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U.S. Department of Energy
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Magnetic fields produced by steady currents in human and animal bodies. Semi-annual progress report 1 Jan--31 Jun 73

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7214511
The progress report describes efforts to utilize magnetic field measurements of the human body in clinical applications. Engineering developments, including the superconducting magnetometer system (SQUID), shielded closets, and degaussers, are briefly described. The application of magnetic detection in the diagnosis of some brain disorders is being investigated. The measurement of steady magnetic fields from injured hearts is also being studied for the purpose of producing a clinical instrument that can be widely used in the diagnosis of heart injury. A pilot study involving experimental infarctions in dogs is described. Additional experiments to improve accuracy and statistics are reported. Measurement of ferromagnetic materials in the lung is also being studied. Under certain conditions, it has been possible to assess the amount of Chrysotile asbestos in the lungs of mining and milling workers. Voluntary inhalation of magnetite as a tracer shows promise for being a valuable diagnostic technique.
Research Organization:
Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge (USA). Francis Bitter National Magnet Lab.
OSTI ID:
7214511
Report Number(s):
PB-267132; NSF/RANN/IT/GI-C670/PR-1/73/1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English