Researchers have developed a more accurate device for mapping the human brain’s electrical activity in patients suffering with epilepsy.
According to a statement, the device — developed by a team from Aalto University in Finland — incorporates whole-head magnetoencephalography (MEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology for the first time.
MEG measures the electrical function and MRI visualises the structure of the brain. The researchers claim that the merging of these two technologies will produce unprecedented accuracy in locating brain electrical activity non-invasively.
‘We expect that the new technology will improve the accuracy of brain mapping of patients with epilepsy,’ said Prof Risto Ilmoniemi of Aalto University. ‘It may also improve the diagnosis of cancer patients because the improved image contrast may facilitate the characterisation of cancer tissue.’
The MEG-MRI device will allow brain imaging for a new set of patients, such as those with metal implants.
Meanwhile, the device’s silent running and open atmosphere means that patients being tested should not feel scared or claustrophobic compared with entering an MRI machine for scanning.
Ilmoniemi claims that this latest development also has the potential to reduce costs as images can be obtained in one session rather than two.
The problem with MEG is that when the technique is used separately, the image accuracy can be compromised because of the movement of the brain. Also, the image it provides may not be accurate enough for precise brain surgery.
In the past, it was not possible to combine high-field MRI and MEG because their magnetic fields interfered with one another. Extremely sensitive magnetic field sensors have now been developed, so scientists can use the new low-field MRI with a magnetic field strength of only a few hundred-thousandths of that of the high-field MRI device.
The project is co-ordinated by Aalto University and includes 13 research groups from five countries. The research project is part of the European Commission Seventh Framework Programme.
Can you tell me which American Universities are involved in this study? I have an adult son with uncontrolled epilepsy, and we have hit a brick wall in treatment after 8 years of experiements with AEDs. I would like to see if anyone involved with this study in the US could help us.
Very interesting, but are any MEG-MRI studies for Parkinson’s Disease being carried out using these techniques in Europe?
Hi Eileen, UC Berkeley and Los Alamos National Lab are both working on aspects of this technology, and are contributing advice to the Finnish group. (UCB and LANL are physics groups, Aalto are the MEG experts with the med/bio focus.) But I have to caution that it is going to be several years before there is a device that can be used for medical use rather than pure science. In your son’s case you would be better off with MEG and MRI as performed clinically today; these techniques can already show incredible stuff. I suggest you seek out epilepsy research groups local to you who are using MEG or MRI right now. Good luck!
I’m an imaging physicist specialising in PET, but with an interest in registering this to MR. Can you please e-mail/add links to a publication giving details of how this system works? It sounds fascinating.
are you seeing patients from nordic coutries with epilepsy?