METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSESSING BRAIN FUNCTION USING FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

• US 20090048506A1
• Filed: 08/12/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Notus Neuropsychological Imaging, LLC
• Original Assignee: Notus Neuropsychological Imaging, LLC
• Inventors: Allen, Mark, Fong-Ichimura, Alina K.
• Application Number:
  US12/190,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20090048506A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/411
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4076 Diagnosing or monitoring particular conditions of the nervous system A61B5/4821, A61B5/4824 take precedence

Abstract

A system for assessing brain functioning uses neuropsychological assessments which are performed while a patient is within an fMRI scanning environment and while scanning is in process to detect the BOLD signals within the patient'"'"'s brain. The system may be used to detect brain impairment and injuries which do not present tissue damage detectable using previous methods.

Claims

1. A system for detecting and assessing brain impairment comprising:

a neuropsychological assessment test, the assessment test comprising a series of images which require a person to perform a particular type of task;

a display device configured for displaying image screens of the assessment test to a patient while the patient is in an MRI scanner such that the assessment test is performed while fMRI scans are taken of the patient'"'"'s brain;

an output device configured for use by a patient while fMRI scans are taken of the patient'"'"'s brain, the output device being connected to the computer and configured for controlling the computer so as to allow the patient to take the assessment test; and

a normative data set comprising fMRI scanning images from a number of individuals, said fMRI scanning images being taken while each of said number of individuals are taking said assessment test within a fMRI environment.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a computer having the neuropsychological assessment test stored thereon in electronic format.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises a hand piece, and wherein said hand piece is configured for providing a signal to indicate that a patient has performed a task.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the output device transmits a signal to indicate that a patient has completed a portion of the assessment test without indicating the result of the portion of the assessment test.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a projector configured for projecting image screens of the assessment test and a screen disposed so as to be visible to a patient in the MRI scanner while fMRI scans are taken of the patient'"'"'s brain.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises goggles.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an fMRI scanner.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the assessment test comprises images configured for requiring a patient to perform a category of task selected from the group of:

matrix reasoning, trail making, face recognition, picture naming, verbal fluency, and verbal working memory.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the assessment test comprises a visual instruction to a patient to perform a particular task, a visual indication of the task to be performed, and a visual indication to the patient to control the patient activity after performing the task.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured for detecting a patient'"'"'s Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) brain signal corresponding to the performance of predetermined tasks and comparing the BOLD signal to a normative data set of BOLD signals to thereby determine brain impairment in the patient.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the output device is configured for providing a signal to a computer to identify the times during which the patient was thinking about an assessment test task.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the times during which the patient was thinking about an assessment test task are correlated to the fMRI scan times to thereby identify the fMRI scans which show brain activity corresponding to the particular assessment task.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the fMRI scans show Blood Oxygen Level Dependent brain signals.

14. A method for detecting and assessing brain impairment comprising:

placing a patient in an fMRI scanning environment so as to facilitate fMRI scans of the patient'"'"'s brain;

having the patient perform a neuropsychological assessment test while in the fMRI scanning environment;

operating the fMRI scanner so as to capture fMRI scans of the patient'"'"'s brain while the patient is performing the neuropsychological assessment test so as to detect brain signals from the patient'"'"'s brain to thereby detect brain functionality during the neuropsychological assessment; and

comparing the fMRI scans of the patient'"'"'s brain with a data set of fMRI scans to thereby detect statistical differences between the patient'"'"'s fMRI scans and the data set of fMRI scans and thereby detect brain impairment in the patient, said data set of fMRI scans comprising brain signals of a group of individuals performing the same neuropsychological assessment while within an fMRI scanning environment.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the brain signals comprise Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) signals.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of having the patient perform a neuropsychological assessment comprises, more specifically:

directing a patient to perform a desired task;

presenting an image to a patient so as to facilitate the performance of said task; and

the patient using an output device to indicate that the task has been performed without indicating the outcome of the task.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of having the patient perform a neuropsychological assessment further comprises:

directing the patient to perform a resting task;

presenting an image to the patient so as to facilitate the performance of a second desired task; and

the patient using an output device to indicate that the task has been performed without indicating the outcome of the task.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the assessment test comprises categories of tasks selected from the group consisting of:

matrix reasoning, trail making, face recognition, picture naming, verbal fluency, and verbal working memory.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the method comprises projecting images which comprise portions of the assessment test to a screen within a MRI machine such that the images are visible to a patient who is in the MRI machine such that the patient can perform the task which is indicated by the projected image while in the MRI machine.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of having the patient perform a neuropsychological assessment test while in the fMRI scanning environment comprises:

projecting an image to the patient which provides instructions to the patient about a task which is to be performed;

projecting an image to the patient which gives the patient a task to be performed in accordance with the instructions;

the patient mentally performing the task; and

the patient indicating that they have completed the task by using an output device to signal to a computer that the task has been completed.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises:

projecting an image to the patient to direct the patient'"'"'s thoughts during a resting phase;

projecting an image to the patient which provides instructions to the patient about a second task which is to be performed;

projecting an image to the patient which gives the patient a second task to be performed in accordance with the instructions;

the patient mentally performing the second task; and

the patient indicating that they have completed the second task by using an output device to signal to a computer that the task has been completed.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the method further comprises:

in said fMRI scanning environment, an MRI machine taking fMRI images of the patient'"'"'s brain while the patient performs the assessment test;

a computer recording the fMRI images;

the output device transmitting a signal to the computer to signal that the patient has completed a task;

the computer recording the signal from the output device; and

the computer correlating the signal from the output device to the fMRI scans to thereby identify the fMRI scans which correspond to brain activity which is expected to occur during a portion of the assessment test.