Signal-processing and acquisition challenges in realtime magnetic source imaging systems

As a result of a joint research agreement, we are currently building the data acquisition, visualization, analysis, and archiving systems for two research magnetic source imaging (MSI) systems to be placed at a new biomedical center in Europe. The MSI sensor heads are to be supplied by our partners. MSI is an emerging diagnostic modality which attempts to characterize the spatial and temporal electrical activity within the body (e.g. heart, brain, or spine) by noninvasive measurement of the external magnetic fields created by minute internal electrical currents. This paper briefly summarizes the nature of these signals and of MSI systems. It then develops the system design requirements suitable for clinical applications. The resulting heterogeneous, multiprocessor system based on these requirements is described