Magnetic resonance imaging having patient video, microphone and motion tracking

• US 20050283068A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Psychology Software Tools Inc., University Of Pittsburgh (University of Pittsburgh of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education)
• Original Assignee: Psychology Software Tools Inc.
• Inventors: Basler, Leroy K., Schneider, Walter, Zuccolotto, Anthony P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,214,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/410
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/283 Intercom or optical viewing arrangements, structurally associated with NMR apparatus

Abstract

Critical needs for MRI patient instruction, testing, comfort, motion control, and speech communication are provided for better imaging which leads to more effective medical care. An MRI Digital Video Projection System is disclosed which provides better quality display to the patient to better inform, instruct, test, and comfort the patient plus the potential to stimulate the brain with microsecond onset times to better diagnose brain function. An MRI Motion Tracker and Patient Augmented Visual Feedback System enables monitoring patient body part motion, providing real time feedback to the patient and/or technician to substantially improve diagnostic yield of scanning sessions, particularly for children and mentally challenged individuals. An MR Forward Predictive Noise Canceling Microphone System removes the intense MRI acoustic noise improving patient communication, patient safety and enabling coding of speech output. These systems can be used individually but maximum benefit is from providing all three.

Claims

1. An MRI system comprising:

A magnet room;

A magnet within the magnet room defining a patient receiving magnet bore;

A control room associated with the magnet room; and

At least one of

A) an MRI digital projection system for the MRI system including

a. a source of video signal outside the magnet room, the source including a digital video interface;

b. a digital video interface/fiber optic converter coupled to the video signal source;

c. a fiber optic cable coupled to the digital video interface/fiber optic converter extending from the digital video interface/fiber optic converter into the magnet room;

d. a fiber optic/digital interface converter within the magnet room and coupled to a distal end of the fiber optic cable;

e. a digital light processing projector within the magnet room and coupled to the fiber optic/digital interface converter;

f. a screen positioned within the magnet room and viewable by the patient within the magnet bore and configured to receive a viewable image from the digital light processing projector; and

g. RF shielding within the magnet room extending around at least the fiber optic/digital interface converter and the digital light projector;

B) an MRI digital projection system for the MRI system including

a. a source of video signal outside the magnet room, the source including a digital video interface;

b. a digital video interface/fiber optic converter coupled to the video signal source;

c. a fiber optic cable coupled to the digital video interface/fiber optic converter extending from the digital video interface/fiber;

d. a fiber optic/digital interface converter coupled to a distal end of the fiber optic cable;

e. a digital light processing projector coupled to the fiber optic/digital interface converter, the projector including a RGB color wheel that spins at a determined frequency;

f. a screen positioned within the magnet room and viewable by the patient within the magnet bore and configured to receive a viewable image from the digital light processing projector; and

g. a synchronization unit for synchronizing the images on the screen, wherein the synchronization unit utilizes a control signal from the determined frequency of the color wheel;

C) an MRI body part motion tracking system including;

a. a visible target attached a body part of the patient within the magnet room;

b. a camera for viewing the target;

c. a body part position determination unit for receiving sequential images from the camera of the target on the body part of the patient, in which the relative position of the body part of the patient associated with the target is calculated based upon the images of the target; and

d. A feedback mechanism for providing a real time feedback of the calculated relative body position to at least one of the technician and the patient, wherein the real time feedback is at least one of a visual and auditory signal; and

D) an MRI forward predictive noise cancellation microphone system including;

a. a microphone within the magnet room, the microphone adapted to receive both acoustic noise alone within the magnet room that forms a cancellation template and a combination of acoustic noise and patient speech within the magnet room,

b. at least one receiving device outside the magnet room; and

c. a controller receiving signals from the microphone and outputting an audio signal to the at least one receiver, (i) wherein the controller can operate in cancellation mode which subtracts the cancellation template from the signal received from the microphone, (ii) wherein the controller updates the cancellation template with a previous received signal that has been determined to be acoustic noise alone, and (iii) wherein the controller receives input from at least one of the technician, the patient and an MRI system controller that is indicative of patient speech occurring whereby the signal from the microphone will be considered acoustic noise and patient speech and will not be used to update the cancellation template.

2. The MRI system of claim 1 wherein the system includes the MRI digital projection system for the MRI system of parts A) or B), and wherein the Digital Light Processing Projector utilizes a wave guide attached thereto to project the image onto the screen through one of a prism or mirror.

3. The MRI system of claim 2 wherein the system includes the MRI body part motion tracking system of Part C).

4. The MRI system of claim 3 wherein the target is attached to the patients head and includes a plurality of spaced infrared reflectors.

5. The MRI system of claim 4 wherein the MRI digital projection system for the MRI system is the system of part A) and the camera is positioned within the RF cage.

6. The MRI system of claim 4 wherein the real time display of the calculated relative body position is provided to the patient through the MRI digital projection system.

7. The MRI system of claim 6 wherein the real time display of the calculated relative body position is provided to the technician.

8. The MRI system of claim 3 wherein the system includes the MRI forward predictive noise cancellation microphone system of D).

9. The MRI system of claim 8 wherein the controller of the MRI forward predictive noise cancellation system compares the signal of a noise only segment to the existing noise cancellation template and replaces the existing noise cancellation template with the new noise only segment only if the difference between the two signals is below a set threshold.

10. The MRI system of claim 2 wherein the system includes the MRI forward predictive noise cancellation microphone system of D).

11. The MRI system of claim 10 wherein the controller of the MRI forward predictive noise cancellation system compares the signal of a noise only segment to the existing noise cancellation template and replaces the existing noise cancellation template with the new noise only segment only if the difference between the two signals is below a set threshold.

12. The MRI system of claim 11 wherein the system includes the MRI body part motion tracking system of Part C).

13. The MRI system of claim 12 wherein the target is attached to the patients head and includes a plurality of spaced infrared reflectors.

14. The MRI system of claim 1 wherein the system includes the MRI forward predictive noise cancellation microphone system of D), wherein the controller of the MRI forward predictive noise cancellation system compares the signal of a noise only segment to the existing noise cancellation template and replaces the existing noise cancellation template with the new noise only segment only if the difference between the two signals is below a set threshold.

15. The MRI system of claim 14 wherein the system includes the MRI body part motion tracking system of Part C).

16. The MRI system of claim 15 wherein the target is attached to the patients head and includes a plurality of spaced infrared reflectors.

17. An MRI forward predictive noise cancellation microphone system comprising:

A) a microphone adapted for use within an MRI magnet room, the microphone adapted to receive both acoustic noise alone within the magnet room that forms a cancellation template and a combination of acoustic noise and patient speech within the magnet room,

B) at least one receiving device outside the magnet room; and

C) a controller receiving signals from the microphone and outputting an audio signal to the at least one device, (i) wherein the controller can operate in cancellation mode which subtracts the cancellation template from the signal received from the microphone, (ii) wherein the controller updates the cancellation template with the last received signal that has been determined to be acoustic noise alone, and (iii) wherein the controller receives input from at least one of the technician, the patient and an MRI system controller that is indicative of patient speech occurring whereby the signal from the microphone will be considered acoustic noise and patient speech and will not be used to update the cancellation template.

18. An MRI body part motion tracking system comprising:

A) a visible target attached a body part of the patient within the magnet room;

B) a camera for viewing the target;

C) a body part position determination unit for receiving sequential images from the camera of the target on the body part of the patient, in which the relative position of the body part of the patient associated with the target is calculated based upon the images of the target; and

D) a feedback mechanism for providing a real time feedback of the calculated relative body position to at least one of the technician and the patient, wherein the real time feedback is at least one of a visual and auditory signal.

19. An MRI digital projection system for the MRI system including

A) a source of video signal outside an MRI magnet room, the source including a digital video interface;

B) a digital video interface/fiber optic converter coupled to the video signal source;

C) a fiber optic cable coupled to the digital video interface/fiber optic converter extending from the digital video interface/fiber optic converter into the magnet room;

D) a fiber optic/digital interface converter within the magnet room and coupled to a distal end of the fiber optic cable;

E) a digital light processing projector within the magnet room and coupled to the fiber optic/digital interface converter;

F) a screen positioned within the magnet room and viewable by the patient within the magnet bore and configured to receive a viewable image from the digital light processing projector; and

G) RF shielding within the magnet room extending around at least the fiber optic/digital interface converter and the digital light processing projector.

20. An MRI digital projection system for the MRI system comprising:

A) a source of video signal outside and MRI magnet room, the source including a digital video interface;

B) a digital video interface/fiber optic converter coupled to the video signal source;

C) a fiber optic cable coupled to the digital video interface/fiber optic converter extending from the digital video interface/fiber;

D) a fiber optic/digital interface converter coupled to a distal end of the fiber optic cable;

E) a digital light processing projector coupled to the fiber optic/digital interface converter, the projector including a RGB color wheel that spins at a determinable frequency;

F) a screen positioned within the magnet room and viewable by the patient within the magnet bore and configured to receive a viewable image from the digital light projector; and

G) a synchronization unit for synchronizing the images on the screen, wherein the synchronization unit utilizes a control signal from the determined frequency of the color wheel.