New Way to Get a Brain Scan

In the past the patient who had to undergo a brain scan would be required to sit or lie down in a specific room. Then they would be plugged in to the equipment that would be used to monitor their brain waves. The duration of the scan would be fairly long and would require them to stay mostly immobilized in the room.

The researchers at the Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, University of Nottingham and the Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL, have been working for the last five years on changing this. They have come up with a new type of brain scanner which can be worn much like a helmet over the head.

This new, light-weight, magnetoencephalography (MEG) system is easy to use, does not restrict the mobility of the patient too much and is reputed to be even more sensitive in the scanning process. The brain scanning helmet would be easier to use for a certain demographic of patients such as young children, epilepsy patients, and those suffering from Parkinson’s disease.

The new and improved brain scanner is not yet used widely, as it is expensive and does not have a one – size fits all functionality. However the science project that created this new technology is a resounding success.