The use of portable Magnetoencephalography (MEG) in epilepsy. v1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The use of portable Magnetoencephalography (MEG) in epilepsy: a multi-case method development study at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL
IRAS ID
243727
Contact name
Matthew C Walker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2018/05/169, Data Protection Registration
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
Currently the main investigation for localising abnormal brain activity in patients with epilepsy is scalp electroencephalography (EEG). However, there are significant limitations associated with the technique including its accuracy and the fact that the recording is through the skull and scalp which filter the electrical signal. These can be overcome by putting electrodes into the brain but this is an invasive procedure requiring surgery and can only be done in a limited area of the brain. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) measures magnetic rather than electrical signals, and can give very accurate localizing information and is not affected to such a degree by the skull and scalp. However thus far MEG has been used predominantly as a research tool due to the high costs of the equipment and the necessity of carrying it out in a heavily screened room with supercooling of the sensors. In addition, the patient should not move during the recording.
This project aims to develop a novel MEG technique, portable MEG, that takes advantage of a new technology, optically pumped magnetometers (OPM), which does not rely on superconducting technology. Sensors can be worn on the subject's head and the person can move freely. This will allow non-invasive electrophysiological measurements to be made with unparalleled accuracy while patients move freely within their environment. With this technology, we aim to translate MEG from a research tool into a widely available clinical investigation. Our project will focus on epilepsy surgery candidates, directly comparing portable MEG to scalp EEG and intracranial EEG. We aim to demonstrate the accuracy of portable MEG in localising epileptogenic foci, thus proposing it as a viable alternative to intracranial (invasive) EEG recording.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EE/0220
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jul 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion