Biomagnetometer having flexible sensor

摘要

A biomagnetometer (10) includes a magnetic field sensor unit including a magnetic field pickup coil (12). A vessel (16) contains the sensor unit. The vessel (16) includes a flexible contact face (e.g., 240) with the magnetic field sensor unit mounted in the interior of the vessel (16) adjacent to the flexible contact face. Insulation at the flexible contact face (240) of the vessel (16) prevents excessive heat flow through the flexible contact face (240). Pickup units using this structure can be connected together into flexible or rigid arrays. In operation, the pickup coil is cooled to a temperature of less than its superconducting transition temperature. A detector (30) measures the magnitude of magnetic fields sensed by the sensor unit.