JPH09173313A - Biological magnetism measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately find a biological active current source without measuring magnetic field data again even when a body to be examined moves during the measurement of magnetic field data. SOLUTION: The position information data of a body to be examined M are collected by supplying a prescribed current to oscillation coils C1-Cn with the collecting operation of ordinary biological magnetic field data in-between, and this operation is repeated several times as one data collection unit. Then, the motion of the body to be examined M is detected for each collection unit by a motion detection part 3 and, when the body M moves, its biological magnetic field data are abandoned. The additional average of biological magnetic field data in the case of not moving the body M is performed, and the biological active current source is found from the added and averaged data by a magnetic field source analytic part 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a biomagnetic measurement for measuring a minute magnetic field generated with a living body current source in a subject and obtaining the living body current source in the subject based on the measurement data. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of superconducting device technology in recent years, SQUIDs (Superconducting Quantum Interferen
A biomagnetic measurement device using a high-sensitivity magnetometer called ce Device) is being put to practical use as one of medical diagnostic devices, and is expected to be useful for elucidating brain functions and diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. .

Such a biomagnetism measuring device determines the position, orientation, size, etc. of a bioactive current source in a coordinate meter based on a magnetometer based on the measured magnetic field data by, for example, the least square method or the minimum norm method. Characterized by estimating (Jukka Sarvas "Basic mathematical and electrom
magnetic concepts of the biomagnetic inverse probl
em ", Phys. Med. Biol., 1987, vol.32, No.1, 11-22,
Printed by the UK), currently used for clinical purposes to measure induced MEG and spontaneous MEG.

Here, the evoked magnetoencephalography means a magnetic field generated from a bioactive current source induced by a stimulus such as sound, light, or electricity applied to a subject, and the same stimulus is applied to the subject. Since it can be reproduced, the S / N ratio is improved by averaging the magnetic field data induced by repeatedly applying tens to hundreds of stimuli at the time of measurement.

[0005] The spontaneous magnetoencephalography means a magnetic field generated from a bioactive current source such as epilepsy which is spontaneously generated, and cannot be repeatedly reproduced like an induced magnetoencephalography. The magnetic field data at each time is observed as it is, but when FFT is performed on the magnetic field data cut out at regular time intervals, the arithmetic mean of the results is used.

When measuring either the induced magnetoencephalography or the spontaneous magnetoencephalography, arithmetic processing such as averaging, digital filtering and FFT is performed on the measurement data, and the result is used to calculate the current by the least square method or the like. The position of the source is estimated. In particular, the averaging process is a frequently used operation and is performed in parallel with the measurement of the magnetic field data from the viewpoint of shortening the inspection time. Further, also in an electroencephalograph or an evoked potential device that obtains potential data transmitted from the biological activity current source to the surface of the head, arithmetic processing such as averaging, digital filtering, and FFT is performed at the same time as the measurement of potential data.

In the biomagnetism measuring device, when the averaging process is performed in parallel with the biomagnetism measurement as described above, a method of coping with a data deterioration factor which suddenly occurs during measurement becomes important.

In particular, in the case of measuring induced magnetoencephalography and spontaneous magnetoencephalography, (1) abrupt fluctuation of environmental noise, (2) magnetic field other than the objective generated from the subject such as myoelectricity (3) movement of the subject itself Etc. are the main causes of deterioration of magnetic field data.

When these factors occur, for example, in the measurement of spontaneous magnetoencephalography, the magnetic field data obtained during the period in which the deterioration factor is mixed cannot be trusted at all, and the measurement of induced magnetoencephalography does not reach tens. Since the magnetic field data of several hundred times is averaged, it is not uncommon to adversely affect not only the period in which the deterioration factor is mixed but also the entire measurement data.

On the other hand, the influence of the environmental noise of the above (1) is exerted by installing the subject and the magnetometer in a shielded room or adopting a differential pickup coil for reducing magnetic field sensitivity other than near the sensor. The electromyographic noise due to the blink of (2) above can be detected by reducing the size or by monitoring the vertical electrooculogram waveform at the same time when measuring the magnetic field data.
A method such as excluding the magnetic field data at that time from the averaging process is used.

In addition to these, as a measure against the above (3), there is a method of comparing the reference position on the surface of the subject used for superimposition with the MRI image before and after measuring the magnetic field data from the biological activity current source. It is used.

Here, in order to detect the position of the reference point on the surface of the subject, a method of attaching electromagnetic transmitting means and receiving means to the sensor unit and the subject, respectively (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-503).
No. 603, “Apparatus and method for performing biomagnetic measurement”) and a method in which an oscillating coil is attached to a reference point on the surface of a subject and the sensor itself receives a magnetic field generated from the oscillating coil ((1 ) S.Ahlfors, et al, "MAGNETOM
ETER POSITION INDICATORFOR MULTI CHANNEL MEG ", Adv
ances in Biomagnetism, Edited by SJWilliamson et
al, Plenum Press, New York 693-696, 1989, (2) N
euromag-122Preliminary Technical Data, August 1991
(3) Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 5-55125, “Position detecting device for biomagnetic field measuring device”).

[0013]

However, in the conventional method using the oscillating coil, it is possible to know whether or not the object has moved after the measurement of the magnetic field data, and at a certain point, the object is largely moved. Even if it is found that the magnetic field data has moved, it is only possible to judge whether or not the measured magnetic field data can be used, and if it cannot be used, the magnetic field data must be measured again from the beginning.

Further, in the method using the electromagnetic transmitting means and the receiving means, the movement of the subject can be detected in almost real time by taking in the magnetic field generated from the electromagnetic transmitting means by the receiving means during measurement. In such a case as well, it is only possible to determine whether or not the magnetic field data currently being measured is valid, and if it is not valid, the magnetic field data must be measured again from the beginning.

The present invention was devised to solve the above problems, and even if the subject moves during the measurement of the magnetic field data, the biological activity current source can be accurately measured without redoing the measurement of the magnetic field data. An object of the present invention is to provide a biomagnetism measuring device capable of obtaining

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention measures a minute magnetic field generated with a bioactive current source in the skull of a subject, and based on the measurement data, the subject is measured. In a biomagnetism measuring apparatus for obtaining a biological activity current source of a specimen, an oscillation coil attached to the subject, a current supply means for supplying a current to the oscillation coil, and a magnetic field generated from the oscillation coil by the supplied current. A magnetometer for measuring data, supply of current to the current supply means and measurement of biomagnetic data from a bioactivity current source are alternately performed a plurality of times, and the oscillation obtained by sandwiching the biomagnetic data measurement. The movement of the subject is detected from the magnetic field data from the coil, the biomagnetic data when the subject has moved is excluded, and the biomagnetic data when the subject does not move is used. Characterized by comprising an operation control means for calculating a bioelectric current sources, the Te.

This arithmetic control means uses each biomagnetic measurement data obtained when the subject does not move, and uses the biomagnetic measurement data obtained until the subject moves to obtain the first biological activity current source. And a second biological activity current source is obtained from the biomagnetism measurement data obtained after the subject has moved, and the subject's magnetic field data obtained from the oscillation coil until the subject moves Position information of the subject obtained by displaying magnetic field data from the oscillation coil obtained after the subject moves by displaying the first biological activity current source on the display screen together with the subject model using the position information. And displaying the second biological activity current source in an overlapping manner on the display screen by using the calculation control means of the reciprocal of the magnetic field intensity emitted from the oscillation coil and measured by the magnetometer. And square root, characterized in that it is determined that the absolute value of the difference between the square root of the inverse of the magnetic field strength emitted from the same oscillator coil in the past object has moved is larger than a predetermined threshold.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a biomagnetism measuring apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, the sensor unit 1 accommodates a plurality of high-sensitivity magnetometers S1 to Sm each consisting of a pickup coil and an SQUID sensor together with a refrigerant. It is placed close to the head of the specimen M.

The oscillating coils C1 to Cn are attached to characteristic parts for identifying the subject M, such as the root of the nose and the areas under both ears. For example, as shown in FIG. A coil C in which a coil portion 32 is formed by printing metal on a substrate 31 formed of an insulating material, or a coil C formed by winding a metal wire 34 around a bobbin 33 as shown in FIG. 2B. 'Etc. are used. Then, a current is supplied from the current supply unit 12 to the oscillation coils C1 to Cn arranged on the head surface of the subject M.

The data collecting unit 2 includes magnetometers S1 to S
The magnetic field data measured by m is A / D converted and output to the motion detection unit 3 and the calculation unit 4 in the computer 7. Here, the magnetic field generated from each of the oscillation coils C1 to Cn in the position detection or motion detection operation of the subject M and the magnetic field generated from the biological activity current source of the subject M are measured by the magnetometers S1 to Sm. .

The computer 7 mainly analyzes the measured magnetic field data, detects the movement of the subject M, calculates the arithmetic mean of the magnetic field data based on the movement of the subject M, and controls the operation of the current supply unit 12 and the stimulator 13. The motion detection unit 3, the calculation unit 4, the magnetic field source analysis unit 5, and the collection control unit 6 are included.

The collection control section 6 in the computer 7 controls the current supply to the current supply unit 12 and also provides a stimulator 13 for applying light, sound, electricity or the like to the subject M when measuring the biological activity current source. It also controls the stimulus generation instruction for.

The motion detector 3 detects the presence or absence of motion of the subject during the measurement of the magnetic field data from the biological activity current source, and the magnetic field data from the oscillating coils C1 to Cn and the same oscillating coil previously obtained. Predetermined data processing is performed on the magnetic field data from C1 to Cn to compare the two according to a predetermined criterion, and the arithmetic unit 4 is notified of whether or not the subject M has moved.

The calculation unit 4 determines whether or not the subject M has moved from the motion detection unit 3 with respect to the magnetic field data repeatedly measured in the evoked magnetoencephalogram and the FFT result generated in the spontaneous magnetoencephalography at regular intervals. According to the notification, the averaging is performed, and the magnetic field data from the oscillating coils C1 to Cn, the data averaged here, and the like are temporarily stored in a predetermined storage memory area j of the arithmetic unit 4 itself. Here, in the storage memory area j, a new area is secured every time the motion of the subject is detected by the motion detection unit 3, and the data collected after the subject moves is sequentially transferred to the newly secured area. It will be added and remembered. Note that these memory areas are zero-cleared before the start of measurement.

The magnetic field source analysis unit 5 uses the magnetic field data from the biological activity current source, which is averaged by the calculation unit 4,
Relative position of each of the oscillating coils C1 to Cn with respect to the magnetometers S1 to Sm using the magnetic field data from each of the oscillating coils C1 to Cn. Is calculated.

The relative positional relationship between the biological activity current source and each oscillating coil is calculated using the data stored in each storage memory area j secured in the arithmetic unit 4.

Here, the calculated oscillation coils C1 to C
The relative positions of n with respect to the magnetometers S1 to Sm are associated with specific points of the subject M such as the root of the nose and the lower parts of both ears on the MRI image read from the image storage unit 8, and information on the biological activity current source is obtained. The data is displayed on the monitor 10 so as to be superimposed on the read MRI image, and stored in the external memory 9 such as a MOD (magneto-optical disk) or output to the printer 11 as required.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 showing the operation of the computer 7.

First, the measurement condition is input to the collection control unit 6 prior to the measurement of the magnetic field from the biological activity current source of the subject M, that is, the measurement of the biomagnetism (S1). For example, in the measurement of evoked magnetoencephalography, the types of stimuli (sound, light, electricity), the number of stimulus repetitions, the stimulus interval, the sampling frequency, the number of sampling points, etc. As conditions for this, frequency (or time interval), time, a threshold value for motion detection, etc. are input as measurement conditions. Specifically, when measuring the auditory evoked magnetoencephalography, the following measurement conditions are set.

Stimulation time 50 msec Stimulation interval 1000 msec to 2000 msec Random stimulation Repetition 200 times Sampling frequency 1 KHz Sampling points 350 points Position confirmation collection interval 30 seconds Position confirmation collection time 100 msec The operator specifies these measurement conditions individually. Alternatively, the setting conditions may be automatically read from a memory or the like in which setting conditions are stored in advance and the setting may be performed. When the setting of the measurement conditions is completed, next, the operation of collecting the position information data of the subject M is performed (S2).

Here, the operation of collecting the position information data of the subject M will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 4. First, the collection control unit 6 causes one of the oscillating coils C1 to Cn to generate one oscillating coil Ci ( First, an alternating current is supplied to the oscillation coil C1 through the current supply unit 12 (S2
1), the motion detecting section 3 collects the magnetic field data obtained by the magnetometers S1 to Sm via the data collecting unit 2 (S22, S23). Here, the oscillation coil Ci
Is usually supplied with a sin wave alternating current with a predetermined intensity and frequency, so the magnetic field data generated by this is still a sin wave, and the magnetic field strength can be obtained directly as the amplitude of this sin wave magnetic field data. However, it can also be obtained by Fourier transform.

Then, these operations are sequentially performed for all the oscillation coils C1 to Cm (S24), and the oscillation coil C
The position index value Ii for each i is calculated and held by the motion detector 3 using the following formula as the sum of the magnetic field data Iij obtained from all the magnetometers S1 to Sm (S25, S26).

Ii = .SIGMA. (J = 1..m) Iij Here, the magnetic field data Iij is the magnetic field generated from the oscillation coil Ci, and means the magnetic field strength detected by the magnetometer Sj.

In the position information data collecting operation, the magnetic field data Iij collected through the data collecting unit 2 is also supplied to the calculating section 4, and the calculating section 4 temporarily stores these magnetic field data Iij. Hold.

When the position information data collection is completed, a biomagnetic field data collection operation is next performed (S3).

As shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the collection operation of the biomagnetic field data is as follows.
As a stimulus for the subject M, the stimulator 13
A sound having a length of 50 msec is output (S31).

Then, the biomagnetic data generated from the living body by this stimulus is detected by the magnetometers S1 to Sm and taken into the arithmetic unit 4 via the data collecting unit 2 (S3).
2), the calculation unit 4 calculates the arithmetic mean of the magnetic field data mj (k) obtained by each magnetometer Sj by the following formula (S3).
3).

Mj (k) = {Mj (k-1) × (k-1) + mj (k)} / k where Mj (k) is the arithmetic mean result up to the kth time Mj (k-1) is k -The averaging result up to the -1st time (previous time) mj (k) is the kth magnetic field data. At this time, Mj (k) = {Σ (l-1 ... k) mj (i)} / k Although it is possible, in reality, the magnetic field data sent every time is added each time, so it cannot be calculated as in this equation.

After that, the collection control unit 6 determines 1000 mse.
After a waiting time of c to 2000 msec, the stimulator 13 is made to output a sound of 50 msec in length again, and the series of operations S31 to S33 are repeated for 30 seconds, for example, until the position information data collecting operation is performed. The biomagnetic field data collection operation ends (S34).

When the biomagnetic field data collection operation is completed,
Again, as described in the flowchart of FIG. 4, position information data is collected (S4).

Then, the motion detecting section 3 calculates the position index value IiP calculated and held for each oscillation coil Ci calculated at the time of collecting the previous position information data and the position index value calculated for each oscillation coil Ci obtained this time. IiN
Then, the evaluation value ε of the motion is calculated by the following equation ε = Σ (i = 1.n) | (1 / IiN) − (1 / IiP)
| IiN is the position index value for the current oscillation coil Ci, IiP is calculated by the position index value for the previous oscillation coil Ci, and it is determined whether or not the subject M is moving by comparing with a predetermined threshold value. (S5).

Here, from the Biot-Savart law dH = (sin θ / 4πr 2) dI expressed by the following equation, the magnetic field strength is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the current source. The evaluation value ε is a value proportional to the moving distance of the subject M, and is a value that is easy to handle as a numerical value indicating the degree of movement. Also, as described below,
The amount of calculation is overwhelmingly smaller than the process of obtaining the position coordinates of the oscillation coil using the least square method, and it is possible to detect whether or not the subject M has moved in real time.

Then, the motion detector 3 causes the subject M to
If it is determined that there is no movement, the arithmetic unit 4 is notified of that fact, and the arithmetic unit 4 calculates the average of the biomagnetic data obtained by the current measurement in the currently secured storage memory area j. Mj and position information data Iij are used for each magnetometer S
The address is added to each of 1 to Sm (S6).

When the motion detection unit 3 determines that there is a motion of the subject M, the calculation unit 4 is notified of that fact, and the calculation unit 4 receives the biomagnetic field data Mj and position information data collected this time. All of Iij are discarded (S7), and a new storage memory area (j = j + 1) is secured (S8).
As a result, the biomagnetic data and the position information data obtained in the next measurement will be sequentially added to the newly secured storage memory area (j = j + 1) here unless the subject M moves. .

Until the data collection operation is completely completed, the operations of S3 to S8 described above, that is, the collection operation of the biomagnetic data Mj and the position information data Iij, and the judgment of the presence or absence of the movement of the subject M are set. Is repeated (S9).

Here, in FIG. 6, the timing of supplying a current to the oscillating coils C1 to Cm in order to collect the above-mentioned position information data, and a sound stimulus to the subject M in order to collect biomagnetic data. Timing is shown, and as shown in FIG. 6a, current supply to the oscillating coils C1 to Cm is performed at intervals of 30 seconds, during which the sound stimulation to the subject M and the sound stimulation to the subject M are performed. The collection of biomagnetic field data is completed when the number of times reaches 200 times.

The sound stimulus to the subject M gives a sound of 50 msec each, as shown in FIG. 6b.
Repeat every 000 msec to 2000 msec.
Then, the data collecting unit 2 causes the magnetometers S1 ...
The biomagnetic field data detected one after another by Sm is 1 mmse
c 350 msec in total (350 points x 1/100
0) After being sampled and A / D converted, the operation unit 4
Sent to

On the other hand, the current supply to the oscillating coils C1 to Cm, as shown in FIG. 6c, is successively applied once to the oscillating coils C1 to Cn, and a predetermined current is supplied for 100 msec.

As described above, when collecting the biomagnetic field data, the computing unit 4 and the motion detecting unit 3 treat the biomagnetic field collection for 30 seconds and the two position information data collections sandwiching the biomagnetic field collection as one collection unit. The result of the arithmetic mean processing of the biomagnetic field data in this acquisition unit performed in S33 is added to the storage memory area secured by the calculation unit 4 according to the determination result of the motion detection unit 3.

More specifically, the above-described operations of S2 to S9 will be specifically described. In the first collection unit, the subject M uses the results of the first and second position information data collections forming the collection unit. If it is determined whether or not the subject M has moved, the arithmetic mean result and position information data thereof are rejected, and if it is determined that the subject M has not moved, the arithmetic mean result and position information The data is stored in the first storage memory area.

When it is determined that the subject M has moved in the second collection unit from the results of the second and third collections of the position information data constituting this collection unit, the arithmetic mean result and the position information data are also obtained. Although rejected, unlike the case of the first time, when the second storage memory area is secured and the subject M is not moving, the arithmetic mean result and position information data obtained this time are added to the first storage memory area. Get caught.

Similarly, in the third and subsequent collection units, when it is determined that the subject M has moved from the result of the collection of the position information data that constitutes the collection unit, the arithmetic mean result and the position information data are rejected, If a new storage memory area is secured, but the subject M is not moving, the obtained averaging result and position information data are added to the storage memory area newly secured for the second time. Get caught.

As described above, in the present invention, when it is determined that the subject M has moved based on the position information data collected twice with the biomagnetic data collection operation interposed, the biomagnetic field data in the collection unit during this period is rejected. In addition, a new storage memory area to be stored next is secured, and the biomagnetic field data before and after the movement of the subject is separately managed.
Next, a method of analyzing the collected data will be described. The arithmetic mean unit 4 sends the bio-magnetic arithmetic mean data and position information data temporarily stored in the respective storage memory regions j to the magnetic field source analysis unit 5, and first stores them in the respective storage memory regions j. Using the arithmetic mean data of the living body magnetic fields, the size and relative position of the living body current source with respect to the magnetometers S1 to Sm are calculated for each storage memory area j (S10).

After that, from the magnetic field intensity Iij from the oscillation coils C1 to Cn stored in each storage memory area j in the arithmetic unit 4, the oscillation coils for the magnetometers S1 to Sm are stored in each storage memory area j. The relative positions of C1 to Cn are calculated (S11).

When the relative positional relationship of the oscillating coils C1 to Cn with respect to the magnetometers S1 to Sm and the generation position of the biological activity current source with respect to the magnetometers S1 to Sm are obtained for each storage memory area j, next, in advance. An MRI image taken of the subject M is read from the image storage unit 8,
The information on the biological activity current source obtained for each data stored in the storage memory area j is superimposed on the MRI image by using the relative positional relationship of the oscillation coils C1 to Cn with respect to the corresponding magnetometers S1 to Sm. The state is displayed on the monitor 10 (S12).

Here, various methods such as the minimum norm method and the least square method have been proposed as methods for calculating the size and relative position of the biological activity current source with respect to the magnetometers S1 to Sm, and any method is used. However, a conventional current source estimation method using the minimum norm method will be described here.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the sensor unit 1 is arranged close to the subject M and the magnetometers S1 to Sm are housed in the sensor unit 1.

On the other hand, a large number of grid points 1 to n are virtually set in the diagnosis target area of the subject M, for example, the brain, and unknown current sources (current dipoles) are assumed at each grid point, and The current source is represented by a three-dimensional vector VPj (j = 1 to n). Then, the magnetic fields B1 to Bm detected by the magnetometers S1 to Sm, respectively.
Is represented by the following equation (1).

[0061]

[Equation 1] In equation (1), VPj = (Pjx, Pjy, Pjz) αij = (αijx, αijy, αijz) where αij is a unit size current source in the X, Y, and Z directions on the grid point. Is a known coefficient representing the strength of the magnetic field detected at each position of the magnetometers S1 to Sm. here,
[B] = (B1, B2, ... Bm) [P] = (P1x, P1y, P1z, ... Pnx, Pny, P
nz), the equation (1) can be rewritten as a linear relational equation like the equation (2). [B] = A [P] (2) In the equation (2), A is 3n × m represented by the following equation (3).
It is a matrix with elements.

[0062]

[Equation 2] When the inverse matrix of A is represented by A ⁻ , [P] is represented by the following equation (4).

[0063] ^{[P] = A - [B} ] (4) Here, the minimum norm method, the number of the formula m (magnetometer S1 to S
It is assumed that the number of unknowns is 3n (the number of unknowns when the size of the current source assumed at each lattice point in the X, Y, Z directions is considered) is larger than the number of m). The solution of the current source [P] is obtained by adding the condition that the norm | [P] | of [P] is minimized.

The solution can be uniquely obtained by setting the number m in the above equation and the number 3n in the unknown to be equal, but in such a case, the solution becomes very unstable. The minimum norm method is used.

By adding the condition that the norm | [P] | of the current source [P] is minimized, the above equation (4) is expressed as the following equation (5).

[P] = A ⁺ [B] (5) Here, A + is a general matrix represented by the following equation (6).

A ⁺ = A ^t (AA ^t ) ⁻¹ (6) where At is a transposed matrix of A.

By solving the above equation (5), the current source VP on each lattice point
Estimate the direction and magnitude of j, and let the one with the largest value be close to the true current source.

Further, in order to improve the position resolution of the minimum norm method, the minimum norm solution can be repeatedly obtained while subdividing the grid point division.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a part of the lattice point group N shown in FIG. 7. Reference numeral J in the drawing is a true current source estimated using the above-mentioned minimum norm method. At a grid point having a current source close to, a grid point group M subdivided around this grid point J (indicated by small black dots in FIG. 8) is additionally set,
In the form in which the newly set lattice point group M is included in the initially set lattice point group, a current source closer to the true current source is estimated by using the same method as described above.

Next, the procedure for obtaining the relative position of the oscillating coil with respect to the magnetometers S1 to Sm using the magnetic field strength from the oscillating coil by the method of least squares will be described below.

Here, the procedure for obtaining the relative position of each oscillating coil C1 to Cn with respect to the position of the magnetometers S1 to Sm by the method of least squares by using the magnetic field intensity sequence I1j to Inj for each oscillating coil C1 to Cn, The operation of the magnetic field source analysis unit 4 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the position of the oscillation coil C1 is virtually set using the magnetic field data resulting from the first oscillation coil C1 (S111) (S112). When the oscillating coil C1 is located at the virtual position, the magnetometers S1 to S
The virtual magnetic strength sequence detected by m is calculated (S11
3). The sum of squares of the differences between the corresponding terms between this virtual magnetic field intensity sequence and the actually measured detected magnetic field intensity sequence I11 to I1m is calculated and used as the square error (S114).

Next, the calculated squared error is compared with a predetermined judgment value (S115). If the squared error is larger than the predetermined judgment value, the virtual position of this oscillation coil has a smaller squared error. In the same direction (S116), this is used as a new virtual position to similarly calculate the squared error, and the above operation is repeated until the squared error becomes equal to or smaller than the determination value (S116).
113-S116).

If the squared error is smaller than a predetermined judgment value, its virtual position is specified as the position of the oscillating coil C1, and the second oscillating coil C2 is specified (S11).
9) The above-described operation is repeated for all the oscillation coils C1 to Cn for the magnetometer group (S112 to S11).
7).

Here, a method of superimposing and displaying the information indicating the biological activity current source at a predetermined position on the MRI image will be described. First, a marker for MRI imaging is attached to the position where the oscillation coils C1 to Cn should be attached and MRI imaging is performed, so that the attached marker is displayed on the captured MRI image. Then, at the time of measuring the biological activity current source, the attached markers are removed, and the oscillating coils C1 to Cn are attached to the positions to identify the positions of the oscillating coils C1 to Cn. As a result, if the position of the oscillation coil is made to correspond to the position of the marker displayed on the MRI image, the positions of the magnetometers S1 to Sm on the MRI image are specified, so that the obtained bioactivity current source The position on the MRI image is specified.

The accuracy of the above calculation result improves when the coil portion of the oscillation coil is close to a perfect circle and there is no variation in the coil portions of all the oscillation coils.

In the present embodiment, the motion detection and the arithmetic control are carried out by the combination of the oscillation coil and the magnetometer, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the combination of the electromagnetic transmitting and receiving means can also be carried out (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 10). 1-503603).

In this case, since the electromagnetic receiving means can directly know the relative position to the transmitting means, when the distance between the position and the previous position is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the arithmetic mean calculation is newly performed. Will be done.

As a motion detecting operation, the oscillation coil C
Although the currents are sequentially sent to 1 to Cn, the present invention is not limited to this, and alternating currents having different frequencies are sent to the oscillation coils to discriminate the magnetic field data from all the coils by mathematical processing. Is also good. Furthermore, although the motion detection is automatically performed every 30 seconds, the present invention is not limited to this and may be appropriately performed according to an instruction from the operator.

In the present embodiment, the movement of the subject M is detected to prevent the deterioration of the arithmetic mean calculation result of the magnetic field data of the induced magnetoencephalography, but the same can be applied to the case of spontaneous magnetoencephalography. In this case, not the spontaneous magnetoencephalography data itself, but the data obtained by performing the Fourier transform on a part of the spontaneous magnetoencephalography data is the target of the arithmetic mean.

[0082]

According to the present invention, the magnetic field data from the biological activity current source can be measured by using the function such as the oscillation coil for superimposing on the ordinary MRI without adding a special device. The movement of the subject can be detected, and the averaging process during measurement can be controlled based on the detected movement, and the magnetic field data before and after the movement can be managed separately. Deterioration can be prevented in advance. Therefore, it is possible to provide an accurate test result to the doctor, prevent the extension of the test time due to data deterioration, reduce the burden on the patient associated with the test, and improve the throughput of the device. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a biomagnetism measuring apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an oscillation coil according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing an operation of collecting position information data in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of collecting biomagnetic field data in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart of stimulator output and current output according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method for estimating a biological activity current source.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a method for estimating a biological activity current source.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure for obtaining the position of each oscillation coil.

[Explanation of symbols]

 M subject S1 to Sm magnetometer C1 to Cn oscillating coil 1 sensor unit 2 data collecting unit 3 motion detecting unit 4 arithmetic unit 5 magnetic field analyzing unit 6 collecting control unit 7 computer 8 image storage unit image 9 external memory 10 monitor 11 printer 12 Power supply unit 13 Stimulator

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A biomagnetism measuring apparatus for measuring a minute magnetic field generated along with a bioactivity current source in the skull of a subject and determining a bioactivity current source of the subject based on the measurement data. An oscillating coil attached to the sample, a current supply means for supplying a current to the oscillating coil, a magnetometer for measuring magnetic field data generated from the oscillating coil by the supplied current, and a current for the current supplying means. While supplying and biomagnetic data measurement from the bioactivity current source are alternately performed multiple times,
The movement of the subject is detected from the magnetic field data from the oscillating coil obtained by interposing the biomagnetic data measurement, and the biomagnetic data when there is a movement of the subject is excluded. A biomagnetism measuring device comprising: an arithmetic and control unit that obtains a bioactivity current source using the biomagnetic data when there is no data; 2. The calculation control means uses each biomagnetic data obtained when there is no movement of the subject, and uses the biomagnetic measurement data obtained until the subject moves to obtain a first biological activity current. The source is obtained, and the second bioactive current source is obtained from the biomagnetic data obtained after the subject moves.
The first biological activity current source is displayed on the display screen together with the subject model by using the position information of the subject obtained from the magnetic field data from the oscillation coil obtained until the subject moves. The second biological activity current source is displayed in an overlapping manner on the display screen by using the position information of the subject obtained from the magnetic field data from the oscillating coil obtained after the movement. The biomagnetism measuring device described.