07/17/2009
University hospital Jena: MFI system henceforward available in the clinical routine

The cardiological department of the university hospital Jena can revert to a further predictive diagnostic procedure. With the Magnetic Field Imaging system (MFI system), the risk of sudden cardiac death induced by ventricular tachycardia, for example concerning post infarction patients and other high-risk groups, can be analyzed. This modern contact-free system, which is moreover free of radiation, simplifies also the diagnostics of cardiac ischemia (oxygen undersupply of the myocardial muscle). The MFI system Apollo CXS, being installed in the university hospital Jena, was so far primarily used for clinical study purposes. These results were so promising that there are no more obstacles to the expanded use in the clinical routine.
„We are very confident of being able to optimize the routine of the cardiological diagnostics with the new system”, said Prof. Dr. Hans Figulla, Director of the hospital for Internal Medicine I. The manufacturer BMDSys company from Jena have already cooperated with the university hospital since 2005. „The cooperation with the university hospital Jena was very helpful for the further development of our MFI system. Thanks to the cognitions gained from this cooperation, we were able to reasonably integrate the requirements of the daily clinical life into the system“, mentioned Torsten Krümmel, CEO of BMDSys.

Apollo CXS with integrated software MIANDA
With Apollo CXS, BMDSys company, Jena has developed an ultra-modern magnetic field imaging system. The diagnosis system does not implicate any side effects to the patients as it is non-invasive, contact-free and free of radiation. Furthermore it does not require any contrast agent. No preparation has to be performed for the examination. An especially developed analysis software named MIANDA enables a comfortable and extensive analysis of the data directly after the examination. Depending on the indication, the data can be demonstrated in different ways, e. g. as three-dimensional animations or as specific curves. Thus the attending physician’s diagnosis can be supported in an optimal way.
The examination itself takes about two minutes and the results are available after approximately one minute. Therefore the system is also suitable for emergencies.
The cooperation between the hospital and the manufacturer will be continued in the future as it is essential to further verify the cognitions gained so far as well as to pursue the current studies.
Physical basis of MFI
Magnetic field imaging is based on two natural scientific cognitions: first, cell activities are basically associated with electrical activity and second, the electrical activity is always associated with a corresponding magnetic field. As the heart consists of many synchronously working electrically energetic cells, it is possible to record corresponding magnetic fields by means of highly sensitive magnetic sensors, so-called SQUIDs (Superconducting QUantum Interference Device). Using a special software, those magnetic fields are analyzed and depicted. Contrary to the electrical leads, the magnetic record is free of reference and thereby especially suitable for the lead of low-frequency and magnetic d. c. fields.
Moreover, magnetic fields of currents, which cannot be bled off electrically at the body surface, can still be recorded magnetically. Accordingly, also the internal vortex currents of the heart, containing the fundamental information for the cardiac diagnostics, can be recorded and demonstrated.