Quantum-Enhanced Magnetic Induction Tomography for Spatial Resolution and Sensitivity Improvements in Non-Invasive Medical Imaging

At a Glance

Metadata	Details
Publication Date	2025-09-30
Journal	Journal of Information Systems and Technology Research
Authors	Abdul Jabbar Lubis, Rachmat Aulia, T. Mohd Diansyah, N. F. Mohd Nasir, Z. Zakaria
Institutions	Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Universitas Harapan Medan
Analysis	Full AI Review Included

Technical Documentation: Quantum-Enhanced Magnetic Induction Tomography (MIT) using NV Centers in Diamond

Prepared by: 6CCVD Technical Sales Engineering Team Focus: MPCVD Diamond Substrates for Quantum Sensing and Advanced Medical Imaging

Executive Summary

This research demonstrates a transformative application of Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers in synthetic diamond to significantly enhance Magnetic Induction Tomography (MIT) for non-invasive medical diagnostics. The core value proposition relies entirely on the quality and optimization of the diamond substrate, a specialty of 6CCVD.

Quantum Advantage: Integration of NV centers in ultrapure synthetic diamond replaces conventional coils, overcoming fundamental sensitivity and resolution limits of classical MIT.
Resolution Breakthrough: Achieved 0.8 mm minimum detectable feature size, representing a 3.5-fold spatial resolution enhancement critical for detecting sub-millimeter tissue anomalies.
Sensitivity Improvement: Demonstrated a 0.01 S/m conductivity detection threshold, resulting in a 10-fold sensitivity increase over conventional systems.
Image Quality Metrics: Substantial reconstruction quality improvements, including a 62% reduction in Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and an 8.3 dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) enhancement.
Material Requirement: The system relies on ultrapure Single Crystal Diamond (SCD) substrates with optimized NV center arrays (density > 10¹⁵ cm^-3) and long coherence times (> 100 µs).
Clinical Potential: Validation studies show 95% sensitivity and 92% specificity in detecting small lesions, positioning this technology for next-generation early disease detection (e.g., oncology, cardiology).

Technical Specifications

The following hard data points extracted from the research define the performance metrics and material requirements for the quantum-enhanced MIT system:

Parameter	Value	Unit	Context
Minimum Detectable Feature Size	0.8	mm	Quantum MIT performance
Spatial Resolution Enhancement	3.5-fold	Factor	Compared to conventional MIT
Conductivity Detection Threshold	0.01	S/m	10-fold sensitivity improvement
NV Center Density (Required)	> 10¹⁵	cm^-3	Optimized array concentration
NV Center Coherence Time (T₂*)	> 100	µs	Required for operational stability
50% MTF Cut-off Frequency	1.4	lp/mm	Quantum MIT spatial frequency limit
Sensitivity (Operating Range)	< 15	pT	Stable across 1 kHz to 1000 kHz
Image Reconstruction Error (RMSE)	0.070	N/A	62% reduction vs. conventional (0.184)
Structural Similarity Index (SSIM)	0.924	N/A	28% increase vs. conventional (0.721)
SNR Enhancement	8.3 ± 0.4	dB	Consistent improvement across measurements
Clinical Sensitivity/Specificity	95% / 92%	%	For 0.8 mm lesion detection

Key Methodologies

The successful implementation of quantum-enhanced MIT hinges on precise control over the diamond material and the integration of high-performance optical and RF components.

Diamond Substrate Preparation:
- Utilized ultrapure synthetic diamond substrates (SCD) as the primary magnetic field sensor platform.
- Substrates contained optimized NV center arrays with density exceeding 10¹⁵ cm^-3.
Optical Initialization:
- Employed a 532 nm Diode-Pumped Solid-State (DPSS) laser system.
- Laser output: 100 mW power with wavelength stability of ±0.1 nm.
Fluorescence Collection:
- Used a High-Numerical-Aperture (NA=0.9) microscope objective for efficient photon capture (>80% efficiency).
Spin Manipulation:
- Implemented a radiofrequency (RF) antenna array operating in the 1-3 GHz range.
- Required precise NV spin manipulation with <1° phase accuracy.
Magnetic Field Control:
- Integrated a three-axis magnetic field control system providing µT-level field regulation for quantum state preparation.
Detection and Timing:
- Utilized Single-Photon Avalanche Photodiode (SPAD) arrays for real-time fluorescence detection.
- Required high timing resolution (<100 ps).
Sample Preparation:
- Ex-vivo porcine organ samples were used, requiring standardized sectioning protocols ensuring uniform thickness and surface preparation.

6CCVD Solutions & Capabilities

The research highlights the critical role of high-quality, customized diamond substrates for achieving quantum advantage in medical imaging. 6CCVD is uniquely positioned to supply the necessary materials and engineering services to replicate, scale, and advance this research.

Applicable Materials

To achieve the reported NV density (> 10¹⁵ cm^-3) and long coherence times (> 100 µs), the research requires highly controlled, low-strain, ultrapure SCD.

6CCVD Material Solution	Specification Match	Relevance to Quantum MIT
Optical Grade SCD	SCD, low nitrogen content (< 1 ppb), controlled growth	Essential for maximizing T₂* coherence time (> 100 µs) and minimizing decoherence.
Custom NV-Doped SCD	Precise nitrogen incorporation (e.g., 10¹⁵ - 10¹⁷ cm^-3)	Allows researchers to tune the NV density for optimal magnetic field sensitivity and spatial resolution trade-offs.
High Purity PCD	Plates/wafers up to 125mm diameter	Ideal for scaling up large-area sensor arrays or industrial applications (e.g., semiconductor inspection) mentioned in Section 3.5.

Customization Potential

The integration of NV center arrays into a complex MIT system requires precise material finishing and interface engineering. 6CCVD provides end-to-end customization capabilities:

Precision Polishing: The use of a high-NA (0.9) objective demands exceptional surface quality. 6CCVD guarantees Ra < 1 nm polishing on SCD, ensuring minimal light scattering and efficient fluorescence collection.
Custom Dimensions and Thickness: We provide SCD plates in thicknesses ranging from 0.1 µm up to 500 µm, allowing researchers to optimize the sensor volume and working distance for specific RF/magnetic field geometries.
Advanced Metalization Services: The RF antenna array and magnetic field control systems require precise electrical contacts. 6CCVD offers in-house deposition of critical metals, including Ti/Pt/Au, W, and Cu, tailored for high-frequency quantum control circuitry (1-3 GHz operation).
Laser Cutting and Shaping: We provide custom laser cutting and shaping services to create complex geometries required for integrated sensor arrays and micro-fabricated structures.

Engineering Support

The transition of quantum sensing technology from the lab to clinical translation requires deep material science expertise.

Material Selection for Quantum Sensing: 6CCVD’s in-house PhD team specializes in the growth and characterization of NV centers. We assist researchers in optimizing the trade-off between NV concentration (for signal strength) and crystal purity (for coherence time) for similar Quantum Sensing and Magnetic Induction Tomography projects.
Regulatory Pathway Assistance: We understand the stringent requirements for medical devices (as noted in Section 2.4 and 4). We provide detailed material certification and traceability documentation essential for clinical translation and regulatory approval processes.

For custom specifications or material consultation, visit 6ccvd.com or contact our engineering team directly.

View Original Abstract

Traditional Magnetic Induction Tomography (MIT) systems demonstrate limited spatial resolution and detection sensitivity when analyzing complex conductivity distributions in biological tissues. This research investigates the integration of Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers in diamond substrates to overcome these fundamental limitations. The primary objectives include: (1) developing a quantum-enhanced MIT system with superior magnetic field detection capabilities, (2) quantifying performance improvements in spatial resolution and sensitivity compared to conventional approaches, (3) validating system effectiveness through controlled phantom studies and biological tissue analysis, and (4) establishing technological foundations for next-generation medical imaging applications. This study presents the first comprehensive implementation of quantum sensing technology in tomographic imaging applications. Novel contributions include: development of an integrated NV-center based magnetic field detection system, achievement of 0.8 mm minimum detectable feature size representing 3.5-fold resolution enhancement, demonstration of 0.01 S/m conductivity detection threshold showing 10-fold sensitivity improvement, and validation of 62% reconstruction error reduction with 28% structural similarity enhancement. The quantum-enhanced approach establishes new paradigms for early disease detection and precision medicine applications, providing unprecedented imaging capabilities for medical diagnostics, material characterization, and geophysical exploration. Results demonstrate transformative potential for clinical implementation with 95% sensitivity and 92% specificity in detecting sub-millimeter tissue anomalies

Tech Support

Original Source

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55537/jistr.v4i3.1163