Method and Apparatus for MRI Compatible Communications

• US 20140275970A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NeoCoil, LLC.
• Original Assignee: NeoCoil, LLC.
• Inventors: Brown, Brian, Ferrer Herrera, Manuel J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,244,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/413
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0046 Arrangements of imaging apparatus in a room, e.g. room provided with shielding or for improved access to apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/055 involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/283 Intercom or optical viewing arrangements, structurally associated with NMR apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/3692 involving signal transmission without using electrically conductive connections, e.g. wireless communication or optical communication of the MR signal or an auxiliary signal other than the MR signal

Abstract

An MRI compatible communication system is disclosed. An interface module manages communications between devices within and external to the MRI scan room. The interface module also translates messages between varying wireless communication standards and protocols for retransmission to other devices. The communication system is configurable to transmit and/or receive data between physiological sensors, the MRI controller, patient monitoring devices, patient entertainment devices, and other computers. The interface module is configurable to be placed either in the control room or in the scan room.

Claims

1. A communication system to permit communication between a patient undergoing a diagnostic imaging procedure and a technologist conducting the diagnostic imaging procedure, wherein the diagnostic imaging equipment includes a scanner configured to generate a diagnostic image and a controller configured to control operation of the scanner, the communication system comprising:

an interface module, including;

an input connection configured to receive an audio signal from the controller,

a wireless communication module configured to convert the audio signal to a radio frequency (RF) modulated signal having a frequency greater than a frequency of operation of the diagnostic scanner, and

an output connection configured to conduct the RF modulated signal;

an antenna electrically connected to the output connection of the interface module and configured to transmit the RF modulated signal in proximity to the scanner; and

at least one wireless receiver configured to be positioned in proximity to the scanner and to receive the RF modulated signal.

2. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising a supplemental audio source supplying a second audio signal, wherein:

the controller includes a logic circuit configured to combine the second audio signal with the audio signal from the controller to generate a combined audio signal,

the combined audio signal is received at the input connection of the interface module, and

the interface module further includes;

an electronic circuit configured to separate the audio signal from the controller and the second audio signal out of the combined audio signal, and

a second output connection configured to conduct the audio signal from the controller, wherein at least one of the audio signal from the controller and the second audio signal is converted to the RF modulated signal.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the antenna is integrated in the interface module.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the wireless receiver is a wireless headset.

5. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising:

a supplemental audio source supplying a second audio signal, wherein the controller includes an electronic circuit configured to combine the second audio signal with the audio signal from the controller to generate a combined audio signal;

a second interface module, including

an input connection configured to receive the combined audio signal from the controller,

an electronic circuit configured to separate the audio signal from the controller and the second audio signal out of the combined audio signal, and

an output connection configured to receive a cable including multiple conductors; and

the cable connected between the output connection of the second interface module and the input connection of the interface module, wherein;

the audio signal from the controller and the second audio signal are transmitted on different conductors of the cable,

the interface module further includes a second output connection configured to conduct the audio signal from the controller, and

at least one of the audio signal from the controller and the second audio signal is converted to the RF modulated signal.

6-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A communication system for radio frequency (RF) communications between a plurality of devices located either within or proximate to a scan room housing a medical diagnostic scanner, the communication system comprising:

an interface module configured to communicate with a controller for the medical diagnostic scanner, the interface module including a wireless communication module configured to transmit and receive at least one RF modulated signal with at least one of the devices located proximate to the medical diagnostic scanner, wherein the RF modulated signals have a frequency greater than a frequency of operation of the diagnostic scanner; and

an antenna configured to exchange the RF modulated signals between the interface module and each of the devices located proximate to the medical diagnostic scanner.

9. The communication system of claim 8 wherein at least one of the devices is a sensor configured to monitor a physiological parameter of a patient in the medical diagnostic scanner and to transmit an RF modulated signal to the interface module including data corresponding to the physiological parameter being monitored, wherein the RF modulated signals have a frequency greater than a frequency of operation of the diagnostic scanner.

10. The communication system of claim 9 wherein the sensor includes an accelerometer generating a signal corresponding to motion of the sensor wherein the sensor is further configured to transmit an RF modulated signal to the interface module including the signal from the accelerometer.

11. The communication system of claim 10 further comprising a portable computing device having low magnetic susceptibility, the portable computing device including:

a wireless communication module configured to receive the RF modulated signals from the sensor,

a memory device configured to store the signals from the sensor, and

a display configured to provide a visual indication of the signals from the sensor to an operator.

12. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the medical diagnostic scanner includes a physiological acquisition control (PAC) unit configured to control image acquisition on the medical diagnostic scanner via a gating signal and wherein the PAC unit is further configured to receive an RF modulated signal which includes the gating signal from the interface module.

13. The communication system of claim 12 wherein the portable computing device is further configured to execute a stored program to generate the gating signal for the PAC unit as a function of the signals received from the sensor and to transmit the gating signal to the PAC unit.

14. The communication system of claim 8, wherein at least one of the devices provides bidirectional communication with a patient in the medical diagnostic scanner.

21. The communication system of claim 8 wherein one of the devices located within the scan room is a handheld feedback device configured to receive input from the patient.

15. A wireless communication system for use during a diagnostic imaging procedure to communicate between a control room, which includes a controller configured to control operation of a diagnostic scanner, and a scan room which contains the diagnostic scanner, the wireless communication system comprising:

at least one portable device configured to engage a patient in the diagnostic scanner during operation of the diagnostic scanner, wherein the portable device includes a wireless communication module configured to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) modulated signals, wherein the RF modulated signals have a frequency greater than a frequency of operation of the diagnostic scanner; and

a portable computing device including a memory device configured to store data and a series of instructions, a processor configured to execute the series of instructions, and a wireless communication module configured to communicate with the portable device.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 15 wherein each of the portable devices are sensors configured to monitor a physiological parameter of the patient in the diagnostic scanner and to generate a signal corresponding to the physiological parameter being monitored and wherein each of the signals corresponding to the physiological parameter being monitored are converted to RF modulated signals and transmitted to the portable computing device.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 16 wherein the diagnostic scanner further includes a physiological acquisition control (PAC) unit configured to control image acquisition on the diagnostic scanner via a gating signal and wherein the processor on the portable device is configured to:

execute the series of instructions to generate the gating signal as a function of at least one of the RF modulated signals corresponding to the physiological parameter being received from the sensors,

convert the gating signal to an RF modulated signal, and

transmit the RF modulated signal corresponding to the gating signal to the PAC unit.

18. The wireless communication system of claim 15 wherein:

the portable computing device is configured to retrieve a stored data file including one of stored audio data and stored video data from the memory device and transmit the stored data file as an audio signal or a video signal, respectively, to the controller, and

the controller includes a microphone configured to generate an audio signal and the controller is further configured to combine the audio signal or the video signal from the portable computing device with the audio signal from the microphone for transmission to the patient.

19. The wireless communication system of claim 18 further comprising:

an interface module including;

an input connection configured to receive the combined signal from the controller,

an electronic circuit configured to separate the audio or the video signal from the intercom signal,

a wireless communication module configured to convert at least one of the audio signal, the video signal, or the intercom signal to a radio frequency (RF) modulated signal having a frequency greater than a frequency of operation of the diagnostic scanner,

an antenna configured to transmit the RF modulated signal in proximity to the scanner, and

an output connection configured to conduct the intercom signal; and

at least one receiver configured to be positioned in proximity to the scanner and to receive the RF modulated signal.

20. The communication system of claim 19 wherein the wireless receiver is one of a wireless headset and a wireless monitor.

22. The wireless communication system of claim 15 wherein the at least one portable device configured to engage the patient is a handheld feedback device configured to receive input from the patient.