Measuring Currents in the Heart at Millimeter Resolution with a Diamond Quantum Sensor

Imperfect current propagation in the heart is at the root of most cardiac diseases. Thanks to a novel magnetocardiography technique developed in the MEXT Q-LEAP Flagship project with researchers from Tokyo Tech and the University of Tokyo, we can now image these currents at millimeter-scale resolutions. Based on a diamond quantum sensor that senses the heart's magnetic fields, the proposed system offers high resolution at room temperature, as demonstrated in experiments with rats. The technique could help deepen our understanding of several cardiac arrythmias.