Multi-channel liquid cooling helmet and liquid cooling control method

Abstract

The invention provides a multi-channel liquid cooling helmet and a liquid cooling control method.The multi-channel liquid cooling helmet comprises a helmet shell and a spin exchange relaxation-free atom magnetometer sensor array installed on the inner side of the helmet shell, and further comprises a pipe clamp type liquid cooling pipeline, the helmet shell and a pipe clamp structure used for fixing the pipe clamp type liquid cooling pipeline are integrally formed, and the pipe clamp structure is used for fixing the pipe clamp type liquid cooling pipeline; and the pipe clamp type liquid cooling pipeline is embedded and fixed at the inner side of the helmet shell through the pipe clamp structure, and is tightly attached to the bottom surface heating area of each spin exchange relaxation-free atom magnetometer sensor. The pipe clamp type embedded pipeline structure does not occupy the transverse space between sensor slots, the sensor arrangement density can be greatly improved, and high-density multi-channel brain magnetic signal collection is achieved; the pipeline is directly attached to the heating core area of the OPM sensor, the heat transfer path is shorter, and the heat dissipation efficiency is obviously better than that of an existing heat dissipation scheme.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to a multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet and a liquid-cooling control method. Background Technology

[0002] Magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology, as a non-invasive brain imaging technique, plays an irreplaceable role in the diagnosis of neurological diseases and brain cognition research. In recent years, spin-free exchange relaxation (SERF) atomic magnetometers (OPMs) have gradually replaced traditional SQUIDs as the core sensor of MEG systems due to their detection sensitivity comparable to superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), and their advantages such as not requiring liquid helium cooling and being miniaturized and placed close to the scalp.

[0003] To achieve accurate acquisition of magnetoencephalogram (MEG) signals, OPM sensors need to be arranged in an array within slots in the MEG helmet, and should be placed as close to the scalp as possible to minimize signal attenuation. However, OPM sensors generate continuous heat during operation, and this heat can accumulate inside the helmet during prolonged acquisition, potentially causing scalp discomfort or even burns for the subject. It can also lead to fluctuations in sensor performance and reduce signal acquisition accuracy.

[0004] Currently, heat dissipation solutions for OPM helmets are mainly divided into two categories: passive heat insulation and active liquid cooling. Passive heat insulation is achieved by placing a heat insulation layer between the sensor and the scalp. However, there is a trade-off between heat insulation effectiveness and detection range. If the heat insulation layer is too thick, it weakens the signal; if it is too thin, it cannot effectively control the temperature. Moreover, the heat insulation performance of the material always has an upper limit. Active liquid cooling solutions mostly focus on the spatial arrangement of the pipes, attempting to achieve heat dissipation by utilizing the gaps inside the helmet. However, they generally suffer from problems such as poor heat dissipation targeting, structural interference with sensor placement, and inconvenient maintenance. They are difficult to balance the requirements of multi-channel sensor integration and efficient heat dissipation.

[0005] The existing OPM magnetoencephalography (MEG) helmet has the following problems in terms of heat dissipation and structural design:

[0006] 1. Existing active liquid cooling solutions often run the tubing between the OPM sensor slots, which excessively occupies the lateral space inside the helmet, limits the sensor arrangement density, and cannot achieve the integration of more channels (such as 64 channels, 96 channels, 128 channels, 192 channels) arrays, thus restricting the coverage and resolution of the magnetoencephalogram (MEG) signal acquisition.

[0007] 2. The tubing is in contact with the side or gap of the sensor and does not directly act on the core heat-generating area (the sensor acts as a heat source and conducts heat to the user's scalp). The heat transfer path is long and the loss is large, which can easily lead to local overheating. At the same time, it is impossible to achieve differentiated heat dissipation for areas with different heat intensity. Temperature gradients are easily generated in the inner cavity of the helmet, which affects the consistency of the sensor.

[0008] 3. Lack of reliable leakage and condensation detection mechanisms: coolant leakage or condensation in the pipeline can easily damage sensors, irritate the scalp, or affect other electronic components near the pipeline; some solutions lack isolation structures, and the pipeline directly or indirectly contacts the scalp, which can easily cause discomfort from hot or cold temperatures. Furthermore, there is no graded alarm mechanism, and when overheating occurs, the machine is simply shut down, failing to promptly remind operators and take transitional measures.

[0009] 4. The tubing is often fixed to the helmet through a complex structure. If the tubing becomes blocked or damaged, the entire helmet must be disassembled for repair, which is cumbersome and can easily damage the sensor slots. During the insertion and removal of the sensors, interference with the tubing can occur, affecting the lifespan of the equipment.

[0010] 5. Passive heat insulation increases the distance between the sensor and the scalp, while active liquid cooling systems suffer from signal acquisition issues due to vibration in the piping and insufficient temperature fluctuation control precision, both of which can lead to attenuation or distortion of the brain magnetic signal.

[0011] To address this, a multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet and a liquid-cooling control method are proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0012] In view of this, the present invention provides a multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet and a liquid-cooling control method to solve or alleviate the technical problems existing in the prior art, and at least provide a beneficial alternative.

[0013] The technical solution of this invention is implemented as follows: A multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet includes a helmet shell and a spin-free exchange relaxation atom magnetometer sensor array installed inside the helmet shell, and further includes:

[0014] The helmet shell and the clamp structure for fixing the clamp liquid cooling pipeline are integrally formed. The clamp liquid cooling pipeline is embedded and fixed inside the helmet shell by the clamp structure and is in close contact with the bottom heating area of ​​each non-spin exchange relaxation atom magnetometer sensor.

[0015] The inner helmet is fixed to the side of the tubular liquid cooling pipeline away from the spinless exchange relaxation atomic magnetometer sensor, forming a three-layer heat insulation and heat dissipation structure of "spinless exchange relaxation atomic magnetometer sensor - tubular liquid cooling pipeline - inner helmet", and the distance between the inner surface of the inner helmet and the bottom surface of the spinless exchange relaxation atomic magnetometer sensor does not exceed 5mm.

[0016] The liquid cooling circulation system is connected to the tubular liquid cooling pipeline;

[0017] The control system is electrically connected to the liquid cooling circulation system and is used to monitor temperature, control coolant flow, and perform abnormal handling.

[0018] More preferably, the helmet shell is made of non-magnetic material, with multiple sensor slots perpendicular to the shell surface on the inner side, a positioning boss at the bottom of the sensor slot, and a sensor buckle on the outside; the tube clamp structure has a locking position on both sides of each sensor slot, so that the path of the tube clamp liquid cooling pipeline passes through the gas chamber mapping position of each spinless exchange relaxation atomic magnetometer sensor; the number of sensor slots is not less than 64.

[0019] More preferably, the tube clamp type liquid cooling tube is made of non-magnetic flexible material with an outer diameter of 3-5 mm and a wall thickness of no more than 1 mm; the tube clamp type liquid cooling tube is divided into four independent tubes along the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe and occipital lobe of the helmet, and each tube is provided with an independent liquid inlet and liquid return interface.

[0020] More preferably, the inner helmet is made of a non-magnetic material with a thickness of 1.2mm to 2mm; the material of the inner helmet contains a thermally conductive enhancing component, or a thermally conductive sheet is embedded in the inner helmet; the inner helmet is fixed to the helmet shell by a detachable connection structure, and a vent is provided between the inner helmet and the helmet shell, the vent being connected to a dehumidification device.

[0021] More preferably, the liquid cooling circulation system includes a cooling device, multiple flow regulating valves, a liquid cooling pump, and an emergency return valve; the cooling power of the cooling device is adjustable; each flow regulating valve corresponds to a section of the pipe clamp-type liquid cooling pipeline and is used to independently regulate the coolant flow rate of that section of pipeline; the emergency return valve is a normally closed solenoid valve.

[0022] In a further preferred embodiment, the liquid cooling circulation system also includes a leakage and condensation detection module, which includes a humidity sensor, a conductivity detection unit, and a temperature sensor, and is arranged at the connection points, interfaces, and key nodes of the pipe clamp type liquid cooling pipeline; the control system determines the condensation or leakage status based on the combination of humidity signal and temperature difference.

[0023] More preferably, the control system includes a temperature acquisition unit, a graded audible and visual alarm unit, a leakage emergency handling unit, and a zoned temperature control unit; the graded audible and visual alarm unit triggers different levels of audible and visual alarm signals according to the magnitude of the temperature deviation; the leakage emergency handling unit controls the emergency return valve to open to recover coolant when leakage is detected.

[0024] This invention also provides a liquid cooling control method applied to the aforementioned multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet, comprising the following steps: S1, System startup and preparation: Performing a self-test of the liquid cooling system and calibrating the reference parameters of the detection module; starting the liquid cooling pump to inject liquid into the pipe clamp-type liquid cooling pipeline and venting; adjusting the cooling device to make the pipeline temperature reach the target temperature; when the temperature of each area is stable and there are no abnormalities, issuing a data acquisition ready signal; S2, Dynamic temperature control during the acquisition phase: Real-time acquisition of the temperature of each area and calculation of the temperature deviation; dynamically adjusting the opening of the flow regulating valve and the cooling power of the cooling device in the corresponding area according to the temperature deviation; S3, Abnormal detection and handling: Real-time monitoring of humidity, conductive signals and temperature difference; when condensation is detected, starting the dehumidification device; when leakage is detected, triggering an audible and visual alarm, shutting down the liquid cooling pump and opening the emergency return valve to recover the coolant; S4, System shutdown: After the acquisition is completed, shutting down the liquid cooling pump, opening the emergency return valve to recover the coolant in the pipeline, performing a system self-test and generating a self-test report.

[0025] In step S2, the temperature deviation ΔT is the difference between the real-time temperature of each area and the preset target temperature. The control strategy includes: when ΔT≤1℃, maintaining the current flow rate; when 1℃<ΔT≤2℃, increasing the opening of the flow regulating valve in the corresponding area and triggering a first-level alarm; when ΔT>2℃, increasing the cooling power of the cooling device and adjusting the opening of the flow regulating valve to the maximum, triggering a second-level alarm; if the temperature continues to rise and the adjustment is ineffective, triggering a third-level alarm and prompting whether to interrupt the data acquisition; when the temperature reaches the warning temperature, forcibly shutting down the machine.

[0026] In step S3: the criteria for determining condensation are: the humidity value exceeds 30% of the reference humidity value and the difference between the pipeline temperature and the ambient temperature is ≤2℃; the criteria for determining leakage are: the humidity value exceeds 50% of the reference humidity value and the difference between the pipeline temperature and the ambient temperature is >2℃, or the resistance value detected by the conductivity detection unit is <100kΩ.

[0027] The embodiments of the present invention have the following advantages due to the adoption of the above technical solutions:

[0028] 1. The pipe clamp-type embedded pipe structure of the present invention does not occupy the lateral space between sensor slots, which can greatly improve the sensor arrangement density and realize high-density multi-channel magnetoencephalogram (MEG) signal acquisition; the pipe is directly attached to the heat-generating core area of ​​the OPM sensor, the heat transfer path is shorter, and the heat dissipation efficiency is significantly better than the existing heat dissipation solutions.

[0029] 2. The inner helmet isolation structure of this invention effectively avoids direct contact between the liquid cooling pipeline and the scalp, eliminating discomfort from hot and cold stimuli; the matching leakage detection and emergency liquid return mechanism eliminates the risk of coolant leakage from the source, and the graded audible and visual alarms can promptly remind operators to handle abnormalities, greatly improving the clinical applicability of the equipment.

[0030] 3. This invention strictly controls the distance between the scalp and the bottom surface of the OPM sensor to within 5mm through precise structural size matching, reducing signal attenuation; the zoned differentiated temperature control mechanism effectively eliminates the temperature gradient inside the helmet cavity, reduces the impact of temperature fluctuations on the sensor's working state, and ensures the accuracy and consistency of the brain magnetic signal acquisition.

[0031] 4. The helmet shell and pipe clamps are integrally molded, and the pipes are designed for quick removal, which facilitates the cleaning, replacement and maintenance of the liquid cooling pipes. Sensor insertion and removal and pipe operation do not interfere with each other. The modular structure design can adapt to the integration needs of sensors with different numbers of channels, reducing the cost of equipment use and maintenance.

[0032] The above overview is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. Attached Figure Description

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the liquid cooling control process of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 The present invention relates to a tube clamp structure and a sensor limiting block on a helmet.

[0036] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the layout of the inner helmet + helmet + 4 sets of liquid cooling pipes + thermocouple temperature measurement on the helmet according to the present invention.

[0037] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the multi-channel liquid-cooled layout of the horizontal magnetoencephalography (MEG) instrument of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the liquid cooling control system of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0039] In the following description, only certain exemplary embodiments are briefly described. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the described embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the drawings and description are considered to be exemplary in nature and not restrictive.

[0040] The embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0041] like Figure 1-5 As shown, this embodiment of the invention provides a multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet suitable for heat dissipation and temperature control of spin-free exchange relaxation (SERF) atomic magnetometers (OPMs) in magnetoencephalography (MEG) systems. Through a pipe-clamp embedded pipeline structure design and hierarchical intelligent liquid-cooling control logic, it solves the technical problems of existing OPM helmets, such as interference between heat dissipation and multi-channel sensor arrangement, low heat dissipation efficiency, insufficient safety, poor maintenance convenience, and limited signal acquisition accuracy.

[0042] The multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet of this invention consists of six core parts: a helmet shell, a spin-free exchange relaxation atomic magnetometer (OPM) sensor array, a tubular liquid-cooling pipeline, an inner helmet, a liquid-cooling circulation system, and a control system. The OPM sensor array is vertically mounted inside the helmet shell via slots. The tubular liquid-cooling pipeline is embedded and fixed within the helmet shell using a tubular clamp structure integrally formed with the helmet shell, closely adhering to the heat-generating core area on the bottom surface of each OPM sensor. The inner helmet is fixed to the side of the tubular liquid-cooling pipeline away from the OPM sensors, forming a three-layer heat-insulating and heat-dissipating structure: "OPM sensor - tubular liquid-cooling pipeline - inner helmet." The liquid-cooling circulation system is connected to the tubular liquid-cooling pipeline to provide circulating coolant. The control system is electrically connected to the liquid-cooling circulation system, enabling real-time temperature monitoring, dynamic adjustment of coolant flow, detection of leaks / condensation / overheating anomalies, and end-to-end emergency handling. Furthermore, through precise structural dimensional matching, the distance between the inner surface of the inner helmet and the bottom surface of the OPM sensors is strictly controlled within a range of no more than 5mm, ensuring that the accuracy of EEG signal acquisition is not affected.

[0043] The helmet shell is the basic support structure of the entire liquid-cooled helmet. The core design requirements are non-magnetic, high strength, high toughness, and high temperature resistance. At the same time, it must conform to the physiological contour of the human head and be compatible with the sensor array and the embedded fixation of the tubular liquid cooling pipeline. In this embodiment, it is integrally processed by 3D printing technology. The raw material is imported nylon PA12, which has both non-magnetic properties and excellent structural strength and high temperature resistance, and can meet the needs of long-term clinical use.

[0044] Sensor slots are uniformly machined on the inner side of the helmet shell, and the slots are set perpendicular to the shell surface. In this embodiment, the basic number of slots is 65, which can be expanded to 128 or more channels according to the channel requirements of EEG signal acquisition, and the number of slots is not less than 64, so as to realize the integration of high-density multi-channel OPM sensor array. The slot depth is designed to be 14mm according to the insertion and installation requirements of OPM sensor. The bottom of the slot is integrally formed with a positioning boss to accurately limit the depth of the sensor, so as to avoid the sensor being inserted too deep or too shallow, which would affect the heat dissipation fit and signal acquisition accuracy. Sensor buckles are set on the outside of the slot. After the sensor is inserted, it is locked and fixed by the buckles, which improves the stability of the installation and prevents signal distortion or poor heat dissipation contact caused by sensor displacement or shaking during the acquisition process.

[0045] The helmet shell and tubing structure are integrally molded, without additional splicing or fixing structures. This improves the overall structural integrity, avoids additional connectors occupying internal helmet space, and simplifies the processing and assembly process. The clamping dimensions of the tubing structure have been precisely calculated to accommodate flexible liquid cooling tubing with an outer diameter of 3-5mm. In this embodiment, tubing with an outer diameter of 4mm is preferred. The tubing structure has clamping positions on both sides of each sensor slot to ensure that the tubing is firmly fixed after insertion and will not shift due to equipment vibration or slight movements of the subject. At the same time, the arc design of the clamping positions matches the flexibility of the tubing to avoid damage to the tubing wall. The overall layout path of the tubing structure has been verified by simulation and experiments to strictly ensure that the layout path of the tubing-type liquid cooling tubing passes through the air chamber mapping position of each OPM sensor. This ensures that the tubing and the heat-generating core area (air chamber) of the OPM sensor are precisely and fully fitted, directly targeting heat dissipation from the heat-generating core and significantly improving heat transfer efficiency.

[0046] The tubing-type liquid cooling system is the core heat dissipation structure of the helmet. Its core design requirements are non-magnetic, flexible, high-temperature resistant, and with good thermal conductivity. It also needs to be compatible with the embedded fixing of the tubing structure and the curved surface of the head contour. In this embodiment, a non-magnetic flexible material is used, preferably silicone or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). These materials combine good flexibility and thermal conductivity, and are chemically stable, making them suitable for use as coolant circulation tubing. The outer diameter of the tubing is designed to be 3–5 mm, and the wall thickness not exceeding 1 mm. In this embodiment, the outer diameter is 4 mm and the wall thickness is 1 mm or less. This ensures the flexibility of the tubing, allowing it to fit snugly against the curved surface of the helmet shell and the tubing structure, while also reducing heat transfer loss due to the thicker tubing wall, thus improving heat dissipation efficiency.

[0047] The tubing system employs a zoned, independent design, dividing the head into four independent sections corresponding to the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and occipital lobe. Each section has its own inlet and outlet ports, enabling independent circulation and flow regulation of the coolant in each heat dissipation area, providing a structural basis for differentiated temperature control in each zone. Furthermore, the zoned, independent tubing design allows for individual disassembly and maintenance of each area's tubing, preventing a single-area tubing failure from rendering the entire liquid cooling system inoperable, thus improving the ease of maintenance and reliability of the equipment.

[0048] Because the helmet needs to connect with other components of the magnetoencephalography (MEG) machine during actual use, the inlet and outlet fluid lines are laid out over a long distance and may move slightly with the examination bed or the subject. Therefore, the entire inlet and outlet fluid lines are arranged inside a cable chain, which protects the lines from damage due to bending or pulling. At the same time, an insulating cotton sleeve is placed over the inlet and outlet fluid hoses. This serves two purposes: firstly, it keeps the low-temperature inlet fluid lines cool, reducing the temperature rise of the coolant during transmission and ensuring heat dissipation; secondly, if condensation occurs in the lines, the insulating cotton sleeve can isolate the water and prevent condensation from seeping into nearby electronic components and cables, thus avoiding short circuits and component damage.

[0049] After the tubing is fixed by the clamp structure, it is completely aligned with the bottom surface of the OPM sensor's heat source (where the gas chamber is located). The tubing is pre-compressed when it is clamped, so that the round tubing is slightly deformed into an elliptical shape after being squeezed by the clamp and the bottom surface of the sensor. This greatly increases the heat dissipation contact area between the tubing and the bottom surface of the sensor, further improving the heat transfer efficiency and solving the problem of poor heat dissipation targeting when the tubing contacts the side or gap of the sensor in the existing technology.

[0050] The inner helmet is the isolation and protection structure of the helmet and the spacing control structure. Its core functions are to isolate the tubing-type liquid cooling pipeline from the human scalp, control the distance between the scalp and the bottom surface of the OPM sensor to no more than 5mm, and evenly conduct residual heat to improve wearing comfort. At the same time, it must meet the requirements of being non-magnetic and being detachable and fixed to the helmet shell.

[0051] The inner helmet is made of non-magnetic material. In this embodiment, the same 3D printing process and imported nylon PA12 material as the helmet shell are conventionally used. The overall thickness of the inner helmet is designed to be 1.2mm to 2mm. In the basic embodiment, it is 1.2mm. This thickness is the main thickness of the inner helmet on the side that fits against the human scalp. The middle reinforcing rib and the outer edge frame need to be interlayered.

[0052] To further improve the thermal conductivity of the inner helmet and make the contact temperature between the inner helmet and the scalp more uniform, avoiding discomfort caused by uneven local heating and cooling, thermally conductive enhancement components, such as nano-thermal conductive fibers, are added to the inner helmet material, or thermally conductive sheets, such as ultra-thin thermally conductive copper sheets, are embedded inside the inner helmet. The overall thickness of the optimized inner helmet is controlled to be above 2mm, which ensures thermal conductivity without causing the distance between the scalp and the bottom surface of the sensor to exceed the 5mm limit due to excessive thickness.

[0053] The inner helmet and the helmet shell are fixed by a detachable connection structure. In this embodiment, the inner helmet is machined with countersunk holes, and the helmet shell is provided with embedded threads at the corresponding positions. The inner helmet and the helmet shell are detachably fixed by the screw passing through the countersunk holes and engaging with the embedded threads. This structure not only ensures the stability of the connection, but also facilitates the disassembly, cleaning and replacement of the inner helmet, improving the maintenance convenience of the equipment.

[0054] A vent is provided between the inner helmet and the helmet shell. The vent is connected to a dehumidification device (a dehumidification fan in this embodiment). When the control system detects condensation in the pipeline, the dehumidification device is activated. It accelerates the airflow circulation between the inner helmet and the helmet shell through the vent, quickly removing condensed water vapor and achieving decondensation treatment. At the same time, the design of the vent can also improve the air circulation inside the helmet, further improving the wearing comfort of the test subject.

[0055] The overall structural dimensions of the inner helmet have been precisely simulated and experimentally verified, and are strictly matched with the assembly dimensions of the helmet shell and the tubular liquid cooling pipeline. This ensures that after the OPM sensor is inserted into the slot and fixed, the distance between the inner surface of the inner helmet and the bottom surface of the OPM sensor is strictly controlled within a range of no more than 5mm (in this embodiment, it is stably controlled at around 5mm). This avoids the attenuation or distortion of the EEG signal due to excessive distance, and also achieves no direct contact between the pipeline and the scalp through the isolation of the inner helmet, solving the problem of cold and heat discomfort caused by direct / indirect contact of the pipeline with the scalp in the prior art.

[0056] The liquid cooling circulation system provides circulating cryogenic coolant to the clamp-type liquid cooling pipeline, serving as the core power source and refrigeration mechanism for helmet heat dissipation. Connected to the clamp-type liquid cooling pipeline, the system comprises a cooling unit, multiple flow regulating valves, a liquid cooling pump, an emergency return valve, and integrates a leak and condensation detection module. All components work collaboratively to achieve coolant circulation, cooling, flow regulation, and fault detection, providing the hardware foundation for intelligent control of the control system. In this embodiment, the cooling unit is specifically a cooling tank, and the flow regulating valves are specifically zone flow regulating valves.

[0057] Cooling device (cooling box): It adopts a semiconductor refrigeration module as the refrigeration core, and the refrigeration power is adjustable, with an adjustment range of 0-360W. It can dynamically adjust the refrigeration power according to the actual temperature requirements and heat dissipation load of each area of ​​the helmet to achieve precise temperature control. The cooling box has a built-in liquid level sensor to monitor the coolant level in the box in real time. When the liquid level is lower than the preset value, it automatically triggers a liquid replenishment prompt signal and sends it to the host computer to remind the operator to replenish the coolant in time to avoid heat dissipation failure due to insufficient coolant.

[0058] Flow regulating valves (zonal flow regulating valves): These are electromagnetic proportional valves, with the number matching the number of sections in the clamp-type liquid cooling pipeline. In this embodiment, there are four valves, each corresponding to one of the four independent pipeline sections in the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and occipital lobe regions, enabling independent adjustment of the coolant flow rate in each region. The flow rate adjustment range is 0.2-2 LPM, with an adjustment accuracy of ±0.05 LPM. These valves can perform precise flow fine-tuning based on temperature feedback data from each region, providing a precise flow control basis for differentiated temperature control in each zone.

[0059] Liquid cooling pump: Provides power for the circulation of coolant, supports multi-level flow rate adjustment, and can adjust the pump speed according to the system's working status (such as preheating, data acquisition, and strong heat dissipation) to achieve overall adjustment of coolant flow rate. In conjunction with zone flow regulating valves, it can achieve dual-layer flow control of overall and local flow.

[0060] Emergency return valve: This is a normally closed solenoid valve with a response time of ≤0.5 seconds. It is installed at the return end of the cooling tank and the tubing of the liquid cooling system. Under normal operating conditions, it remains closed. When the control system detects a leak in the tubing, it opens quickly, allowing the residual coolant in the tubing to flow back to the cooling tank rapidly under the combined action of gravity and the liquid cooling pump. This achieves emergency coolant recovery, prevents coolant leakage and spread, and avoids damage to the OPM sensor, surrounding electronic components, or irritation to the subject's scalp.

[0061] Leakage and Condensation Detection Module: This multi-parameter joint detection structure is the core hardware for accurately determining leakage and condensation. It includes humidity sensors, conductivity detection units, and temperature sensors. Each detection element is deployed at the connection points, interfaces, and key nodes of the pipe-clamp liquid-cooled pipeline according to the helmet's structural layout (specifically, 8 humidity sensors, 4 conductivity detection modules, and 8 thermocouple temperature sensors in this embodiment). This enables real-time synchronous monitoring of humidity, conductivity signals, pipeline temperature, and ambient temperature around the pipeline. The humidity sensor has a detection accuracy of ±3%RH, the temperature sensor (thermocouple temperature sensor) has a detection accuracy of ±0.5℃, and the conductivity threshold of the conductivity detection unit is set to ≥100kΩ. This module transmits all collected detection data to the control system in real time. The control system accurately determines the condensation or leakage status on the pipeline path based on a combination of humidity signals and temperature differences (the difference between pipeline temperature and ambient temperature), avoiding false alarms and missed alarms caused by relying on a single parameter.

[0062] The control system serves as the "control center" of the entire multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet, electrically connected to the liquid cooling circulation system. Its core functions include real-time temperature monitoring, coolant flow control, abnormal condition detection and handling, and tiered audible and visual alarms. Hardware-wise, it integrates a temperature acquisition unit, a tiered audible and visual alarm unit, a leakage emergency handling unit, and a zoned temperature control unit, and is equipped with a high-performance controller. All units work collaboratively to ensure the real-time response, precise control, and timely fault handling of the liquid cooling system. Furthermore, all control logic corresponds to the technical features of the claims, as detailed below:

[0063] Controller: This is the core computing and instruction issuing component in this embodiment. It adopts an STM32H7 series microcontroller with a main frequency of 480MHz and an integrated CAN bus interface (communication rate of 1Mbps). It can realize high-speed data interaction with various components of the liquid cooling circulation system (cooling device, flow regulating valve, liquid cooling pump, emergency return valve, leakage and condensation detection module) and the host computer, ensuring rapid transmission of detection data, real-time processing of computing data and issuance of control instructions, and ensuring the rapid response of the liquid cooling system to various operating conditions.

[0064] Temperature acquisition unit: T-type thermocouples are used as temperature detection elements with a detection accuracy of ±0.5℃. Two thermocouples are arranged in each of the four heat dissipation areas of the helmet: frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe, and occipital lobe. This enables accurate and multi-point monitoring of the temperature in each area. The sampling rate is 1Hz, which can collect temperature data of each area in real time and transmit it to the controller. The temperature data collected by this unit is the core basis for zoned differentiated temperature control and overheating judgment.

[0065] Zoned temperature control unit: In conjunction with the temperature acquisition unit, cooling device, and zoned flow regulating valve, its core function is to independently adjust the coolant supply parameters of the corresponding zone based on the temperature data of each zone. Specifically, it receives real-time temperature data from the temperature acquisition unit, calculates the temperature deviation of each zone by the controller, and dynamically sends instructions to the zoned flow regulating valve of the corresponding zone according to the range of temperature deviation, adjusting its opening to change the coolant flow rate. At the same time, it adjusts the cooling power of the cooling device according to the overall heat dissipation requirements, realizing differentiated temperature control of each zone, eliminating the temperature gradient inside the helmet cavity, and improving the consistency of the OPM sensor array operation.

[0066] The emergency leakage handling unit is linked with the leakage and condensation detection module, the liquid cooling pump, and the emergency return valve. Its core function is to control the opening of the emergency return valve to achieve rapid recovery of coolant when a leakage is detected in the pipeline. Specifically, it receives detection data from the leakage and condensation detection module. When the controller determines that a leakage condition has occurred, it immediately issues a command to quickly shut down the liquid cooling pump and open the emergency return valve to achieve emergency recovery of coolant and cut off the liquid cooling circuit in the fault area to prevent the leakage from spreading.

[0067] The tiered audible and visual alarm unit, linked with the temperature acquisition unit and the leakage and condensation detection module, triggers different levels of audible and visual alarm signals based on the deviation between the acquired temperature and the preset temperature, and the fault type (condensation / leakage / overheating). In this embodiment, it specifically includes a multi-color LED light strip (red, yellow, and blue, with adjustable brightness) around the outer ring of the equipment and a host computer voice module. Different fault types and temperature deviation levels correspond to different light flashing frequencies, colors, and voice broadcast content, clearly and intuitively providing operators with feedback on the equipment's operating status and fault information, including fault type, fault location, and real-time temperature / humidity data, facilitating quick understanding of the situation and appropriate action by operators. The tiered alarm logic for temperature deviation is deeply integrated with the dynamic temperature control during the acquisition phase; the alarm for leakage is triggered synchronously with the emergency handling procedure; and the condensation alert is a non-alarm text prompt, avoiding unnecessary operational interference.

[0068] The liquid cooling control method of the present invention is applied to the above-mentioned multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet, and includes the following steps:

[0069] S1. This step involves a full-chain self-test, calibration, and preheating before data acquisition, lasting 10 minutes in total. It ensures that all components of the liquid cooling system are functioning correctly and that parameters meet standards. Specific procedures are as follows:

[0070] After the equipment is started, the control system performs a full-link self-test to check the working status of all hardware components. If any abnormality is detected, a fault prompt will be triggered and the equipment will be shut down for maintenance.

[0071] After the self-test shows no abnormalities, the leakage and condensation detection module calibrates the reference humidity value (ambient humidity ±5%RH) and conductivity threshold (≥100kΩ), and the temperature acquisition unit is initialized to zero;

[0072] The OPM sensor is heated to the preset operating temperature of 130°C. The liquid cooling pump injects liquid into the pipeline at a flow rate of 1 LPM. The exhaust valve is opened to purge the air and then closed.

[0073] The cooling device is activated to cool the pipes, and the target temperature is set to 35°C. The temperature is continuously monitored until the temperature in each area stabilizes at 35°C with fluctuations of ≤±1°C, and the detection module shows no abnormalities.

[0074] Once the above conditions are met, the host computer sends a ready signal (prompt tone + indicator light) to allow the start of the magnetoencephalogram (MEG) signal acquisition.

[0075] S2. Real-time zoned temperature control and overheat handling during data acquisition to eliminate temperature gradients, ensure sensor consistency, and prevent unnecessary data acquisition interruptions through tiered alarms. Control logic:

[0076] The temperature acquisition unit collects the real-time temperature Tn of each area at a frequency of 10Hz, and the controller calculates the temperature deviation ΔT from the target temperature of 35℃.

[0077] Based on ΔT, tiered temperature control with audible and visual alarms is implemented, and each zone can be adjusted independently.

[0078] ΔT≤1℃: Maintain the current flow control valve opening and flow rate, with no alarm;

[0079] 1℃<ΔT≤2℃: The opening of the regulating valve in the corresponding area increases by 20% and the flow rate increases by 0.1LPM, triggering a first-level alarm (blue LED strip flashes at a low frequency once per second, and the host computer pops up a temperature abnormality prompt).

[0080] ΔT>2℃: The cooling power of the cooling device increases by 10%, the corresponding area regulating valve opens to the maximum, triggering a level two alarm (yellow LED strip flashes at a low frequency once per second, and the host computer broadcasts abnormal information in voice).

[0081] If the temperature continues to rise by ≥1℃ per minute and the secondary adjustment is ineffective, the host computer will display a prompt box asking whether to interrupt the data acquisition and record the abnormal points.

[0082] If the temperature rises to the warning temperature of 40℃, a level 3 alarm will be triggered (the yellow LED strip will flash 3 times / second at high frequency, and the host computer will broadcast a strong heat dissipation prompt), and the collected data will be automatically saved; if the temperature does not drop within 1 minute, the data collection will be forcibly interrupted and the maximum power forced heat dissipation will be started.

[0083] S3. Performed synchronously with the data acquisition phase, this step accurately determines the condensation / leakage condition using dual parameters, executes targeted measures to prevent the fault from escalating or false alarms from affecting data acquisition. Determination criteria and processing flow are as follows:

[0084] The detection module monitors humidity, conductive signals, and temperature difference between pipelines and the environment in real time. The data is transmitted to the controller in real time, and the controller combines the temperature difference and humidity to determine the operating conditions.

[0085] Condensation mode: The judgment condition is that the humidity exceeds the reference value by 30% and the temperature difference between the pipeline and the environment is ≤2℃; the handling method is that the host computer will pop up a text prompt for decondensation, start the dehumidifier to accelerate the airflow circulation, check the humidity every 3 minutes until it returns to the reference value, and then turn off the dehumidifier without audible or visual alarms.

[0086] Leakage condition: The judgment criteria are humidity exceeding the baseline value by 50% and temperature difference > 2℃, or the detection resistance of the conductivity detection unit < 100kΩ; the handling method is as follows:

[0087] Immediately locate the fault and trigger the dedicated leak alarm (red and yellow lights flash alternately twice per second, and the host computer broadcasts a looped emergency leak warning).

[0088] Shut down the liquid cooling pump within 0.5 seconds, open the emergency return valve to recover the coolant, and close the return valve and disconnect the liquid cooling circuit in the fault area after recovery is complete;

[0089] Fault information (location, time, detection data, and processing results) is automatically recorded to the system log and fault codes are generated for subsequent maintenance.

[0090] S4. After data collection, the equipment is cleaned up, coolant is recovered, and a self-test is performed to ensure there are no abnormalities and to prepare for the next data collection. The operation procedure is as follows:

[0091] After the data collection is completed, the operator issues a stop command to first stop the acquisition of the magnetoencephalogram (MEG) signal and save all data to avoid data loss.

[0092] The liquid cooling pump was switched to a low flow rate of 0.5 LPM for 30 minutes to gradually cool down the helmet and sensors, avoiding damage to components caused by a sudden drop in temperature.

[0093] If no new collection command is received within 30 minutes, the cooling device's refrigeration function and liquid cooling pump are turned off, and the emergency return valve is opened to recover the residual coolant in the pipeline. When the liquid level sensor detects that the recovered amount is ≥ 98% of the total pipeline volume, the recovery is deemed qualified and the return valve is closed.

[0094] The control system performs a full-link self-test, sequentially checking the pipeline sealing, valve opening and closing status, sensor accuracy, detection unit effectiveness, and alarm unit effectiveness. After the self-test is completed, a self-test report is generated and uploaded to the host computer.

[0095] If no abnormality is detected during self-test, the device enters standby mode; if an abnormality is detected, the host computer triggers a fault prompt and accurately marks the abnormal part, reminding maintenance personnel to repair it. The device can only be used again after the fault is resolved.

[0096] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various variations or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention, and these should all be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet, comprising a helmet shell and a spin-free exchange-relaxation atomic magnetometer sensor array mounted inside the helmet shell, characterized in that, Also includes: The helmet shell and the clamp structure for fixing the clamp liquid cooling pipeline are integrally formed. The clamp liquid cooling pipeline is embedded and fixed inside the helmet shell by the clamp structure and is in close contact with the bottom heating area of ​​each non-spin exchange relaxation atom magnetometer sensor. The inner helmet is fixed to the side of the tubular liquid cooling pipeline away from the spinless exchange relaxation atomic magnetometer sensor, forming a three-layer heat insulation and heat dissipation structure of "spinless exchange relaxation atomic magnetometer sensor - tubular liquid cooling pipeline - inner helmet", and the distance between the inner surface of the inner helmet and the bottom surface of the spinless exchange relaxation atomic magnetometer sensor does not exceed 5mm. The liquid cooling circulation system is connected to the tubular liquid cooling pipeline; The control system is electrically connected to the liquid cooling circulation system and is used to monitor temperature, control coolant flow, and perform abnormal handling.

2. The multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The helmet shell is made of non-magnetic material and has multiple sensor slots perpendicular to the shell surface on the inside. The bottom of each sensor slot has a positioning boss and the outside has a sensor buckle. The tube clamp structure has a locking position on both sides of each sensor slot, so that the path of the tube clamp liquid cooling pipeline passes through the gas cell mapping position of each non-spin exchange relaxation atomic magnetometer sensor. The number of sensor slots is not less than 64.

3. The multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet according to claim 2, characterized in that, The tubing is made of non-magnetic flexible material with an outer diameter of 3-5 mm and a wall thickness of no more than 1 mm. The tubing is divided into four independent sections along the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe and occipital lobe of the helmet. Each section is equipped with an independent inlet and outlet interface.

4. The multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner helmet is made of non-magnetic material with a thickness of 1.2mm to 2mm; the material of the inner helmet contains a thermally conductive enhancing component, or a thermally conductive sheet is embedded in the inner helmet; the inner helmet is fixed to the helmet shell by a detachable connection structure, and a vent is provided between the inner helmet and the helmet shell, the vent being connected to a dehumidification device.

5. The multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The liquid cooling circulation system includes a cooling device, multiple flow regulating valves, a liquid cooling pump, and an emergency return valve; the cooling power of the cooling device is adjustable; each flow regulating valve corresponds to a section of the pipe clamp-type liquid cooling pipeline and is used to independently regulate the coolant flow rate of that section of pipeline; the emergency return valve is a normally closed solenoid valve.

6. The multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet according to claim 5, characterized in that, The liquid cooling circulation system also includes a leakage and condensation detection module, which includes a humidity sensor, a conductivity detection unit, and a temperature sensor, and is arranged at the connection points, interfaces, and key nodes of the pipe clamp liquid cooling pipeline; the control system determines the condensation or leakage status based on the combination of humidity signal and temperature difference.

7. The multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control system includes a temperature acquisition unit, a graded audible and visual alarm unit, a leakage emergency handling unit, and a zoned temperature control unit; the graded audible and visual alarm unit triggers different levels of audible and visual alarm signals according to the magnitude of the temperature deviation; the leakage emergency handling unit controls the emergency return valve to open to recover coolant when leakage is detected.

8. A liquid cooling control method, applied to a multi-channel liquid-cooled helmet as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. System Startup and Preparation: Perform a self-test of the liquid cooling system and calibrate the reference parameters of the detection module; start the liquid cooling pump to inject liquid into the clamp-type liquid cooling pipeline and vent the air; adjust the cooling device to bring the pipeline temperature to the target temperature; when the temperature of each area is stable and there are no abnormalities, issue a data acquisition ready signal; S2. Dynamic Temperature Control during Data Acquisition: Collect the temperature of each area in real time and calculate the temperature deviation; dynamically adjust the opening of the flow regulating valve and the cooling power of the cooling device in the corresponding area according to the temperature deviation; S3. Anomaly Detection and Handling: Monitor humidity, conductivity signal and temperature difference in real time; when condensation is detected, start the dehumidification device; when leakage is detected, trigger an audible and visual alarm, shut down the liquid cooling pump and open the emergency return valve to recover the coolant; S4. System Shutdown: After data acquisition is completed, shut down the liquid cooling pump, open the emergency return valve to recover the coolant in the pipeline, perform a system self-test and generate a self-test report.

9. The liquid cooling control method according to claim 8, characterized in that, In step S2, the temperature deviation ΔT is the difference between the real-time temperature of each area and the preset target temperature. The control strategy includes: when ΔT≤1℃, maintaining the current flow rate; when 1℃<ΔT≤2℃, increasing the opening of the flow regulating valve in the corresponding area and triggering a first-level alarm; when ΔT>2℃, increasing the cooling power of the cooling device and adjusting the opening of the flow regulating valve to the maximum, triggering a second-level alarm; if the temperature continues to rise and the adjustment is ineffective, triggering a third-level alarm and prompting whether to interrupt the data acquisition; when the temperature reaches the warning temperature, forcibly shutting down the machine.

10. The liquid cooling control method according to claim 8, characterized in that, In step S3: the criteria for determining condensation are: the humidity value exceeds 30% of the reference humidity value and the difference between the pipeline temperature and the ambient temperature is ≤2℃; the criteria for determining leakage are: the humidity value exceeds 50% of the reference humidity value and the difference between the pipeline temperature and the ambient temperature is >2℃, or the resistance value detected by the conductivity detection unit is <100kΩ.

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