CEA, LETI, MINATEC Campus, Grenoble, France, University of Grenoble Alpes, G2Elab, Grenoble, France, CNRS, G2Elab, Grenoble, France, Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Grenoble, France, INSERM U1039, Bioclinic Radiopharmaceutics Laboratory, Grenoble, France

In this paper, we present a proof of concept study which demonstrates for the first time the possibility of recording magnetocardiography (MCG) signals with 4He 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 a 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 f T (?Hz)-1 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 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. © 2017 Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.

helium, magnetocardiography (MCG), optically pumped magnetometers (OPM)

Helium, Magnetic fields, Magnetostatics, Clinical environments, Electrocardiogram recordings, Healthy subjects, Optically pumped, Parametric resonance, Proof of concept, Vector measurements, Zero magnetic fields, Magnetometers