferometer magnetoencephalography systems can achieve the same or higher positioning accuracy. This prototype can effectively detect deep brain regions such as the hippocampus and superior colliculus that are difficult to detect by traditional MEG. It can also be effectively applied to groups such as young children and Parkinson's patients that are difficult to apply traditional MEG. It has potential application prospects in fields such as developmental psychology and brain disease diagnosis.