Method and system for computerized drawing and writing during functional magnetic resonance imaging
First Claim
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 forconverting 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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
30 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 27)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification