Magnetocardiography (MCG) Parameters in the Prediction of Future ICD Therapy

Magnetocardiography (MCG) is a non-invasive, non-contact body-surface method which uses magnetometers to measure and map the magnetic fields generated by the electrical activity within the heart. It offers a better spatial resolution than an ECG recording and opens the possibility of detecting conduction characteristics consistent with arrhythmogenesis.9-15 The application of MCG has been limited by feasibility as devices up to now have been based on superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUID) with supercooled sensors. These machines were often operated in a shielded environment, to decrease magnetic field interference (noise) from electrical devices and other sources of magnetic fields. This was a major limiting factor in deploying these devices in a working environment especially considering, that most hospital wards will have numerous devices that can interfere with the device.