Simon Fraser University (SFU) is spearheading an innovative project to test a new magnetoencephalography (MEG) machine, aimed at assisting patients with epilepsy, particularly those who are resistant to medication. The overall goal of the initiative is to improve surgical outcomes by offering detailed knowledge of brain activity. This technology has the potential to completely change the lives of the estimated 50,000 British Columbians who live with the condition. This incredibly challenging condition impacts about one percent of the general population.
In fact, MEG technology has already proven clinical applications in cities from Toronto to the United States and European cities. The MEG machine employs superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) to detect minute magnetic fields generated by neuronal activity in the brain. These devices work best at temperatures approaching absolute zero, carefully cooled to the point that they float on a bath of liquid helium during use.
Maggie Clarke, associate director and head of the MEG program at SFU, clarified how MEG technology operates. She explained, “When your brain cells talk to each other it produces [an electrical] current, and when you have current you have magnetic fields. She further elaborated, “When large populations of neurons fire and communicate together it creates a current large enough to create a magnetic field outside the head that we can pick up.”
MEG provides a unique non-invasive window into the dynamic activity of the human brain. This approach allows doctors to gather valuable information without requiring patients to have seizures while they go about capturing them. This ability is especially important in assessing surgical candidates. In addition to mapping the brain, surgeons use MEG readings to determine if a patient is likely to benefit from undergoing such an impactful surgery. In anticipation of approval to perform the surgery, patients usually go through a battery of imaging tests such as EEGs, MRIs, functional MRIs, and PET scans.
The importance of this technology goes well beyond diagnostics. By precisely locating the parts of the brain where seizure activity begins, MEG allows for more precise surgical interventions. Mary Connolly, an integral partner in the project, she added, “Our ultimate goal is to apply the least surgery for greatest impact. This core belief drives a commitment to continually improving patient care and outcomes.
The price tag to deploy this MEG technology would be cost-prohibitive, believed to be upwards of $3 million for each machine. With the prospect of real-world impact for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy, these investments are well warranted. Meg provides a more transparent window into brain function. Its ultimate aim is to improve available treatments for people dealing with this cruel disease.
