dc-SQUID-based MCG-systems

at CRYOTON Co. Ltd.

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Here we present new MCG-systems of CRYOTON. The new line of MCG-systems (named as the "MAG-SCAN") was designed,fabricated and tested in 2008 - 2010 years. This line includes systems with number of MCG-registration channels from 1 to 36. The MCG-system "MAG-SCAN" operate without any magnetic shielding, demonstrate a good stability in use and a desired quality of logged MCG-data.

              

Measuring MagnetoCardioGraphic (MCG) systems of the Model "MAG-SCAN-09" with monoblock measuring probe and separated measuring probes

Measuring MCG-systems"MAG-SCAN" are intended for studies of cardiac magnetic signals in the 0-500 Hz band, with regular grid of 36 points (6x6 scale), via mapping of the heart magnetic signal and reconstruction of its sources.

MCG-system "MAG-SCAN-09-Mono" is based on the fiberglass cryostat of  the Model LH-10.5-B  with the next  characteristics:

Description

Value of the parameter
D1 - Outside diameter of the cryostat (mm)   226
L1- Cryostat length (mm)   1000
D3 – Neck inside diameter (mm)   150
D4 – Cryogenic bulb inside diameter (mm)   155
H - Hot-to-cold distance (mm)   <12
Initial noise of the cryostat  <1 fT/Hz1/2
Speed of the liquid helium evaporation (liter per day)   1.35
Time to complete evaporation of liquid helium (days)   >8
Volume of liquid helium (lit)   10.5
Weight of the empty cryostat (kg)   14

Cryostat LH-10.5-B needs the refilling procedure once a week to keep the liquid helium at all times

The measuring probes of the signal channels are mounted on the separated fiberglass tubes or as the 9-channel monoblock. Each   probe contains:

  •  the fine balanced 2-nd order gradiometer;

  •  the dc-SQUID sensors CE2-blue ( see at www.supracon.de )

  • elements for coupling of the dc-SQUID with the pre-amplifier;

The signal 2-nd order gradiometer is made of the insulated 0.07 mm diameter Nb wire on the carbon support of 20 mm in diameter. The gradiometer base is 60 mm; the initial imbalance does not exceed 0.1%. The internal noise level of the probes is less than 5 fT/ Hz1/2;

XYZ reference magnetometer is mounted inside the central probe and located outside the area of signal gradiometers. Three dc-SQUID-magnetometers are mounted on the orthogonal surfaces of the 12 mm cube and produce the reference signals for the Electronic Noise Suppression System (ENSS).

The system electronics Model E-1112 contains 12 similar electronics channels assembled in a single aluminum box. Each channel of electronics contains the analog and digital part. The analog part is working in the modulation scheme with zero-point detection and with current feedback (the magnetic flux feedback presents as option); it allows for tuning of the SQUID into its working regime. The digital part allows for tuning of the SQUIDs through a USB-port.

The level of self-noise of the electronics pre-amplifier does not exceed 0.7 nV/Hz1/2. The electronics has two ranges with respect to the feedback depth: 0.1V/F0 and 1V/F0. The bandwidth of the electronic signal in the closed feedback regime is 0 - 50 kHz at the -3 dB level, for a 0.1 F0 signal.

The SQUID electronics-box has dimensions 260x250x90 mm, and locates on the cryostat holder near the probe flange.

Magnetometer control block CU-312 contains stabilized power source, additional output signal amplifiers, band filters, ENSS (Electronic Noise Suppression System), 24-bit ADC-converters and means for system tuning, MCG-signals processing, digitizing and MCG-data transferring to PC. The use of the ENSS improves the balancing of gradiometers more than 20 times.

The original software for MCG-data processing was developed and tested in the real clinical measurements and destined for:

- non-invasive mapping of the heart magnetic field over the human body with the regular grid in unshielded environment; synchronous input of the MCG- and ECG-signal into the PC;

- filtering, averaging and sorting of the MCG-data; interpolation of the averaged MCG-data and construction of the "instantaneous" maps of the magnetic field distribution in the surface of measurements;

- analytical localizing of the source of the electromagnetic activity and its movement trajectory on the investigated interval of the cardiac cycle;

- reconstruction of the biomagnetic source as a planar current distribution;

- spatial-temporal analysis of the MCG-signal and numerical characterization of the heart magnetic field without application of the inverse solution procedure;

- creating of friendly graphic interface and flexible database the results of measurements and analysis;

          A possible configurations of CRYOTON's measuring MCG-systems:

Description

"MAG-SCAN-01"

"MAG-SCAN-04"

"MAG-SCAN-07"

"MAG-SCAN-09"

Fiberglass Cryostat  LH-10,5-B LH-10,5-B LH-10,5-B LH-10,5-B
SQUID-based measuring probes One, second order gradiometer based Four, second order gradiometer based Seven, second order gradiometer based Nine, second order gradiometer based
XYZ-magnetometer yes yes yes yes
dc-SQUID electronics Unit E1112-L, 4-channel E1112-L, 7-channel E1112-L, 10-channel E1112-L, 12-channel
Control Unit CU-304 CU-307 CU-310 CU-312
DAS 24 bit, 5-channel 24 bit, 8-channel 24 bit, 12-channel 24 bit, 12-channel
ENSS yes yes yes yes
Connecting cables One set One set One set One set

MCG-software,

version 11.04

yes yes yes yes
MCG-software, version 11.04 24 bit, 5-channel 24 bit, 8-channel 24 bit, 12-channel 24 bit, 12-channel
XY-adjustable patient bed yes yes yes yes
Cryostat holder yes yes yes yes
Liquid helium level meter yes yes yes yes
Liquid helium transfer tubes yes yes yes yes
Computer yes yes yes yes

CRYOTON supplies measuring MCG-systems as a complete devices including all necessary accessories such as cryostat holder, movable patient bed, helium level meter and filling tubes. Pentium-based computer is included in the set of purchased equipment. These systems can be installed in the usual rooms in clinics and don't require additional magnetic shielding. The medical personal needs the short course of the practical training only.

 

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