SENSOR LOCALIZATION IN A MAGNETOENCEPHALOGRAPHY (MEG) SYSTEM
Various embodiments disclosed herein comprise systems and methods to locate magnetic field sensors. In some examples, a system comprises a controller, a sensor mount, a coil set comprising one or more coils, and a magnetic field sensor. The sensor mount mounts the magnetic field sensor and constrains at least one degree of freedom of the magnetic field sensor in position or orientation. The controller supplies electric current to the coil set. The coil set generates magnetic waves that form at least one coil magnetic field in response to receiving the current. The magnetic field sensor measures the strength of the coil magnetic field. The controller locates the magnetic field sensor based on the constraint and the measured strength of the coil magnetic field.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . A method comprising:
placing a mechanical constraint on an orientation and a position of a magnetic field sensor, wherein the magnetic field sensor is in contact with or proximate to a target;
generating a coil magnetic field;
measuring a strength of the coil magnetic field; and
locating the magnetic field sensor based on inputs that comprise the mechanical constraint, a coil location, and the strength of the coil magnetic field.
22 . The method of claim 21 further comprising generating an image of a target magnetic field based on a target magnetic field measurement and a location of the magnetic field sensor.
23 . The method of claim 21 wherein placing the mechanical constraint on the orientation and the position of the magnetic field sensor comprises:
moving the magnetic field sensor through a slot of a sensor mount worn by the target, to position the magnetic field sensor to be in contact with or proximate to the target, wherein the slot fixes the orientation of the magnetic field sensor and restricts the magnetic field sensor to a single axis of motion; and
when the magnetic field sensor is in contact with or proximate to the target, locking the magnetic field sensor in place to fix the position of the magnetic field sensor.
24 . The method of claim 21 wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises a magnetometer.
25 . The method of claim 21 wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises an atomic magnetometer.
26 . The method of claim 21 wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises an Optically Pumped Magnetometer (OPM).
27 . The method of claim 21 wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises a nitrogen vacancy center.
28 . The method of claim 21 wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises a high-temperature Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID).
29 . A system comprising:
a sensor mount, a coil, a magnetic field sensor, and a controller;
the sensor mount configured to place a mechanical constraint on an orientation and a position of the magnetic field sensor, wherein the magnetic field sensor is in contact with or proximate to a target;
the coil configured to generate a coil magnetic field;
the magnetic field sensor configured to measure a strength of the coil magnetic field; and
the controller configured to locate the magnetic field sensor based on inputs that comprise the mechanical constraint, a coil location, and the strength of the coil magnetic field.
30 . The system of claim 29 wherein the controller is further configured to generate an image of a target magnetic field based on a target magnetic field measurement generated by the magnetic field sensor and a location of the magnetic field sensor.
31 . The system of claim 29 wherein:
the sensor mount comprises a slot and a locking mechanism;
the magnetic field sensor is configured to move through the slot to be in contact with or proximate to the target;
the slot is configured to fix the orientation of the magnetic field sensor and restrict the magnetic field sensor to a single axis of motion; and
the locking mechanism is configured to lock the magnetic field sensor in place to fix the position of the magnetic field sensor when the magnetic field sensor is in contact with or proximate to the target.
32 . The system of claim 29 wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises a magnetometer.
33 . The system of claim 29 wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises an atomic magnetometer.
34 . The system of claim 29 wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises an Optically Pumped Magnetometer (OPM).
35 . The system of claim 29 wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises a nitrogen vacancy center.
36 . The system of claim 29 wherein the magnetic field sensor comprises high-temperature Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUID).
37 . An apparatus comprising:
Magnetoencephalography (MEG) headgear, magnetic field sensors, and coils;
the MEG headgear comprises slots and locking mechanisms to mount the magnetic field sensors;
the coils are attached to the MEG headgear at reference locations associated with the slots;
the slots fix the orientations of the magnetic field sensors and restrict each of the magnetic field sensors to a single axis of motion; and
the locking mechanisms fix the positions of the magnetic field sensors when the magnetic field sensors are moved through the slots to a desired location.
38 . The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the magnetic field sensors comprise one or more of magnetometers, atomic magnetometers, Optically Pumped Magnetometers (OPMs), nitrogen vacancy centers, or high-temperature Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs).
39 . The apparatus of claim 37 wherein:
the coils are associated with the slots on a one-to-one basis; and
mounting one of the magnetic field sensors in one of the slots associates the magnetic field sensor with a corresponding one of the coils.
40 . The apparatus of claim 37 further comprising a headrest mounted to an interior section of the MEG headgear, wherein:
the headrest comprises one or more of a hammock, sling, mesh, strap, rope, netting, flexible plastic, cushion, or padding; and
the headrest positions the head of a target wearing the MEG headgear at a central position within the MEG headgear.