Magnetism lab boosts medical sensor development
The University of Glasgow has opened a medical magnetics research lab for sensor development.
The £250,000 magnetism lab has a bespoke magnetically shielded room known as MuRoom to eliminate magnetic interference from external sources, such as nearby electronics and the Earth’s magnetic field.
The MuRoom within the lab will enable researchers to develop prototypes of devices capable of detecting the extremely weak biomagnetic signals produced by human muscles (magnetomyography or MMG) and organs such as the heart (magnetocardiography or MCG) and brain (magnetoencephalography or MEG).
These magnetic sensors could replace the current standard method for monitoring muscle, heart and brain activity based on electrical recording with higher resolution.
The magnetic sensors can also provide data for 3D visualisations of the signal source which could enhance the control of advanced prosthetic limbs and enable new forms of human-computer interaction through wearable devices.
Neuranics, a spin out of the universities of Glagow and Edinburgh, is developing spintronics-based sensors for health, fitness, and extended reality (XR) applications and will use the lab.
Professor Hadi Heidari, from the James Watt School of Engineering and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Neuranics, led the installation of the magnetism lab. “The potential applications are incredibly exciting, especially in medical diagnostics. Three-dimensional measurements of magnetic signals could help identify conditions that traditional methods might overlook, such as certain types of ‘silent’ strokes,” he said.
“The magnetism lab will help us make MMG sensors sensitive enough for sophisticated measurements of the human body, which could be integrated into everyday life. That might mean a credit card-sized device that monitors your heart for 24 hours or a wristband that allows precise control of prosthetic limbs.”
Another key project is SUPREMISE, which is exploring MMG’s multiple potential applications.
“We’re delighted to officially open the magnetism lab, which is the first facility in Scotland to offer this level of sophisticated shielding to enable advances in biomedical and sensing research,” said Professor Muhammad Imran, Head of the James Watt School of Engineering.
“The lab helps to drive forward the University’s approach to innovation, enabling new developments in medical technology. The lab will foster new partnerships between academia and industry in next-generation medical sensors and transformative technologies, offering new solutions for healthcare, prosthetics, and human-computer interaction.”
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