Magnetoencephalography devices are used to perform magnetoencephalography (MEG), non-invasive technique used to investigate brain activity. During MEG, these devices measures the magnetic fields produced by the brain's electrical currents. Moreover, it is performed to map brain function and to identify the exact location of the source of epileptic seizures. The clinical application segment includes diagnosis of conditions such as schizophrenia, dementia, stroke, epilepsy, brain tumor, and others.
MEG can be used either to evaluate the brain's spontaneous activity or to check its response to specific external stimuli. MEG primarily detects the magnetic fields induced by intracellular currents, whereas scalp EEG (electroencephalography) is sensitive to electrical fields generated by extracellular currents. MEG and EEG are very close methodologies, since the main sources of both kinds of signals are essentially the same, i.e., ionic currents generated by biochemical processes at the cellular level.
Magnetoencephalography is a safe, radiation-free technique and can be used for the pediatric population. Magnetoencephalography devices consist of highly sensitive magnetometers called superconducting quantum interface devices. Magnetoencephalography devices capture activity of the brain by detecting and amplifying magnetic signals produced by the brain. MEG is a functional neuroimaging technique used to map brain activity by recording magnetic signals produced by the brain, using very sensitive magnetometers.
MEG is usually combined with a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to get a good structural perspective. In the United States, it is approved for pre-operative brain mapping and Epilepsy Surgery. Most clinical MEG's in the U.S. are associated with Epilepsy Centers. There are about 200 MEG centers worldwide. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, epilepsy affects 3 million people in the U.S. and 50 million around the world. This in turn is expected to increase the demand for magnetoencephalography devices around the world.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder in which brain activity becomes abnormal, causing seizures or periods of unusual behavior, sensations and sometimes loss of awareness. MEG is performed to map brain function and to identify the exact location of the source of epileptic seizures.
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