Magnetocardiography measurements with $^4$He vector optically pumped magnetometers at room temperature

S. Morales (1) , M.C. Corsi (1) , W. Fourcault (1) , F. Bertrand (1) , G. Cauffet (2) , C. Gobbo (1) , F. Alcouffe (1) , F. Lenouvel (1) , M. Le Prado (1) , F. Berger (1) , G. Vanzetto (3, 4) , E. Labyt (1)

1 CEA-LETI - Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives - Laboratoire d'Electronique et de Technologie de l'Information
2 G2ELab - Laboratoire de Génie Electrique de Grenoble
3 LRB - Radiopharmaceutiques biocliniques
4 Pôle Thorax et Vaisseaux [CHU Grenoble]

In this paper, we present a proof of concept study which demonstrates for the first time the possibility to record magnetocardiography (MCG) signals with $^4$He vector optically-pumped magnetometers (OPM) operated in a gradiometer mode. Resulting from a compromise between sensitivity, size and operability in a clinical environment, the developed magnetometers are based on the parametric resonance of helium in zero magnetic field. Sensors are operated at room-temperature and provide a tri-axis vector measurement of the magnetic field. Measured sensitivity is around 210 fT/√Hz in the bandwidth [2 Hz; 300 Hz]. MCG signals from a phantom and two healthy subjects are successfully recorded. Human MCG data obtained with the OPMs are compared to reference electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings: similar heart rates, shapes of the main patterns of the cardiac cycle (P/T waves, QRS complex) and QRS widths are obtained with both techniques.

Keywords: Optically Pumped Magnetometers (OPM); 4 helium; Magnetocardiography (MCG); room temperature

Domains: Engineering Sciences [physics]

S. Morales, M.C. Corsi, W. Fourcault, F. Bertrand, G. Cauffet, et al.. Magnetocardiography measurements with $^4$He vector optically pumped magnetometers at room temperature . Physics in Medicine and Biology, 2017, ⟨10.1088/1361-6560/aa6459⟩. ⟨cea-01560997⟩