Optically Pumped Magnetoencephalography in Epilepsy

Abstract

Our aim was to demonstrate the first use of Optically Pumped Magnetoencephalography (OP-MEG) in an epilepsy patient with unrestricted head movement. Current clinical MEG uses a traditional SQUID system for recording MEG signal, where sensors are cryogenically cooled and housed in a helmet in which the patient9s head is fixed. Here we use a different type of sensor (OPM), which operates at room temperature and can be placed directly on the patient9s scalp, permitting free head movement. We performed two 30 minute OP-MEG recording sessions in a patient with refractory focal epilepsy and compared these with clinical scalp EEG performed earlier. OP-MEG was able to identify analogous interictal activity to scalp EEG, and source localise this activity to an appropriate brain region. This is the first application of OP-MEG in human epilepsy. Future directions include simultaneous EEG/OP-MEG recording and prolonged OP-MEG telemetry.