Clinical application and technical specifications for pediatric helium-free magnetoencephalography_Journal of Epilepsy

Authors：

ZHOU Yuanfeng ¹ , LUO Tian ¹ , LU Di ² , CAO Zhigang ² , LV Lilang ² ,  DING Ming ³ ,  WANG Yi ¹

1. Department of Neurology, Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, National Children’s Medical Center, Shanghai 201100, China;
2. OPM-MEG Joint Laboratory for Magnetoencephalography Imaging, Shanghai 201100, China;
3. School of Instrumentation Science and Opto-electronics Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China;

Corresponding author：

DING Ming, Email: mingding@buaa.edu.cn; WANG Yi, Email: yiwang@shmu.edu.cn

Keywords：

OPM-MEG; Children; Clinical Application; Technical Specification

DOI：

10.7507/2096-0247.202508011

Video：

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Abstract Full text Figures/Tables Video References Cited by

Magnetoencephalography (MEG), as a non-invasive brain functional imaging technology, plays an increasingly important role in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric neurological disorders. In recent years, the emergence of helium-free MEG based on optical pumped magnetometer (OPM) technology (OPM-MEG) has provided a novel tool for pediatric brain research and precise diagnosis and treatment of brain diseases. This article elaborates on the technical principles, clinical application standards, testing protocols, and reporting requirements for pediatric OPM-MEG, aiming to establish a scientific and standardized operational framework to promote its rational application and development in pediatric practice. The content covers key aspects such as core equipment parameters, indications and contraindications, pre-examination preparations, optimized operational workflows, data quality control, and reporting standards, offering comprehensive guidance for conducting pediatric OPM-MEG examinations.

Citation： ZHOU Yuanfeng, LUO Tian, LU Di, CAO Zhigang, LV Lilang, DING Ming, WANG Yi. Clinical application and technical specifications for pediatric helium-free magnetoencephalography. Journal of Epilepsy, 2025, 11(5): 384-389. doi: 10.7507/2096-0247.202508011 Copy

1.	Korth H, Strohbehn K, Tejada F, et al. Miniature atomic scalar magnetometer for space based on the rubidium isotope (87)Rb. J Geophys Res Space Phys, 2016, 121(8): 7870-7880.
2.	Yan B, Peng Y, Zhang Y, et al. From simulation to clinic: Assessing the required channel count for effective clinical use of OPM-MEG systems. Neuroimage, 2025, 314: 121262.
3.	Ren J, Ding M, Peng Y, et al. A comparative study on the detection and localization of interictal epileptiform discharges in magnetoencephalography using optically pumped magnetometers versus superconducting quantum interference devices. Neuroimage, 2025, 312: 121232.
4.	Feys O, Wens V, Depondt C, et al. On-scalp magnetoencephalography based on optically pumped magnetometers to investigate temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsia, 2025, doi: 10.1111/epi.18439. Online ahead of print.
5.	Mellor S, Timms RC, O'Neill GC, et al. Combining OPM and lesion mapping data for epilepsy surgery planning: a simulation study. Sci Rep, 2024, 14(1): 2882.
6.	Chen C, Teng P, Meng Q, etal. The potential of OPM-based magnetoencephalography in pre-surgical evaluation of drug-resistant epilepsy. Neurophysiol Clin, 2025, 55(4): 103087.
7.	Feys O, Corvilain P, Aeby A, et al. On-Scalp Optically Pumped Magnetometers versus Cryogenic Magnetoencephalography for Diagnostic Evaluation of Epilepsy in School-aged Children. Radiology, 2022, 304(2): 429-434.
8.	Feys O, Corvilain P, Bertels J, Sculier C, et al. On-scalp magnetoencephalography for the diagnostic evaluation of epilepsy during infancy. Clin Neurophysiol, 2023, 155: 29-31.
9.	An N, Gao Z, Li W, et al. Source localization comparison and combination of OPM-MEG and fMRI to detect sensorimotor cortex responses. Comput Methods Programs Biomed, 2024, 254: 108292.
10.	Greco A, Baek S, Middelmann T, et al. Discrimination of finger movements by magnetomyography with optically pumped magnetometers. Sci Rep, 2023, 13(1): 22157.
11.	Wang X, Teng P, Meng Q, et al. Performance of optically pumped magnetometer magnetoencephalography: validation in large samples and multiple tasks. J Neural Eng, 2024, 21(6).
12.	Liu C, Ma Y, Liang X, et al. Decoding the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Neural Response Similarity in Auditory Processing: A Multivariate Analysis Based on OPM-MEG. Hum Brain Mapp, 2025, 46(4): e70175.
13.	Power L, Bardouille T, Ikeda KM, et al. Validation of On-Head OPM MEG for Language Laterality Assessment. Brain Topogr, 2024, 38(1): 8.
14.	Rier L, Rhodes N, Pakenham DO, et al. Tracking the neurodevelopmental trajectory of beta band oscillations with optically pumped magnetometer-based magnetoencephalography. Elife, 2024, 13: RP94561.
15.	Natalie Rhodes, Lukas Rier, Krish D. Singh, et al. Measuring the neurodevelopmental trajectory of excitatory-inhibitory balance via visual gamma oscillations. Imaging Neuroscience, 2025, 3 imag_a_00527. Online ahead of print.
16.	Rhodes N, Sato J, Safar K, et al. Paediatric magnetoencephalography and its role in neurodevelopmental disorders. Br J Radiol, 2024, 97(1162): 1591-1601.
17.	Cao F, An N, Xu W, et al. Optical Co-Registration Method of Triaxial OPM-MEG and MRI. IEEE Trans Med Imaging, 2023, 42(9): 2706-2713.
18.	Chai C, Yang X, Zheng Y, et al. Multimodal fusion of magnetoencephalography and photoacoustic imaging based on optical pump: Trends for wearable and noninvasive Brain-Computer interface. Biosens Bioelectron, 2025, 278: 117321.
19.	Ru X, He K, Lyu B, et al. Multimodal neuroimaging with optically pumped magnetometers: A simultaneous MEG-EEG-fNIRS acquisition system. Neuroimage, 2022, 259: 119420.

1. Korth H, Strohbehn K, Tejada F, et al. Miniature atomic scalar magnetometer for space based on the rubidium isotope (87)Rb. J Geophys Res Space Phys, 2016, 121(8): 7870-7880.
2. Yan B, Peng Y, Zhang Y, et al. From simulation to clinic: Assessing the required channel count for effective clinical use of OPM-MEG systems. Neuroimage, 2025, 314: 121262.
3. Ren J, Ding M, Peng Y, et al. A comparative study on the detection and localization of interictal epileptiform discharges in magnetoencephalography using optically pumped magnetometers versus superconducting quantum interference devices. Neuroimage, 2025, 312: 121232.
4. Feys O, Wens V, Depondt C, et al. On-scalp magnetoencephalography based on optically pumped magnetometers to investigate temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsia, 2025, doi: 10.1111/epi.18439. Online ahead of print.
5. Mellor S, Timms RC, O'Neill GC, et al. Combining OPM and lesion mapping data for epilepsy surgery planning: a simulation study. Sci Rep, 2024, 14(1): 2882.
6. Chen C, Teng P, Meng Q, etal. The potential of OPM-based magnetoencephalography in pre-surgical evaluation of drug-resistant epilepsy. Neurophysiol Clin, 2025, 55(4): 103087.
7. Feys O, Corvilain P, Aeby A, et al. On-Scalp Optically Pumped Magnetometers versus Cryogenic Magnetoencephalography for Diagnostic Evaluation of Epilepsy in School-aged Children. Radiology, 2022, 304(2): 429-434.
8. Feys O, Corvilain P, Bertels J, Sculier C, et al. On-scalp magnetoencephalography for the diagnostic evaluation of epilepsy during infancy. Clin Neurophysiol, 2023, 155: 29-31.
9. An N, Gao Z, Li W, et al. Source localization comparison and combination of OPM-MEG and fMRI to detect sensorimotor cortex responses. Comput Methods Programs Biomed, 2024, 254: 108292.
10. Greco A, Baek S, Middelmann T, et al. Discrimination of finger movements by magnetomyography with optically pumped magnetometers. Sci Rep, 2023, 13(1): 22157.
11. Wang X, Teng P, Meng Q, et al. Performance of optically pumped magnetometer magnetoencephalography: validation in large samples and multiple tasks. J Neural Eng, 2024, 21(6).
12. Liu C, Ma Y, Liang X, et al. Decoding the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Neural Response Similarity in Auditory Processing: A Multivariate Analysis Based on OPM-MEG. Hum Brain Mapp, 2025, 46(4): e70175.
13. Power L, Bardouille T, Ikeda KM, et al. Validation of On-Head OPM MEG for Language Laterality Assessment. Brain Topogr, 2024, 38(1): 8.
14. Rier L, Rhodes N, Pakenham DO, et al. Tracking the neurodevelopmental trajectory of beta band oscillations with optically pumped magnetometer-based magnetoencephalography. Elife, 2024, 13: RP94561.
15. Natalie Rhodes, Lukas Rier, Krish D. Singh, et al. Measuring the neurodevelopmental trajectory of excitatory-inhibitory balance via visual gamma oscillations. Imaging Neuroscience, 2025, 3 imag_a_00527. Online ahead of print.
16. Rhodes N, Sato J, Safar K, et al. Paediatric magnetoencephalography and its role in neurodevelopmental disorders. Br J Radiol, 2024, 97(1162): 1591-1601.
17. Cao F, An N, Xu W, et al. Optical Co-Registration Method of Triaxial OPM-MEG and MRI. IEEE Trans Med Imaging, 2023, 42(9): 2706-2713.
18. Chai C, Yang X, Zheng Y, et al. Multimodal fusion of magnetoencephalography and photoacoustic imaging based on optical pump: Trends for wearable and noninvasive Brain-Computer interface. Biosens Bioelectron, 2025, 278: 117321.
19. Ru X, He K, Lyu B, et al. Multimodal neuroimaging with optically pumped magnetometers: A simultaneous MEG-EEG-fNIRS acquisition system. Neuroimage, 2022, 259: 119420.

Journal of Epilepsy

Clinical application and technical specifications for pediatric helium-free magnetoencephalography

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