Brief
Diamond‑based sensor could enable contactless heart monitoring
A new quantum sensor made from a sub‑millimetre diamond could record magnetic signals from the heart without electrodes, according to researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Physicists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have demonstrated a diamond‑based quantum sensor that can detect the magnetic field produced by the heart. The device, shaped like a pyramid with a volume of less than 0.5 mm³, operates at room temperature and can be placed directly against the skin, offering a non‑contact alternative to traditional electrocardiograms (ECGs). The sensor uses nitrogen‑vacancy (NV) centres in the diamond crystal, which are known for fast initialization, biocompatibility and stable operation across a wide temperature range. The research, published in Science Advances, suggests that such sensors could eventually allow clinicians to map the heart’s electrical conduction system in three dimensions without the need for bulky cryogenic equipment.
Key facts
- The diamond sensor is less than 0.5 mm³ in volume (scitechdaily.com)
- It operates at room temperature (scitechdaily.com)
- It measures the heart’s magnetic field, not electrical activity (scitechdaily.com)
- It could enable contactless heart monitoring (scitechdaily.com)
Sources
- [1] scitechdaily.com — originally reported as “A Diamond Smaller Than a Grain of Rice Could Transform Heart Monitoring”
