SFB 1261:  Magnetoelectric Sensors: From Composite Materials to Biomagnetic Diagnostics

Subject Area Materials Science and Engineering
Biology
Computer Science, Systems and Electrical Engineering
Medicine
Physics
Term since 2016
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 286471992
 

Project Description

The general objective of the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1261 is the investigation of different magnetoelectric (ME) sensor (as well as actuator/transmitter) approaches. This is done with special focus on high sensitivity at biomagnetic frequencies. Furthermore, the ME sensor systems are evaluated and utilized in medically relevant problems for which there are currently no sufficiently good non-magnetic alternatives. In the first two funding periods, uncooled and unshielded ME sensors (and transmitters) have demonstrated their potential for detecting weak magnetic signals, as required for biomedical applications. We were able to establish different ME-based sensing principles that operate from about 100 µT (maximum amplitude) or even more down to 1 pT/Hz0.5 (amplitude spectral density of the noise) at higher frequencies, e.g., 7 kHz, and 7.5 pT/Hz0.5 at low frequencies (10 Hz). This allows to perform cardiological analyses with signal averaging times of about one minute without cooling. The ME sensors are based on ME composites, i.e. composites consisting of at least one magnetostrictive and one piezoelectric constituent, which were fabricated using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Besides “direct” biomagnetic signals (e.g. originating from the human heart), we have identified several more medical applications in which magnetic sources (e.g., a coil, a vibrating cantilever with magnetic material on the moving parts, or magnetic nanoparticles) are coupled to human activity or biological processes within the human body. These applications allow several additional degrees of freedom in the design of the corresponding magnetic detection and sensing systems. For example, resonant magnetic sensors and actuators (transmitters) with frequencies above the range of potential acoustic distortion (e.g., above 5 kHz) enable the construction of magnetic localization systems that can operate with high precision outside and inside the human body. The research program to pursue these goals requires intensive interdisciplinary collaboration between materials scientists, electrical engineers, and physicians (cardiology, neurology, robot-assisted surgery, and endoscopy). The work program of the third funding period ensures on the one hand, that the full potential of ME sensors for the selected fields of biomedical applications is explored and, on the other hand, that the ME sensors can be used effectively in the application projects. This will also enable completely new medical diagnostics.
DFG Programme Collaborative Research Centres
International Connection France

Current projects

Completed projects

Applicant Institution Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
Participating Institution Fraunhofer-Institut für Siliziumtechnologie (ISIT); IPN - Leibniz-Institut für die Pädagogik der Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik
an der Universität Kiel
Participating University Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg; Technische Universität Ilmenau
Spokespersons Professor Dr.-Ing. Eckhard Quandt, until 9/2021; Professor Dr.-Ing. Gerhard Schmidt, since 9/2021