Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 126
Filter
1.
Neuroimage ; 300: 120864, 2024 Oct 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39322096

ABSTRACT

The current magnetoencephalography (MEG) systems, which rely on cables for control and signal transmission, do not fully realize the potential of wearable optically pumped magnetometers (OPM). This study presents a significant advancement in wireless OPM-MEG by reducing magnetization in the electronics and developing a tailored wireless communication protocol. Our protocol effectively eliminates electromagnetic interference, particularly in the critical frequency bands of MEG signals, and accurately synchronizes the acquisition and stimulation channels with the host computer's clock. We have successfully achieved single-channel wireless OPM-MEG measurement and demonstrated its reliability by replicating three well-established experiments: The alpha rhythm, auditory evoked field, and steady-state visual evoked field in the human brain. Our prototype wireless OPM-MEG system not only streamlines the measurement process but also represents a major step forward in the development of wearable OPM-MEG applications in both neuroscience and clinical research.


Subject(s)
Magnetoencephalography , Wireless Technology , Magnetoencephalography/instrumentation , Magnetoencephalography/methods , Humans , Wireless Technology/instrumentation , Equipment Design , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Magnetometry/methods , Brain/physiology , Wearable Electronic Devices , Adult , Male , Alpha Rhythm/physiology
2.
Neuroimage ; 247: 118818, 2022 02 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34915157

ABSTRACT

Optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) developed for magnetoencephalography (MEG) typically operate in the spin-exchange-relaxation-free (SERF) regime and measure a magnetic field component perpendicular to the propagation axis of the optical-pumping photons. The most common type of OPM for MEG employs alkali atoms, e.g. 87Rb, as the sensing element and one or more lasers for preparation and interrogation of the magnetically sensitive states of the alkali atoms ensemble. The sensitivity of the OPM can be greatly enhanced by operating it in the SERF regime, where the alkali atoms' spin exchange rate is much faster than the Larmor precession frequency. The SERF regime accommodates remnant static magnetic fields up to ±5 nT. However, in the presented work, through simulation and experiment, we demonstrate that multi-axis magnetic signals in the presence of small remnant static magnetic fields, not violating the SERF criteria, can introduce significant error terms in OPM's output signal. We call these deterministic errors cross-axis projection errors (CAPE), where magnetic field components of the MEG signal perpendicular to the nominal sensing axis contribute to the OPM signal giving rise to substantial amplitude and phase errors. Furthermore, through simulation, we have discovered that CAPE can degrade localization and calibration accuracy of OPM-based magnetoencephalography (OPM-MEG) systems.


Subject(s)
Magnetoencephalography/instrumentation , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Optical Phenomena , Algorithms , Computer Simulation , Equipment Design , Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
3.
Neuroimage ; 241: 118401, 2021 11 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34273527

ABSTRACT

Optically-pumped magnetometers (OPMs) are highly sensitive, compact magnetic field sensors, which offer a viable alternative to cryogenic sensors (superconducting quantum interference devices - SQUIDs) for magnetoencephalography (MEG). With the promise of a wearable system that offers lifespan compliance, enables movement during scanning, and provides higher quality data, OPMs could drive a step change in MEG instrumentation. However, this potential can only be realised if background magnetic fields are appropriately controlled, via a combination of optimised passive magnetic screening (i.e. enclosing the system in layers of high-permeability materials), and electromagnetic coils to further null the remnant magnetic field. In this work, we show that even in an OPM-optimised passive shield with extremely low (<2 nT) remnant magnetic field, head movement generates significant artefacts in MEG data that manifest as low-frequency interference. To counter this effect we introduce a magnetic field mapping technique, in which the participant moves their head to sample the background magnetic field using a wearable sensor array; resulting data are compared to a model to derive coefficients representing three uniform magnetic field components and five magnetic field gradient components inside the passive shield. We show that this technique accurately reconstructs the magnitude of known magnetic fields. Moreover, by feeding the obtained coefficients into a bi-planar electromagnetic coil system, we were able to reduce the uniform magnetic field experienced by the array from a magnitude of 1.3±0.3 nT to 0.29±0.07 nT. Most importantly, we show that this field compensation generates a five-fold reduction in motion artefact at 0‒2 Hz, in a visual steady-state evoked response experiment using 6 Hz stimulation. We suggest that this technique could be used in future OPM-MEG experiments to improve the quality of data, especially in paradigms seeking to measure low-frequency oscillations, or in experiments where head movement is encouraged.


Subject(s)
Brain/physiology , Evoked Potentials, Visual/physiology , Head Movements/physiology , Magnetic Fields , Magnetoencephalography/methods , Wearable Electronic Devices , Equipment Design/instrumentation , Equipment Design/methods , Head Protective Devices , Humans , Magnetoencephalography/instrumentation , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Magnetometry/methods
4.
Neuroimage ; 230: 117815, 2021 04 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33524584

ABSTRACT

Optically-pumped magnetometers (OPMs) offer the potential for a step change in magnetoencephalography (MEG) enabling wearable systems that provide improved data quality, accommodate any subject group, allow data capture during movement and potentially reduce cost. However, OPM-MEG is a nascent technology and, to realise its potential, it must be shown to facilitate key neuroscientific measurements, such as the characterisation of brain networks. Networks, and the connectivities that underlie them, have become a core area of neuroscientific investigation, and their importance is underscored by many demonstrations of their disruption in brain disorders. Consequently, a demonstration of network measurements using OPM-MEG would be a significant step forward. Here, we aimed to show that a wearable 50-channel OPM-MEG system enables characterisation of the electrophysiological connectome. To this end, we measured connectivity in the resting state and during a visuo-motor task, using both OPM-MEG and a state-of-the-art 275-channel cryogenic MEG device. Our results show that resting-state connectome matrices from OPM and cryogenic systems exhibit a high degree of similarity, with correlation values >70%. In addition, in task data, similar differences in connectivity between individuals (scanned multiple times) were observed in cryogenic and OPM-MEG data, again demonstrating the fidelity of the OPM-MEG device. This is the first demonstration of network connectivity measured using OPM-MEG, and results add weight to the argument that OPMs will ultimately supersede cryogenic sensors for MEG measurement.


Subject(s)
Brain/diagnostic imaging , Brain/physiology , Magnetoencephalography/methods , Magnetometry/methods , Psychomotor Performance/physiology , Wearable Electronic Devices , Adult , Equipment Design/instrumentation , Equipment Design/methods , Female , Humans , Magnetoencephalography/instrumentation , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Male , Young Adult
5.
Hum Brain Mapp ; 42(15): 4844-4856, 2021 10 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34327772

ABSTRACT

In the current article, we present the first solid-state sensor feasible for magnetoencephalography (MEG) that works at room temperature. The sensor is a fluxgate magnetometer based on yttrium-iron garnet films (YIGM). In this feasibility study, we prove the concept of usage of the YIGM in terms of MEG by registering a simple brain induced field-the human alpha rhythm. All the experiments and results are validated with usage of another kind of high-sensitive magnetometers-optically pumped magnetometer, which currently appears to be well-established in terms of MEG.


Subject(s)
Alpha Rhythm/physiology , Cerebral Cortex/physiology , Magnetoencephalography/instrumentation , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Adult , Feasibility Studies , Humans
6.
Hum Brain Mapp ; 42(15): 4869-4879, 2021 10 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34245061

ABSTRACT

Optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) are quickly widening the scopes of noninvasive neurophysiological imaging. The possibility of placing these magnetic field sensors on the scalp allows not only to acquire signals from people in movement, but also to reduce the distance between the sensors and the brain, with a consequent gain in the signal-to-noise ratio. These advantages make the technique particularly attractive to characterise sources of brain activity in demanding populations, such as children and patients with epilepsy. However, the technology is currently in an early stage, presenting new design challenges around the optimal sensor arrangement and their complementarity with other techniques as electroencephalography (EEG). In this article, we present an optimal array design strategy focussed on minimising the brain source localisation error. The methodology is based on the Cramér-Rao bound, which provides lower error bounds on the estimation of source parameters regardless of the algorithm used. We utilise this framework to compare whole head OPM arrays with commercially available electro/magnetoencephalography (E/MEG) systems for localising brain signal generators. In addition, we study the complementarity between EEG and OPM-based MEG, and design optimal whole head systems based on OPMs only and a combination of OPMs and EEG electrodes for characterising deep and superficial sources alike. Finally, we show the usefulness of the approach to find the nearly optimal sensor positions minimising the estimation error bound in a given cortical region when a limited number of OPMs are available. This is of special interest for maximising the performance of small scale systems to ad hoc neurophysiological experiments, a common situation arising in most OPM labs.


Subject(s)
Brain Mapping/instrumentation , Brain/physiology , Electroencephalography/instrumentation , Magnetoencephalography/instrumentation , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Adult , Brain Mapping/methods , Brain Mapping/standards , Electroencephalography/methods , Electroencephalography/standards , Humans , Magnetoencephalography/methods , Magnetoencephalography/standards , Magnetometry/methods , Magnetometry/standards
7.
Opt Express ; 29(10): 14467-14475, 2021 May 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33985169

ABSTRACT

Optically-pumped magnetometers constitute a valuable tool for imaging biological magnetic signals without cryogenic cooling. Nowadays, numerous developments are being pursued using alkali-based magnetometers, which have demonstrated excellent sensitivities in the spin-exchange relaxation free (SERF) regime that requires heating to >100 °C. In contrast, metastable helium-4 based magnetometers work at any temperature, which allows a direct contact with the scalp, yielding larger signals and a better patient comfort. However former 4He magnetometers displayed large noises of >200 fT/Hz1/2 with 300-Hz bandwidth. We describe here an improved magnetometer reaching a sensitivity better than 50 fT/Hz1/2, nearly the photon shot noise limit, with a bandwidth of 2 kHz. Like other zero-field atomic magnetometers, these magnetometers can be operated in closed-loop architecture reaching several hundredths nT of dynamic range. A small array of 4 magnetometers operating in a closed loop has been tested with a successful correction of the cross-talks.


Subject(s)
Biosensing Techniques/instrumentation , Helium , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Optical Imaging/instrumentation , Equipment Design , Optical Phenomena , Photons , Temperature
8.
Nucleic Acids Res ; 47(15): e86, 2019 09 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31114915

ABSTRACT

A telomere carrying repetitive sequences ends with a single-stranded overhang. The G-rich overhang could fold back and bind in the major groove of its upstream duplex, forming an antiparallel triplex structure. The telomeric triplex has been proposed to function in protecting chromosome ends. However, we lack strategies to mechanically probe the dynamics of a telomeric triplex. Here, we show that the topological dynamics of a telomeric triplex involves 3' overhang binding at the ds/ssDNA junction inferred by DNA mechanics. Assisted by click chemistry and branched polymerase chain reaction, we developed a rescue-rope-strategy for mechanically manipulating an artificial telomeric DNA with a free end. Using single-molecule magnetic tweezers, we identified a rarely forming (5%) telomeric triplex which pauses at an intermediate state upon unzipping the Watson-Crick paired duplex. Our findings revealed that a mechanically stable triplex formed in a telomeric DNA can resist a force of 20 pN for a few seconds in a physiological buffer. We also demonstrated that the rescue-rope-strategy assisted mechanical manipulation can directly rupture the interactions between the third strand and its targeting duplex in a DNA triplex. Our single-molecule rescue-rope-strategy will serve as a general tool to investigate telomere dynamics and further develop triplex-based biotechnologies.


Subject(s)
DNA, Single-Stranded/chemistry , DNA/chemistry , Telomere/chemistry , Base Pairing , Base Sequence , Biomechanical Phenomena , Buffers , Click Chemistry/methods , DNA/genetics , DNA, Single-Stranded/genetics , Humans , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Magnetometry/methods , Nucleic Acid Conformation , Optical Tweezers , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods
9.
J Sports Sci ; 39(11): 1236-1276, 2021 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33588689

ABSTRACT

The present review aims at providing researchers and practitioners with a holistic overview of technology-based methods for the assessment of fine and gross motor skill in children. We conducted a search of electronic databases using Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar, including studies published up to March 2020, that assessed fine and/or gross motor skills, and utilized technological assessment of varying study design. A total of 739 papers were initially retrieved, and after title/abstract screening, removal of duplicates, and full-text screening, 47 were included. Results suggest that motor skills can be quantitatively estimated using objective methods based on a wearable- and/or laboratory-based technology, for typically developing (TD) and non-TD children. Fine motor skill assessment solutions were; force transducers, instrumented tablets and pens, surface electromyography, and optoelectronic systems. Gross motor skill assessment solutions were; inertial measurements units, optoelectronic systems, baropodometric mats, and force platforms. This review provides a guide in identifying and evaluating the plethora of available technological solutions to motor skill assessment. Although promising, there is still a need for large-scale studies to validate these approaches in terms of accuracy, repeatability, and usability, where interdisciplinary collaborations between researchers and practitioners and transparent reporting practices should be advocated.


Subject(s)
Motor Skills/physiology , Accelerometry/instrumentation , Adolescent , Child , Child Development/physiology , Child, Preschool , Developmental Disabilities/physiopathology , Electromyography/methods , Female , Forecasting , Hand Strength , Holistic Health , Humans , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Male , Motor Activity , Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena , Transducers, Pressure , Wearable Electronic Devices , Writing
10.
Hong Kong Med J ; 26(6): 500-509, 2020 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33303700

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: A magnetic seed marker system (Magseed, Endomagnetics, Cambridge, United Kingdom) is used as a localisation method for non-palpable breast lesions in the United States, Europe, and Hong Kong. It overcomes many limitations of conventional techniques and allows scheduling flexibility. We sought to evaluate its efficacy and safety in the Chinese population. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all Chinese women who underwent magnetic seed marker-guided breast lesion excision from June 2019 to February 2020 at a single institution. Placement success (final target-to-seed distance <10 mm) was evaluated by imaging on the day of surgery. Specimen radiographs and pathology reports were reviewed for magnetic seed markers and target removal. Margin clearance and re-excision rates were analysed. RESULTS: Twenty two magnetic seed markers were placed in 21 patients under sonographic or stereotactic guidance to localise 21 target lesions. One target lesion required two magnetic seed markers for bracketing. There was no migration of nine markers placed 6 to 56 days before the day of surgery. Placement success was achieved in 20 (90.9%) cases. Mean final target-to-seed distance was 3.1 mm. Two out of 21 (9.5%) lesions required alternative localisation due to marker migration ≥10 mm, while 19 (90.5%) lesions underwent successful magnetic seed marker-guided excision. Three of these 19 lesions (15.8%) were excised with therapeutic intent, one of which (33%) required re-excision due to a close margin. All 22 magnetic seed markers were successfully removed. No complications were reported. CONCLUSION: Magnetic seed markers demonstrated safety and efficacy in Chinese women for breast lesion localisation and excision.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Early Detection of Cancer/methods , Magnetometry/methods , Adult , Aged , China , Early Detection of Cancer/instrumentation , Female , Humans , Magnetic Phenomena , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Magnets , Mammography , Middle Aged , Pilot Projects , Retrospective Studies
11.
Sensors (Basel) ; 20(16)2020 Aug 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32823964

ABSTRACT

Magnetography with superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) sensor arrays is a well-established technique for measuring subtle magnetic fields generated by physiological phenomena in the human body. Unfortunately, the SQUID-based systems have some limitations related to the need to cool them down with liquid helium. The room-temperature alternatives for SQUIDs are optically pumped magnetometers (OPM) operating in spin exchange relaxation-free (SERF) regime, which require a very low ambient magnetic field. The most common two-layer magnetically shielded rooms (MSR) with residual magnetic field of 50 nT may not be sufficiently magnetically attenuated and additional compensation of external magnetic field is required. A cost-efficient compensation system based on square Helmholtz coils was designed and successfully used for preliminary measurements with commercially available zero-field OPM. The presented setup can reduce the static ambient magnetic field inside a magnetically shielded room, which improves the usability of OPMs by providing a proper environment for them to operate, independent of initial conditions in MSR.


Subject(s)
Magnetic Fields , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Humans , Magnetoencephalography
12.
Int J Mol Sci ; 21(3)2020 Feb 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32024227

ABSTRACT

We report a highly compliant process for patterning nanoparticle arrays on micro- and nanomechanical devices. The distinctive step involves the single layer self-assembled nanoparticles on top of released nanomechanical devices. We demonstrate the process by fabricating sizable arrays of nanomechanical devices on silicon-on-insulator substrates, acting as nanomechanical torque magnetometers. Later, the nanoparticles were self-assembled in geometrical shapes on top of the devices by a unique combination of top-down and bottom-up methods. The self-assembled array of nanoparticles successfully showed a magnetic torque signal by magnetic actuation of the magnetometer. This patterning process can be generalized for any shape and for a wide range of nanoparticles on the nanomechanical resonators.


Subject(s)
Magnetite Nanoparticles/chemistry , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Magnetometry/methods , Nanotechnology/methods , Silicon Compounds/chemistry , Torque , Nanotechnology/instrumentation , Semiconductors
13.
J Strength Cond Res ; 34(1): 134-144, 2020 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30707134

ABSTRACT

Balloch, AS, Meghji, M, Newton, RU, Hart, NH, Weber, JA, Ahmad, I, and Habibi, D. Assessment of a novel algorithm to determine change-of-direction angles while running using inertial sensors. J Strength Cond Res 34(1): 134-144, 2020-The ability to detect and quantify change-of-direction (COD) movement may offer a unique approach to load-monitoring practice. Validity and reliability of a novel algorithm to calculate COD angles for predetermined COD movements ranging from 45 to 180° in left and right directions was assessed. Five recreationally active men (age: 29.0 ± 0.5 years; height: 181.0 ± 5.6 cm; and body mass: 79.4 ± 5.3 kg) ran 5 consecutive predetermined COD trials each, at 4 different angles (45, 90, 135, and 180°), in each direction. Participants were fitted with a commercially available microtechnology unit where inertial sensor data were extracted and processed using a novel algorithm designed to calculate precise COD angles for direct comparison with a high-speed video (remotely piloted, position-locked aircraft) criterion measure. Validity was assessed using Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement and mean bias. Reliability was assessed using typical error (expressed as a coefficient of variation [CV]). Concurrent validity was present for most angles. Left: (45° = 43.8 ± 2.0°; 90° = 88.1 ± 2.0°; 135° = 136.3 ± 2.1°; and 180° = 181.8 ± 2.5°) and Right: (45° = 46.3 ± 1.6°; 90° = 91.9 ± 2.2°; 135° = 133.4 ± 2.0°; 180° = 179.2 ± 5.9°). All angles displayed excellent reliability (CV < 5%) while greater mean bias (3.6 ± 5.1°, p < 0.001), weaker limits of agreement, and reduced precision were evident for 180° trials when compared with all other angles. High-level accuracy and reliability when detecting COD angles further advocates the use of inertial sensors to quantify sports-specific movement patterns.


Subject(s)
Algorithms , Movement , Running/physiology , Accelerometry/instrumentation , Adult , Humans , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Male , Microtechnology/instrumentation , Reproducibility of Results , Video Recording , Wearable Electronic Devices
14.
Hum Brain Mapp ; 40(15): 4357-4369, 2019 10 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31294909

ABSTRACT

Optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) have reached sensitivity levels that make them viable portable alternatives to traditional superconducting technology for magnetoencephalography (MEG). OPMs do not require cryogenic cooling and can therefore be placed directly on the scalp surface. Unlike cryogenic systems, based on a well-characterised fixed arrays essentially linear in applied flux, OPM devices, based on different physical principles, present new modelling challenges. Here, we outline an empirical Bayesian framework that can be used to compare between and optimise sensor arrays. We perturb the sensor geometry (via simulation) and with analytic model comparison methods estimate the true sensor geometry. The width of these perturbation curves allows us to compare different MEG systems. We test this technique using simulated and real data from SQUID and OPM recordings using head-casts and scanner-casts. Finally, we show that given knowledge of underlying brain anatomy, it is possible to estimate the true sensor geometry from the OPM data themselves using a model comparison framework. This implies that the requirement for accurate knowledge of the sensor positions and orientations a priori may be relaxed. As this procedure uses the cortical manifold as spatial support there is no co-registration procedure or reliance on scalp landmarks.


Subject(s)
Magnetometry/instrumentation , Models, Theoretical , Algorithms , Bayes Theorem , Computer Simulation , Electric Stimulation , Equipment Design , Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory/physiology , Head/anatomy & histology , Humans , Likelihood Functions , Magnetoencephalography/instrumentation , Magnetometry/methods , Magnetometry/statistics & numerical data , Manikins , Markov Chains , Median Nerve/physiology , Optical Devices
15.
J Surg Res ; 239: 31-37, 2019 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30782544

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Acute mesenteric ischemia represents a life-threatening gastrointestinal condition. A noninvasive diagnostic modality that identifies mesenteric ischemia patients early in the disease process will enable early surgical intervention. Previous studies have identified significant changes in the small-bowel electrical slow-wave parameters during intestinal ischemia caused by total occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery. The purpose of this study was to use noninvasive biomagnetic techniques to assess functional physiological changes in intestinal slow waves in response to partial mesenteric ischemia. METHODS: We induced progressive intestinal ischemia in normal porcine subjects (n = 10) by slowly increasing the occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery at the following percentages of baseline flow: 50%, 75%, 90%, and 100% while simultaneous transabdominal magnetoenterogram (MENG) and serosal electromyogram (EMG) recordings were being obtained. RESULTS: A statistically significant serosal EMG amplitude decrease was observed at 100% occlusion compared with baseline, whereas no significant change was observed for MENG amplitude at any progressive occlusion levels. MENG recordings showed significant changes in the frequency and percentage of power distributed in bradyenteric and normoenteric frequency ranges at 50%, 75%, 90%, and 100% vessel occlusions. In serosal EMG recordings, a similar percent power distribution (PPD) effect was observed at 75%, 90%, and 100% occlusion levels. Serosal EMG showed a statistically significant increase in tachyenteric PPD at 90% and 100% occlusion. We observed significant increase in tachyenteric PPD only at the 100% occlusion level in MENG recordings. CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic changes in the intestinal slow wave can be detected early and noninvasively even with partial vascular occlusion. Our results suggest that noninvasive MENG may be useful for clinical diagnosis of partial mesenteric ischemia.


Subject(s)
Electrodiagnosis/methods , Intestine, Small/physiopathology , Magnetometry/methods , Mesenteric Ischemia/diagnosis , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Electrodes , Electrodiagnosis/instrumentation , Electrophysiological Phenomena/physiology , Female , Humans , Intestine, Small/blood supply , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Male , Mesenteric Artery, Superior/surgery , Mesenteric Ischemia/etiology , Mesenteric Ischemia/physiopathology , Swine
16.
J Surg Oncol ; 120(8): 1391-1396, 2019 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31667855

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is a standard staging procedure for early axillary lymph node-negative breast cancer. As an alternative to the currently used radioactive tracers for sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection during the surgical procedure, a number of studies have shown promising results using superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles. Here, we developed a new handheld, cordless, and lightweight magnetic probe for SPIO detection. METHODS: Resovist (SPIO nanoparticles) were detected by the newly developed handheld probe, and the SLN detection rate was compared to that of the standard radioisotope (RI) method using radioactive colloids (99m Tc) and a blue dye (indigo carmine). This was a multicenter prospective clinical trial that included 220 patients with breast cancer scheduled for sentinel node biopsy after a clinical diagnosis of negative axillary lymph node from three facilities in Japan. RESULTS: Of the 210 patients analyzed, SLN was detected in 94.8% (199/210 cases, 90% confidence interval [CI]) with our magnetic method and in 98.1% (206/210 cases, 90% CI) with the RI method. The magnetic method exceeded the threshold identification rate of 90%. CONCLUSION: This was the first clinical study to use a novel handheld magnetometer to detect SLN, which we demonstrate to be not inferior to the RI method.


Subject(s)
Ferric Compounds , Magnetite Nanoparticles , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy/methods , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Coloring Agents , Contrast Media , Dextrans , Female , Humans , Indigo Carmine , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Radiopharmaceuticals , Sentinel Lymph Node/pathology
17.
Nano Lett ; 18(12): 7635-7641, 2018 12 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30380877

ABSTRACT

The mechanical manipulation of magnetic nanoparticles is a powerful approach to probing and actuating biological processes in living systems. Implementing this technique in high-throughput assays can be achieved using biocompatible micromagnet arrays. However, the magnetic properties of these arrays are usually indirectly inferred from simulations or Stokes drag measurements, leaving unresolved questions about the actual profile of the magnetic fields at the micrometer scale and the exact magnetic forces that are applied. Here, we exploit the magnetic field sensitivity of nitrogen-vacancy color centers in diamond to map the 3D stray magnetic field produced by a single soft ferromagnetic microstructure. By combining this wide-field optical magnetometry technique with magneto-optic Kerr effect microscopy, we fully analyze the properties of the micromagnets, including their magnetization saturation and their size-dependent magnetic susceptibility. We further show that the high magnetic field gradients produced by the micromagnets, greater than 104 T·m-1 under an applied magnetic field of about 100 mT, enables the manipulation of magnetic nanoparticles smaller than 10 nm inside living cells. This work paves the way for quantitative and parallelized experiments in magnetogenetics and magnetomechanics in cell biology.


Subject(s)
Biocompatible Materials/chemistry , Diamond/chemistry , Magnetometry/methods , Magnets/chemistry , Biomechanical Phenomena , Equipment Design , HeLa Cells , Humans , Lasers , Magnetic Fields , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Microscopy/instrumentation , Microscopy/methods , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Nitrogen/chemistry , Optical Devices , Particle Size
18.
Curr Opin Urol ; 28(2): 184-190, 2018 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29278579

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are tested to identify sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) to exploit the advantages of targeted pelvic SLN dissection (sPLND), while circumventing the disadvantages of established radioactive labeling. Here we review recent studies about sPLND in prostate cancer (PCa), including the first results of SLN detection using intraprostatic SPION-injection. RECENT FINDINGS: A recent systematic literature review reveals that the diagnostic accuracy of sPLND is comparable with extended PLND (ePLND). sPLND combined with ePLND achieve better node removal by increasing the number of affected nodes. The first sentinel-based nomogram predicting lymph node invasion is established. A sentinel-nomogram update provides comparative predictions relative to ePLND models. sPLND using a magnetometer and SPIONs as a tracer is successful whenever applied to PCa, and SLN identification using MRI after intraprostatic injection of SPIONs is feasible. SLNs are present in an unexpectedly high number outside the ePLND template. SUMMARY: SLN detection outside the ePLND template and the increased diagnostic value of sPLND compared with ePLND supports the individualized extension of PLND using sPLND in PCa. SPION-MRI, combined with a hand-held magnetometer, provides a nonradioactive technique for preoperative and intraoperative SLN localization. Further studies are required to evaluate the effects of sPLND on oncological outcomes.


Subject(s)
Contrast Media/administration & dosage , Lymph Node Excision/methods , Lymphatic Metastasis/diagnostic imaging , Magnetite Nanoparticles/administration & dosage , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Disease Progression , Feasibility Studies , Humans , Lymphatic Metastasis/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Magnetometry/methods , Male , Nomograms , Prostatic Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Risk Assessment/methods , Sentinel Lymph Node/diagnostic imaging , Sentinel Lymph Node/surgery
19.
Sensors (Basel) ; 18(10)2018 Oct 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30340400

ABSTRACT

To accurately measure human motion at high-speed, we proposed a simple structure complementary filter, named the Fuzzy Tuned and Second EStimator of the Optimal Quaternion Complementary Filter (FTECF). The FTECF is applicable to inertial and magnetic sensors, which include tri-axis gyroscopes, tri-axis accelerometers, and tri-axis magnetometers. More specifically, the proposed method incorporates three parts, the input quaternion, the reference quaternion, and the fuzzy logic algorithm. At first, the input quaternion was calculated with gyroscopes. Then, the reference quaternion was calculated by applying the Second EStimator of the Optimal Quaternion (ESOQ-2) algorithm on accelerometers and magnetometers. In addition, we added compensation for accelerometers in the ESOQ-2 algorithm so as to eliminate the effects of limb motion acceleration in high-speed human motion measurements. Finally, the fuzzy logic was utilized to calculate the fusion factor for a complementary filter, so as to adaptively fuse the input quaternion with the reference quaternion. Additionally, the overall algorithm design is more simplified than traditional methods. Confirmed by the experiments, using a commercial inertial and magnetic sensors unit and an optical motion capture system, the efficiency of the proposed method was more improved than two well-known methods. The root mean square error (RMSE) of the FTECF was less than 2.2° and the maximum error was less than 5.4°.


Subject(s)
Accelerometry/methods , Algorithms , Magnetometry/methods , Motion , Accelerometry/instrumentation , Arm/physiology , Fuzzy Logic , Humans , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Motor Activity
20.
Strahlenther Onkol ; 193(10): 840-847, 2017 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28733724

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Anchored electromagnetic transponders for tumor motion monitoring during lung radiotherapy were clinically evaluated. First, intrafractional motion patterns were analyzed as well as their interfractional variations. Second, intra- and interfractional changes of the geometric transponder positions were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intrafractional motion data from 7 patients with an upper or middle lobe tumor and three implanted transponders each was used to calculate breathing amplitudes, overall motion amount and motion midlines in three mutual perpendicular directions and three-dimensionally (3D) for 162 fractions. For 6 patients intra- and interfractional variations in transponder distances and in the size of the triangle defined by the transponder locations over the treatment course were determined. RESULTS: Mean 3D values of all fractions were up to 4.0, 4.6 and 3.4 mm per patient for amplitude, overall motion amount and midline deviation, respectively. Intrafractional transponder distances varied with standard deviations up to 3.2 mm, while a maximal triangle shrinkage of 36.5% over 39 days was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Electromagnetic real-time motion monitoring was feasible for all patients. Detected respiratory motion was on average modest in this small cohort without lower lobe tumors, but changes in motion midline were of the same size as the amplitudes and greater midline motion can be observed in some fractions. Intra- and interfractional variations of the geometric transponder positions can be large, so for reliable motion management correlation between transponder and tumor motion needs to be evaluated per patient.


Subject(s)
Lung Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Magnetometry/instrumentation , Monitoring, Ambulatory/instrumentation , Patient Positioning/instrumentation , Radiotherapy, Conformal/instrumentation , Transducers , Equipment Design , Equipment Failure Analysis , Humans , Motion , Patient Positioning/methods , Reproducibility of Results , Respiratory Mechanics , Sensitivity and Specificity
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL