For Information:
Sue Pondrom
Scripps Clinic
(619) ss4-8133
+ a4 1 3 9 0 - 4
Leslie FerrinBiomagnetic Technologies,
(619) 458-56A4
Inc.
FOR IIVIMEDIATE RELEASE
BIOUAGNETIC TECHNOIOGIES AND SCRIPPS CLINIC
SIGN AGREEUENT FOR 37-CEANNEL BIOMAGNETOUETER
LA JOLLA,
CA April
13 |
I99A
Biomagnetic
Technologies,
Inc.'
San Diego'
.iolla'
have siEned an 18-month research col laboration
-scripps
Clinic
to
using
a powerful
heart
function.
The
and
conduct
ability
to
a
and
produced by electrical
sequence
factor
such
in
epilepsy,
measure the
in the brain
fields,
and possibly
stroke,
treating
Afztreimer's
trave the
signals
and heart.
the
may prove
activity,
will
weak magnetic
pinpoint
which
and
Biomagnetometer
(BTi),
Inc.
research
measures brain
Series
La
agreement for
worl-dwide cli.nica1
7AA
rapidty
electrical
diagnosing
as
first
and Research Foundation,
Technologies,
activity
magnetic
of
the
37-channel
by Biomagnetic
detect
These
Clinic
new device which non-invasively
device'
manufactured
Scripps
sources
to
be an
a variety
disease,
and time
important
of
and
disorders
addicti.ve
behaviors.
nScripps
by
BTi
Charles
Clinic
to
use
this
C.
Edwards,
nThis new generation
is
pleased to
powerful
M.D.,
state-of-the
president
of technology
<liagnoses in many ciinical
be the first
areas. n
MORE
and chief
institution
art
devic€rn
executive
promises faster
chosen
noted
officer.
and more precise
PAGE 2
the
Under
Scr ipps
Scripps
di rection
Clinic
Department
Clinic
In
addition,
by
having
This
April
begin
chairnan
the
of
the
research
at
function.
worldwide
witl
patients
selected
be
invited
to
with
the
tested
be managed by a joint
usage will
committee
perscnnel.
o f B T i a n d - q c ri p p s C l i n i c
wi1l.
Bl-oom, M.D. ,
Neuropharrlacology,
clinicians
biomagnetometer.
BTi
of
focus on brain
will
participate
Floyd
of
instal-lation
at,qcripps
CIinic
the
week of
16.
nScripps
BTi
president
has
the
patients
In
Cl-inic
is
the perfect
and chief
opportunity
to
executive
benefit
choice
for
officer
progrdrnrn said
this
nBTi
Stephen O. James.
from a strong
clinical
site
where
can be examined in a safe environment.n
the
fall,
plans
BTi
to
install-
two additional
37-channel
biomagnetorneters, one in hlest Germany and one in Japan.
rThe first
and
applications
stroke,"
at
Bloom noted.
Alzheimer's
Disease,
Scripps
Clinic
nDown the
road
then addictive
An example of an application
epilepsy
by
surgery.
medication
removed.
location
brain
of
tissue
Founded
devi
ce
in
brain
is
is
tissue
that
we hope
to
epilepsy
look
of patients
the evaluation
whose seizures
have a portion
The biomagnetometer
be in
at
behaviors.n
Some epileptics
chocse to
will
for
cannot be managed
of
their
brain
should
be
able
to
causes
seizures
so
surgically
pinpoint
that
the
healthy
saved.
in
I97A'
I975
BTi
a
developed
single
its
channel
N e ur o m a g n e t o m et e r .
IITORE
first
sensor
biomagnetometer
unit
called
a
PAGE 3
Scripps
was one of
Clinic
14-channel
relationship
CLinicrs
four
with
institutions
BTi began in
1987 when the
worLdwide chosen to
Neuromagnetometer in basi.c scientific
utilize
research efforts.
Comparing the new 37-channel- device to the 14-channel
Bloom
nthe
said
events
in
doctors
much faster.
the
the
new device
brain
14-channel
be more like
A
occur
and
Neuromagnetonleter
one hour of analysis
sophisticated
37
sensors
Interference
the
for
call-ed
will
fields
emitted
of
version,
measuring
be
leads
to
device,
it
brairr's
magnetic
fields.
Superconducting
each time
helium
a part
of
could
recording. n
the
liquid
with
5A hours
device,
inside
to
time
sensing
the
where
available
recording
37-channel
SQUIDS
sitting
in
each hour of
nragnetic
Devices
weak magnetic
data
usually
With
biomagnetomeLer produces maps of
uses
the
R-ight now, one hour
and presentation.
analysis
more precise
is
a
of
It
Quantum
to
the
new
detect
brain
the
fires
electr ical1y.
The method of
mapping the
MEG (magnetoencephalography)
braj.n's
and
which part.s of the brain
visualize
magnetic
al1ows
signals
researchers
are active
during
is
called
a means to
complex mental
activities.
A1 though
u1t rasound,
many
CT scans
resonance inaging)
they do l-itt1e
There are
ability
of
of
the
to
today'
indicate
a. number of
to
high-tech
(computed
provide
brain
s
tomography)
information
actual
function,
UORE
such
as
IvtRI (magnetic
structure,
activity.
that
but
and
about the brajnrs
brain
diseases
devices,
can profoundly
that
leave
iittle
impair
the
or no niark
PAGE 4
on IVIRI or
CT scans.
Alzheimerr
s
These
di sease,
include
early
headaches r
stroke
and
€pi 1epsy,
early
psychiatric
numerous
illnesses.
EEGs (electroencephalograms)
their
signals
distorted
are imprecise
by currents
Christopher
at
good
at
tel-ling
'On
through
to
telling
the
of
Ph.D.,
Scripps
wlren events
the
other
nThis
hand,
a senior
Clinic,
happen
the
in
some brain
is
in
activities
timern
Gallen
importantrn
and disfunction
and the timing
magnetic
giving
sku1l and scalp,
and milliseconds
he
by tissue
and
research
noted that
the
field
a clean
to
brain,
associate
the EEG is
but
poor
at
flows
signal
within
that
can be used
millimeters
nsince
in
understanding
knowing both the
space
region
brain
involved
n
measurements, clinicians
develop more specific
urrdistorted
said.
added,
requires
of the activity.
With the more precise
hope to
but
where they happen.
l-ocalize
function
activity,
the brain.
M.D.,
the Research Institute
elecLrical
because they are altered
within
Gallen,
neasure
and effective
#+#
and researchers
treatnients.