| Title: | Fetal magnetocardiography using optically pumped magnetometers : a literature review |
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| Authors: | ID Hren, Rok (Author)
ID Marhl, Urban (Author)
ID Dóczi, Tamás (Author)
ID Országh, Erika (Author)
ID Jazbinšek, Vojko (Author)
ID Sander, Tilmann (Author) |
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| Files: |  PDF - Presentation file, download (5,22 MB)
MD5: 0C478DFF0DA327D5878A3CF11A2EC91C
 URL - Source URL, visit https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/16/9/487
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| Language: | English |
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| Typology: | 1.02 - Review Article |
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| Organization: |  IMFM - Institute of Mathematics, Physics, and Mechanics
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| Abstract: | Fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG) provides direct non-invasive assessment of fetal cardiac electrophysiology, enabling detailed evaluation of cardiac rhythm, conduction, and repolarization. However, the clinical adoption of conventional fMCG has been limited by its reliance on superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) systems, which require cryogenic cooling and specialized infrastructure. Optically pumped magnetometers (OPMs) have emerged as a promising cryogen-free alternative with the potential to broaden access to fetal electrophysiological assessment. This review summarizes the technological evolution and early clinical evaluation of OPM-based fMCG through an analysis of original in vivo human studies published up to June 2026. Twelve eligible studies were identified and synthesized narratively. Advances in sensor design, magnetic shielding, acquisition strategies, and signal-processing algorithms have enabled SQUID-comparable signal quality and cardiac interval measurements while substantially reducing cryogenic and infrastructure requirements. OPM-fMCG has demonstrated the potential to assess fetal cardiac time intervals, heart rate variability, fetal movement, and clinically important arrhythmias, including congenital long QT syndrome, atrioventricular block, and supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. However, the available evidence remains dominated by small, single-centre studies, with relatively few fetuses affected by clinically significant arrhythmias. Prospective multicenter clinical validation, protocol standardization, independent replication, and regulatory evaluation are therefore required before OPM-fMCG can be integrated into routine diagnostic pathways for pregnancies requiring advanced fetal electrophysiological assessment. |
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| Keywords: | fetal magnetocardiography, optically pumped magnetometers, quantum sensors, fetal arrhythmia, fetal electrocardiology, prenatal diagnosis, cardiac electrophysiology, SQUID, biomagnetism, magnetic sensing |
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| Publication status: | Published |
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| Publication version: | Version of Record |
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| Publication date: | 01.09.2026 |
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| Year of publishing: | 2026 |
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| Number of pages: | 23 str. |
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| Numbering: | Vol. 16, iss. 9, art. no. 487 |
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| PID: | 20.500.12556/DiRROS-32282  |
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| UDC: | 537:612.171 |
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| ISSN on article: | 2079-6374 |
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| DOI: | 10.3390/bios16090487 |
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| COBISS.SI-ID: | 289943811 |
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| Pub. date in DiRROS: | 03.09.2026 |
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| Views: | 29 |
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| Downloads: | 21 |
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