Noninvasive detection of small bowel electrical activity from SQUID magnetometer measurements using SOBI.

We report a robust method for noninvasive biomagnetic detection of small bowel electrical activity. Simultaneous Superconducting QUantum Interference Device (SQUID) magnetometer (MENG) and serosal electrode recordings were made on pig small bowel. The SOBI blind-source separation algorithm was used to separate the underlying source signals of the MENG. Comparison of identified SOBI components to the serosal recordings validated the underlying MENG sources as being enteric in origin. Non-invasive detection of small bowel electrical activity could have significant implications in a clinical setting.