A nontraditional magnetoencephalography (MEG) scanner is offering patients a wearable option that would allow them to stretch, drink tea or even play table tennis during a brain scan, according to research from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom.
The lightweight tech was developed with children and neurodegenerative patients in mind, according to a release, because both demographics struggle to stay still during imaging exams and could benefit from a more flexible approach to MEG exams.
“This new technology raises exciting new opportunities for a new generation of functional brain imaging,” Matt Brookes, MD, who led research on the MEG product, said in a release. “Being able to scan individuals whilst they move around offers new possibilities, for example to measure brain function during real-world tasks, or genuine social interactions.”
These insights could be invaluable in populations who are rarely imaged with success, as is the case with some movement disorder or Parkinson’s patients, he said.
Present-day MEG scanners typically weigh in at around half a ton, Brookes said, since they require bulky cooling technology, and even five-millimeter movements on a patient’s end can render an image unusable in the clinical setting. These challenges are especially apparent if a clinician is trying to image a rarer brain event, like an epileptic seizure.
Brookes’ team scaled down the traditional MEG technology, mounting quantum sensors to a 3D-printed helmet that can be fixed on a patient’s head. The sensors are lightweight and sensitive, Brooks said—they can be placed directly on a patient’s scalp—and since they’re so much closer to the brain’s surface than a regular MEG machine, they can pick up stronger signals for stronger clinical indications.
“MEG is a really valuable tool in neuroscience, but current scanners are still not widely used as they’re expensive, cumbersome and their ‘one-size-fits-all’ design doesn’t work for many patients,” said Andrew Welchman, the head of neuroscience and mental health at Wellcome, a company that coupled with the University of Nottingham to produce the new product. “This new scanner is exciting not only because it overcomes those issues and will help improve our understanding of how the brain works, but also because it has huge potential for clinical use.”
The most novel aspect of the device, perhaps, is its ability to allow a patient to move during an exam, Brookes said—but there’s a catch. That feature only goes into effect when the Earth’s magnetic field has been reduced by a factor of 50,000, which means the researchers had to develop specialized electromagnetic coils to reduce the magnetic field around the scanner.
Brookes said his team is now focusing on producing different styles of helmet to fit a wider audience, including infants and children.
“This has significant potential for impact on our understanding of not only healthy brain function, but also on a range of neurological, neurodegenerative and mental health conditions,” he said.
After graduating from Indiana University-Bloomington with a bachelor’s in journalism, Anicka joined TriMed’s Chicago team in 2017 covering cardiology. Close to her heart is long-form journalism, Pilot G-2 pens, dark chocolate and her dog Harper Lee.