David Woolger

Cerca Magnetics Limited

Cerca Magnetics Limited offer the world's most advanced functional brain scanner – an integrated lightweight, ergonomic and wearable device that will offer an unparalleled window on human brain function, in health and disease. We have developed and brought to market the world's first commercial, fully integrated brain imaging device based on optically-pumped magnetometers (OPMs), the Cerca OPM-MEG System. Conventional magnetoencephalography (MEG) systems employ cryogenic sensors – cooled to -269 °C using liquid Helium – to measure the extremely small fields generated by the brain. However, the need for cryogenic infrastructure severely limits usability and system performance. New breakthroughs in physics have enabled fabrication of devices that exploit the quantum properties of atoms to measure very small magnetic fields. These sensors, known as optically-pumped magnetometers (OPMs) do not need liquid helium cooling, and they are around the size of a Lego brick. This means they can be mounted on the head in a helmet, which is worn by the participant. Through this change in scanner architecture we are able to turn a half tonne, one-size-fits-all cryogenic machine with fixed sensors, into a lightweight, flexible and wearable system. Helmets can be made to fit anyone, meaning it is possible to scan adults, or babies, using the same system and because the system is wearable, sensors move with the head meaning participants can move during a scan.