Method and system for computerized drawing and writing during functional magnetic resonance imaging

• US 20080200796A1
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Published: 08/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Original Assignee: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
• Inventors: Clarkson, Ian, Baker, Nicole, Graham, Simon James, Mraz, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/411
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/28 Details of apparatus provided for in groups G01R33/44 - G01R33/64
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/283 Intercom or optical viewing arrangements, structurally associated with NMR apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/4806 Functional imaging of brain activation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/045 using resistive elements, e.g. a single continuous surface or two parallel surfaces put in contact

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and device to record and visualize drawing and writing movements during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of brain activity. The system includes a touch-sensitive tablet, an elevated mounting platform, a stylus, and a controller box, as well as the necessary cabling and software. All equipment residing inside the magnet room is non-ferromagnetic and does not interfere with scanner operation and does not affect fMRI data quality. Individuals lying inside the scanner interact with device in a natural, intuitive way, similar to writing with pen and paper. Drawing motions captured by the tablet are displayed through a pair of fMRI-compatible goggles or by using a projector and screen. Other visual stimuli can be concurrently presented with the drawing motions for the purpose of assessing specific aspects of human behavior. The system allows for a plurality of experiments to be performed, all while brain activity is measured and recorded.

Claims

1. A system for computerized drawing and writing during functional magnetic resonance imaging of a user'"'"'s brain for mapping the use'"'"'s brain activity during a behavior task, comprising:

a) an fMRI-compatible touch-sensitive tablet capable of detecting user input within a bore of an MRI scanner during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), said MRI scanner being located in a electromagnetically shielded enclosure;

b) an fMRI-compatible tablet support mounted on a patient table which is insertable into the bore, said touch-sensitive tablet being mounted on said tablet support, said tablet support including adjustment means for accommodating a user'"'"'s girth, and for ergonomically accessing the touch sensitive table by the user'"'"'s hand;

c) an fMRI-compatible stylus means for interacting with the touch sensitive tablet for entering input thereto;

d) an fMRI-compatible visual display mechanism for displaying to the user the input to the touch sensitive tablet;

e) microprocessor controller connected to said visual display mechanism and said touch sensitive tablet, said microprocessor controller being located outside said electromagnetically shielded enclosure, said microprocessor controller including processing means for

converting responses of the user input to said touch sensitive tablet into visual stimuli displayed on said visual display mechanism,

logging said responses into temporal and 2 dimensional spatial coordinates,

interpreting said responses associated with the behavior task under imaging fMRI investigation.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said visual display mechanism comprise MR-compatible goggles mounted on said MRI system.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said visual display comprise a projector and projector screen and associated optics permitting the user to observe the projector screen.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein said fMRI-compatible stylus means includes a hand held stylus having a contact surface which makes contact with the touch sensitive tablet.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein said hand held stylus having a contact surface includes a micro switch located on said contact surface configured such that when in contact with the touch sensitive surface the micro switch is activated indicative of contact being made between the stylus and the touch sensitive tablet, and wherein said hand held stylus is connected to said microprocessor controller.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein said fMRI-compatible stylus means includes wearable apparel having a localized interaction point for interacting with said touch sensitive tablet.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein said fMRI-compatible stylus means includes an appendage of the user.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein said processing means is configured to replay responses of the user.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein said fMRI-compatible touch-sensitive tablet is connected to an fMRI-compatible interface located in said electromagnetically shielded enclosure, said fMRI-compatible interface being connected to said microprocessor controller.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein said fMRI-compatible interface converts electrical signals received from said fMRI-compatible touch-sensitive tablet into optical signals, including an optical fiber connecting said fMRI-compatible interface to an optoelectronic stage outside of the magnet room incorporated within said microprocessor controller.

11. The system according to claim 9 wherein said fMRI-compatible interface converts signals received from said fMRI-compatible touch-sensitive tablet into wireless signals, said fMRI-compatible interface including transmitter means for transmitting said wireless signals to said microprocessor controller.

12. The system according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment means for said tablet support is configured to provide adjustment of orientation and placement of the touch sensitive tablet with respect to the user.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein said adjustment means includes an articulating frame for adjusting the orientation and placement of the tablet surface

14. The system according to claim 1 wherein said processing means is configured to be record, display, store, analyze, replay and timestamp all movements detected by the touch sensitive tablet.

15. The system according to claim 1 including means for presenting sensory stimuli to the user according to task requirements during fMRI.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein said sensory stimuli is any one or combination of visual, auditory, or tactile.

27. The method according to claim 15 wherein said sensory stimuli is any one or combination of visual, auditory, or tactile.

17. A method for computerized drawing and writing during functional magnetic resonance imaging of a user'"'"'s brain for mapping the use'"'"'s brain activity during a behavior task, comprising:

a) placing a user on a patient table insertable into the bore of an MRI scanner, the patient table including an fMRI-compatible touch-sensitive tablet capable of detecting user input within the bore of the MRI scanner during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), said MRI scanner being located in a electromagnetically shielded enclosure, said touch-sensitive tablet being mounted on a tablet support, said tablet support including adjustment means for accommodating a user'"'"'s girth, and for ergonomically accessing the touch sensitive table by the user'"'"'s hand;

b) during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) said user using an fMRI-compatible stylus means for interacting with the touch sensitive tablet for entering input thereto;

c) displaying to the user the input to the touch sensitive tablet;

e) converting responses of the user input to said touch sensitive tablet into visual stimuli displayed on said visual display mechanism,

logging said responses into temporal and 2 dimensional spatial coordinates,

interpreting said responses associated with the behavior task under imaging fMRI investigation.

18. The method according to claim 17 wherein said step c) of displaying to the user the input to the touch sensitive tablet is achieved using MR-compatible goggles mounted on said MRI system.

19. The method according to claim 17 wherein step c) of displaying to the user the input to the touch sensitive tablet is achieved using a projector and projector screen and associated optics permitting the user to observe the projector screen.

20. The method according to claim 17 wherein said fMRI-compatible stylus means includes a hand held stylus having a contact surface which makes contact with the touch sensitive tablet.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein said hand held stylus having a contact surface includes a micro switch located on said contact surface configured such that when in contact with the touch sensitive surface the micro switch is activated indicative of contact being made between the stylus and the touch sensitive tablet, and wherein said hand held stylus is connected to said microprocessor controller.

22. The system according to claim 17 wherein said fMRI-compatible stylus means includes wearable apparel having a localized interaction point for interacting with said touch sensitive tablet.

23. The method according to claim 17 wherein said fMRI-compatible stylus means includes an appendage of the user.

24. The method according to claim 17 including replaying responses of the user.

25. The method according to claim 17 including recording, displaying, storing, analyzing, replaying and timestamping all movements detected by the touch sensitive tablet.

26. The method according to claim 17 including presenting sensory stimuli to the user according to task requirements during fMRI.

28. The method according to claim 17 wherein said fMRI-compatible touch-sensitive tablet is connected to an fMRI-compatible interface located in said electromagnetically shielded enclosure.

29. The method according to claim 28 including said fMRI-compatible interface converting electrical signals received from said fMRI-compatible touch-sensitive tablet into optical signals, and transmitting said optical signals to an optoelectronic incorporated within a microprocessor controller configured to perform step e) located outside of a magnet room in which said MRI scanner is located.

30. The method according to claim 28 including said fMRI-compatible interface converting electrical signals received from said fMRI-compatible touch-sensitive tablet into wireless signals, said fMRI-compatible interface including transmitter means for transmitting said wireless signals to a microprocessor controller configured to perform step e) located outside of a magnet room in which said MRI scanner is located.