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Visualization of conductive spinal cord activity using a biomagnetometer.

Shigenori Kawabata¹, Hiromichi Komori, Kiyoshi Mochida

¹Section of Orthopaedic Spinal Surgery, Department of Frontier Surgical Therapeutics, Division of Advanced Therapeutical Sciences Graduate School, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. kawabata.orth@med.tmd.ac.jp

|March 7, 2002

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Magnetic field measurement effectively evaluates spinal cord function. This method visualized cervical spinal cord evoked magnetic fields (SCEFs) and identified conduction blocks after spinal cord transection in cats.

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Biophysics
Medical Imaging

Background:

Magnetic field measurement offers theoretical advantages over electric potential measurement for spinal cord activity.
Established biomagnetometers exist for brain and heart, but spinal cord methods are underdeveloped.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess the utility of magnetic field measurement for evaluating spinal cord function.
To establish methods for measuring spinal cord evoked magnetic fields (SCEFs).

Main Methods:

Cervical laminectomy and thoracic spinal cord stimulation in anesthetized cats.
Recording of SCEFs using a specialized biomagnetometer and construction of isomagnetic field maps.
Assessment of SCEF propagation and response to complete spinal cord transection at C5.

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Main Results:

Detected SCEFs exhibited a clear biphasic configuration with a quadrupolar pattern.
Isomagnetic field maps demonstrated SCEF propagation at 80-120 m/s.
Spinal cord transection abolished SCEF propagation above the lesion site, indicating a conduction block.

Conclusions:

Magnetic field measurement is a valuable tool for assessing spinal cord function.
SCEFs can effectively indicate conduction block within the spinal cord.