I-Corps: A magnetic resonance-compatible touchscreen with video display

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种在磁共振成像(MRI)期间缓解焦虑的无药物策略。目前的一种解决方案是镇静，然而，许多反对MRI的患者也反对镇静。因此，许多患者选择避免MRI程序，即使在建议进行有效的医疗治疗时也是如此。这项拟议的技术是一种与MRI兼容的数字平板电脑，可以在MRI期间为患者提供智能手机的数字触摸屏访问，以在不使用镇静剂的情况下缓解焦虑。MRI外围设备领域是一个新兴领域，它为患者提供与MRI兼容的设备，供患者在MRI扫描期间使用。目前，MRI外围设备仅限于通常用于安全或身体舒适的基本设备，如按键和坐垫。此外，这项技术可能会被研究人员用来扩大人脑功能的研究范围。拟议中的数字平板电脑为研究人员提供了一个多功能、交互式的MRI外围设备，可以提供涉及复杂动作的各种实验操作。这项拟议的技术可能会通过降低患者对必要医疗程序的厌恶程度来改善患者的健康状况，并扩大人类大脑功能的基础研究范围。这项i-Corps项目基于开发一种交互式数字平板电脑，患者和研究参与者可以在接受磁共振成像(MRI)扫描时使用该平板电脑。该技术使用特殊的信号驱动电路和屏蔽，可以在磁共振成像所需的强电磁场中安全运行，而不会影响采集的图像质量。显示和触摸传感技术的空间和时间分辨率与当前最先进的数字平板电脑和智能手机不相上下，即使在儿科成像中也可以实现无缝交互。此外，拟议的数字平板电脑为研究人脑功能提供了一种优于当前技术的优势，该技术可以接收输入(例如，按下按钮)，但不能产生输出(即，显示屏上的图像)。研究表明，与其他目前的解决方案相比，在人脑功能研究中使用所建议的技术在几个大脑区域产生了显著不同的大脑功能。这款数字平板电脑为研究人员提供了一种设备，可以在参与者进行MRI扫描时在MRI圆柱体内接收输入并提供输出，从而扩大了人类大脑的研究范围，支持更多种类的动作，如手写/绘画、平板电脑使用以及个人智能手机使用。拟议中的数字平板电脑可能适用于减少临床MRI过程中的患者焦虑，以及在MRI研究中研究大脑功能。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a drug-free strategy for alleviating anxiety during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). One current solution is sedation, however, many patients who are averse to MRI are also averse to sedation. Consequently, many patients choose to avoid MRI procedures, even when recommended for effective medical treatment. The proposed technology is an MRI-compatible digital tablet that may provide patients with digital touchscreen access to their smartphones during MRI to alleviated anxiety without sedation. The field of MRI peripherals is an emerging field that provides MRI-compatible devices for patients to use during an MRI scan. Currently, MRI peripherals are limited to basic devices that are generally used for safety or physical comfort, such as button presses and cushions. Additionally, this technology may be used by researchers to expand the scope of research on human brain function. The proposed digital tablet offers researchers a versatile, interactive MRI peripheral that may deliver a wide variety of experimental manipulations involving complex actions. The proposed technology may increase patient health outcomes by reducing patient aversion to necessary medical procedures and expand the scope of basic research on human brain function.This I-Corps project is based on the development of an interactive digital tablet that may be used by patients and research participants while undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning. The proposed technology uses special signal-driver circuitry and shielding to safely function in the strong electromagnetic fields required for MRI without impacting the quality of the images acquired. The spatial and temporal resolution of the display and touch-sensing technology is on par with current state-of-the-art digital tablets and smartphones, allowing for seamless interactions even in pediatric imaging. Additionally, the proposed digital tablet provides an advantage over current technology for studies of human brain function that can receive input (e.g., a button press) but cannot generate output (i.e., images on a display screen). Research has demonstrated that using the proposed technology in studies of human brain function produced significantly different brain function in several brain regions when compared to other current solutions. The digital tablet broadens human brain research by providing researchers with a device that can receive input and provide output within the cylinder of the MRI while a participant is undergoing MRI scanning, supporting a much larger variety of actions, such as handwriting/drawing and tablet use as well as personal smartphone use. The proposed digital tablet may have application for reducing patient anxiety during clinical MRI procedures and for studying brain function in MRI research.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.