Compumedics Limited has reached a significant milestone in functional brain imaging with the first successful MEG (magnetoencephalography) recordings from both adults and children using a single system — the Orion LifeSpan™ MEG. Installed at Tianjin Normal University (TJNU) in China, the system offers dual-helmet functionality optimized for both pediatric and adult brain scans, marking a world-first in MEG technology.

The ability to accurately capture pediatric brain activity has long been hindered by the limitations of adult-sized MEG helmets, which result in lower signal quality due to increased distance between sensors and the brain. Orion LifeSpan addresses this with size-specific helmets, enhancing signal clarity and enabling more precise brain mapping in children.

Professor Xuejun Bai, Head of the MEG Lab at TJNU, called the system a revolution in neuroscience. "We can now explore mental processes in children and adults—even simultaneously—with unparalleled accuracy and reliability," he said. The system, powered by Compumedics' CURRY® software, also demonstrated dramatically improved responses in pediatric measurements compared to adult helmets, confirmed through trials with a four-year-old participant.

Dr. David Burton, Compumedics’ founder, emphasized the long-term investment behind the technology: "This is the culmination of nearly a decade of R&D. Orion LifeSpan represents a major leap in MEG with its dual-helmet innovation and seamless CURRY integration."

MedTech Spectrum's Summary:

• Orion LifeSpan™ becomes the first MEG system to deliver optimized recordings for both adults and children from a single platform.

• Pediatric helmet significantly improves signal clarity and localization compared to standard adult helmets.

• Installed at China’s TJNU, the system is hailed as the world’s most advanced MEG lab capability by leading neuroscientists.