• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.48-52
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• 2002

When applying a SQUID system for diagnosing heart disease, it is informative to obtain the source current distributions from the measured MCG (magnetocardiogram) signals since the bioelectric activity in the heart is generally represented by distributed current sources. In order to estimate the Primary current distribution in a heart, the minimum norm estimate was computed, assuming a source plane below the chest surface. In the simulation, current distributions, which were computed for the test dipoles represented well the essential feature of the test-current configurations. Source current reconstruction was performed for MCG signal of a healthy volunteer, which was recorded using a 40-channel SQUID system in a magnetically shielded room. It was found that the obtained current distribution is consistent with the electrical activity in a heart.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1996 no.11
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• pp.11-14
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• 1996

Biomagnetic measurements provide superior spatial and temporal resolutions compared with the present electric measurements. We developed a SQUID system for biomagnetic applications. A magnetic field from the spontaneous ${\tau}$-rhythm activity and an auditory evoked magnetic field have been measured. And a measurement of magnetocardiogram and its field mapping have been done.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.444-447
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• 2004

A heart diagnosis system adopts hundreds of Superconducting Quantum Interface Device(SQUID) sensors for precision MCG(Magnetocardiogram) or MEG(Magnetoencephalogram) signal acquisitions. This system requires correct and real-time data acquisition from the sensors in a required sampling interval, i.e., 1 mili-second. This paper presents our hardware design and test results, to acquire data from 256 channel analog signal with 1-ksample/sec speed, using 12-bit 8-channel ADC devices, SPI interfaces, parallel interfaces, and 8-bit microprocessors. We chose to implement parallel data transfer between microprocessors as an effective way of achieving such data collection. Our result concludes that the data collection can be done in 250 ${\mu}sec$ time-interval.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2010

A magnetocardiogram (MCG) is a recording of the biomagnetic signals generated by cardiac electrical activity. Biomagnetic instruments are based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs). A liquid cryogenic Dewar flask was used to maintain the superconductors in a superconducting state at a very low temperature (4 K). In this study, the temperature distribution characteristics of the liquid helium in the Dewar flask was investigated. The Dewar flask used in this study has a 30 L liquid helium capacity with a hold time of 5 d. The Dewar flask has two thermal shields rated at 150 and 40 K. The temperatures measured at the end of the thermal shield and calculated from the computer model were compared. This study attempted to minimize the heat transfer rate of the cryogenic Dewar flask using an optimization method about the geometric variable to find the characteristics for the design geometric variables in terms of the stress distribution of the Dewar flask. For thermal and optimization analysis of the structure, the finite element method code ANSYS 10 was used. The computer model used for the cryogenic Dewar flask was useful to predict the temperature distribution for the area less affected by the thermal radiation.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.55-60
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• 2003

We designed and constructed integrated 3-channel flux-locked-loop (FLL) electronic system for the control and readout of high-T$_{c}$ SQUIDs. This system consists of low noise preamplifiers, integrators, interface circuits, and software. FLL operation was carried out with biased signals of 19 KHz modulated current and 150 KHz modulated flux, which are reconstructed as detected signals by preamplifier and demodulator. Computer controlled interface circuits regulate FLL circuit and adjust SQUID parameters to the optimum operating condition. The software regulates interface circuits to make an auto-tuning for the control of SQUIDs, and displays readout data from FLL circuit. 3-channel SQUID electronic system was assembled with 3 FLL-interface circuit boards and a power supply board in the aluminum case of 56 mm ${\times}$ 53 mm${\times}$ 150 mm. Overall noise of the system was around 150 fT/(equation omitted)Hz when measured in the shielded room, 200 fT/(equation omitted)Hz in a weakly shielded room, respectively.y.

• 한국초전도학회:학술대회논문집
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• v.10
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• pp.155-159
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• 2000

YBCO step-edge dc SQUID magnetometers on sapphire substrates have been fabricated. CeO2 buffer layer and YBCO films were deposited in situ on the low angle (${\sim}$35$^{\circ}$) steps formed on the sapphire substrates. Typical 5-${\mu}$m-wide junction has R$_n$ of 5 ${\omega}$ and I$_c$ of 50 ${\mu}$A with large I$_c$R$_n$ product of 250 ${\mu}$V at 77K. According to applied bias current, depth of voltage modulation was changed and maximum voltage was measured 16 ${\mu}$V. Field noise of do SQUID was measured 100${\sim}$300 fT/${\surd}^{Hz}$ in the 1 $^{kHz}$, and about 1.5 pT/${\surd}^{Hz}$ in the 1/f region. For ac bias reversal method, field noise was decreased in the 1/f region. The QRS peak of magnetocardiogram was measured 50 pT in the magnetically shielded room.

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.151-158
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• 2002

We developed a useful SQUID magnetometer for biomagnetic applications, magnetoencepha-logram(MEG) and magnetocardiogram(MCG), etc. The SQUIDs are based on Double Relaxation Oscillation SQUID(DROS). DROS consists of two SQUIDs(signal SQUID and reference SQUID) in series, and a relaxation circuit of an inductor and a resistor. Specially we used single reference junction instead of the reference SQUID. The SQUIDs are based on hysteretic $Nb/AlO_{x}$Nb junctions, fabricated by using a simple four level process. Because DROS magnetometer has large flux-to-voltage transfer coefficient, we can use simple flux-locked loop electronics fur SQUID operation. When the DROS magnetometer was operated inside a magnetically shielded room, its average magnetic field noise was about 3 (equation omitted) at 100 Hz. This noise level is low enough to measure biomagnetic fields. In this paper, we describe noise characteristics of DROS magnetometer, depending on the operation condition . .

• Progress in Superconductivity
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2007

We have investigated the optimum combination of the environmental noise condition and type of SQUID pickup coil in order to obtain maximum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The measurement probe consists of 1st order gradiometer with pickup coils of 100 mm, 70 mm, and 50 mm baseline length, a 2nd order gradiometer with 50 mm baseline, and a magnetometer. The pickup coils are fabricated by winding Nb wire on a bobbin with 200 mm diameter. Noise and heart signal of a healthy male were measured by various SQUID sensors with different types of pickup coils in various magnetically shielded rooms (MSR), and compared to each other. The shielding factors were found to be 43 dB, 35 dB and 25 dB at 0.1 Hz for MSR-AS, MSR-BS, MSR-CS, respectively. White noises were $3.5\;fT/Hz^{1/2}$, $4.5\;fT/Hz^{1/2}$ and $3\;fT/Hz^{1/2}$ for the 1st order gradiometers, the 2nd order gradiometers, and magnetometer for all MSRs. SNR of the magnetometer was up to 56 dB in MSR-AS, while the 1st order axial gradiometer with 70 mm baseline length was up to 54 dB in MSR-BS. The 2nd order axial gradiometer with 50 mm baseline length of pickup coil was found to be up to 40 dB in MSR-CS.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.530-538
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• 2007

Magnetocardiography (MCG) is a device to measure the magnetic field from the heart. It is a noninvasive device and takes only few minutes to record magnetocardiogram from a subject. In this study, we compared the difference of MCG data recorded from 56 normal subjects in early twenties (28 males and 28 females, mean $age=21.0{\pm}1.6$ years) and 36 elderly subjects (20 males and 16 females, mean $age=61.9{\pm}6.9$ years) for the analysis of the age and gender difference. A total of 24 parameters used in the analysis were derived from QRS complex, R-wave, T-wave, and ST-T period. As a result, seven parameters including maximum current angle and map angle showed the significant difference (p<0.01 and p<0.05, respectively) between young males and young females. Significant difference (p<0.05) between elderly males and elderly females was found from a parameter, pole distance at T-wave peak. In the comparison of age difference, seven parameters regarding current moment, pole distance, and dynamics showed the significant difference between young and elderly males. Eight parameters also showed significant difference (p<0.05) between two younger and elderly female groups. Results showed that parameters regarding current moment, pole distance, and dynamics might be changed when people get older. In conclusion, gender and age difference should be considered when MCG data are analyzed for certain parameters.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.111-120
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• 2005

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of acupuncture stimulation on the relationship of change in magnetocardiography (MCG). Methods : For this purpose, 30 heart deficiency volunteers were acupunctured at Shinmun (HA7) and Naegwan (PC6) acupoint. Then, we measured and observed the change of frequency parameters in MCG. Results : In the mean frequency, during and after acupuncture treated groups of PC6 were decreased the activity of $f\;_{mean-max}$ compared to the control group. In the median frequency, during the acupuncture treated group of PC6 was decreased the activity of $f\;_{median-max}$ compared to the control group. Conclusion : These results suggested that acupuncture stimulation plays an important role to the activities of MCG.