SYNCHRONIZATION DEVICES AND METHODS FOR SYNCHRONIZING IMAGING SYSTEMS AND STIMULATION SYSTEMS
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:
- initiating a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan (an fMRI scan) of a patient with a functional magnetic resonance imaging system (an fMRI system) at an initiation time prior to a stimulation time when the patient is stimulated by an implanted stimulator, wherein the implanted stimulator is configured to stimulate the patient every period, and wherein a duration between the initiation time and the stimulation time is sufficient for the fMRI system to achieve a steady state; and
initiating another fMRI scan of the patient one period after the initiation time.
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Abstract
Examples described herein may provide for pre-triggering imaging scans (e.g. fMRI scans) using an electronic timer synchronized to a stimulation system.
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21 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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initiating a functional magnetic resonance imaging scan (an fMRI scan) of a patient with a functional magnetic resonance imaging system (an fMRI system) at an initiation time prior to a stimulation time when the patient is stimulated by an implanted stimulator, wherein the implanted stimulator is configured to stimulate the patient every period, and wherein a duration between the initiation time and the stimulation time is sufficient for the fMRI system to achieve a steady state; and initiating another fMRI scan of the patient one period after the initiation time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A device comprising:
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an input configured to receive an indication of stimulation initiation from an implanted stimulator, the implanted stimulator configured to provide stimulation every period; synchronization circuitry configured to calculate an initial time of scan initiation at least in part by adding the period to a time the indication of stimulation initiation was received and subtracting a settling time during which a scanning system is configured to attain steady state; and trigger circuitry configured to provide a trigger to the scanning system to initiate a scan at the initial time. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system comprising:
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a functional magnetic resonance imaging system (an fMRI system), the fMRI system configured to provide fMRI scans of a patient; a stimulation system configured to stimulate the patient; and a synchronization device, the synchronization device configured to trigger the fMRI system to initiate at least one of the fMRI scans at a time prior to simulation of the patient by the stimulation system, such that the fMRI system attains steady state prior to the stimulation of the patient by the stimulation system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification