ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Imagine pinpointing the exact area of the brain where a seizure originates without having to do major surgery. Physicians at United Hospital in St. Paul are now using a rare device called magnetoencephalography to accomplish this critical diagnostic process. It now allows neurosurgeons to more accurately and safely perform surgery to correct the problem.

Magnetic Source Imaging, otherwise known as magnetoencephalography is a safe, noninvasive and painless procedure that provides information on how a patient's brain functions. MSI can detect small biomagnetic signals produced by the brain, either spontaneously or in response to stimulation, and provide data about the location of brain tissue that produce these signals. These locations are mapped onto the patients' MR images to show the regions of active brain tissue in relation to brain anatomical structures.

"This piece of technology once again brings a whole new level of neuroscience to United Hospital and the Twin Cities," said Mark Mishek, president, United Hospital. "This machine actually allows us to measure key electrical changes in the brain that are often hard to find. It's a critical component of the John Nasseff Neuroscience Institute."

Compared to other brain imaging technology, Magnetic Source Imaging is much safer and more advanced. It only acts as a sensor to pick up the natural magnetic fields coming from the brain. Other scans such as CT or MRI have to aim X-rays, radio waves, or inject dye into the body to create the images.

"Magnetoencephalography is a sophisticated technology that offers breakthrough accuracy for diagnosis and treatment options," said John Gates, MD, Minnesota Epilepsy Group, PA. "Our patients and their surgeons can have tremendous benefits now that this resource is available at the John Nasseff Neuroscience Institute and Minnesota Epilepsy Group, PA."

Providing magnetoencephalography as a diagnostic tool is rare in the United States. There are less than a dozen systems nationwide, forcing many patients to travel great distances for treatment. United Hospital is the only facility in the five state area to have Magnetic Source Imaging for clinical use.

United Hospital, the largest hospital in the Twin Cities east metro area, is a not-for-profit hospital providing a full range of health care services to more than 160,000 people each year. United offers a wide range of health services including a birth center, cardiac care in the John Nasseff Heart Hospital, emergency care, oncology, orthopedics/neurosciences and epilepsy, a pain center, rehabilitation, medical imaging and surgery.

United Hospital, part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, is a not-for-profit health care system of hospitals, clinics and other patient care services that provides exceptional care to communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin and employs more than 22,000 people.

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