64-channel magnetocardiogram system based on double relaxation oscillation SQUID planar gradiometers

Abstract

We developed a magnetocardiogram (MCG) system measuring tangential field components using planar gradiometers. The SQUID insert has 64 planar gradiometers, of which 32 measure the x-component and the other 32 measure the y-component, where the chest surface is in the x and y plane. The SQUID sensor is a double relaxation oscillation SQUID type with high flux-to-voltage transfers. Thus, a room-temperature dc preamplifier with a modest input voltage noise could be used to detect the SQUID output voltage directly. The pickup coils are first-order planar gradiometers with a baseline of 4 cm, and they were connected to the input coils using a superconductive bonding of Nb wires. The sensor coverage area of the 64 channels is 190 mm in diameter, and the average boil-off rate of liquid He is 3.6 L/d in everyday operation of the SQUID system. The SQUID operation of the 64 channels was done by digital controls and the average noise of the MCG system was 4.6 fT Hz−1/2 at 100 Hz, inside a magnetically shielded room.