SQUID magnetocardiography: status and perspectives

Magnetocardiography (MCG), the magnetic equivalent to electrocardiography (ECG), is one of the most promising major applications of SQUID systems. Recent advances in SQUID-system technology such as improved noise suppression techniques, better field sensitivity (in particular for HTS SQUIDs), real time options, vector magnetometers and novel signal analysis approaches have appreciably reduced the technical constraints that hindered until recently the implementation of MCG into practical clinical use. Although MCG features several obvious advantages compared with ECG, it remains difficult to present convincing clinically attractive results to medical doctors that would initiate a commercial breakthrough for SQUID systems. Recent clinical MCG investigations have, however, revealed several areas of cardiology where MCG could play a significant role. This presentation will summarize the technical achievements and next steps necessary for system innovation, as well as the crucial clinical trials for the future commercial and clinical success of cardiac SQUID-systems.