Lever Coil Sensor for Respiratory and Cardiac Motion
Description of Invention:
The invention is a device that generates a signal for synchronizing an MRI scanner with a subject's respiratory and cardiac motion to prevent blurring of the image during the scan. This device uses a small electromagnetic pickup coil to simultaneously sense respiratory and cardiac motion and provide a synchronization signal. The invention uses a mechanical linkage to keep the pickup coil far from the center of the scanner's radio frequency and gradient coils, thereby eliminating artifacts in the sensor signal and magnetic resonance images caused by mutual inductance. The signal generated by this device is proportional to chest velocity rather than chest height and is, therefore, free of any offset voltages, permitting peak location with a simple threshold detector, and is large in amplitude even for small animal subjects. The invention operates without the need for any electrical leads inside the magnet and thus eliminates any burn hazards for the patient. This device provides an inexpensive alternative to commercially available bellows sensors and fiber optically coupled units. Unlike competing sensors, this invention can be inserted, removed, or adjusted without removing the subject from the magnet and can operate with the subject in a prone or supine position. This invention has applications in both animal and human imaging studies.
Inventors:
Kenneth W. Fishbein (NIA)
Patent Status:
DHHS Reference No. E-134-2001/0 --
U.S. Patent 6,535,754 issued 18 Mar 2003
For Additional Information Please Contact: Michael Shmilovich J.D.
NIH Office of Technology Transfer
6011 Executive Blvd, Suite 325
Rockville, MD 20852-3804
Phone: (301) 435-5019
Email: shmilovm@mail.nih.gov
Fax: (301) 402-0220
