VehiCLE

MRI Visual Communication System

The MRI Visual Communication System came to VehiCLE as an idea to communicate with patients who have impaired hearing during MRI exams.  This issue arises due to the fact that hearing aids cannot be worn during an MRI.  Additionally, for thoracic MRI's in particular, the patient has to hold their breath during scans, and must be directed by the MRI technician as to when to hold breath and when to breathe freely. Finally, all components needed to be MRI safe, meaning we could not encorporate and steel, iron, electrical wires, or components that would impede MRI imaging.

Our design consists of a light engine which would be in the technicians room with buttons to light up different colors.  The light engine has colored LED's that shine into fiber optic cables, which run to the communication device in the patient room. The communication device is mounted on an MRI safe pole with an extendable arm and loc-line to make the angle of the device adjustable.  A custom right angle flashlight is encorporated at the end of the fiberoptic cables to disperse the light into the stoplight communication device.  The result is that the techician can press one of the colored buttons on the light engine in their room, and the patient will see the same light turn on in their room.  Using these lights, the technician can communicate when to breathe freely, prepare to hold breath, and hold breath.  

This design was created in house and has been tested in multiple sites across the country.

                                       Front View:

                                    Front View Lit Up     

   

Light Engine:                                          Full Stand Extended:
  

Next Steps:
The MRI Visual Communication System will continue to be tested in MRI clinics, and will be marketed to outside companies for licensing.

Provisional Patent Application: 63/514,273

Technology Transfer Specialist: Pattie Callum (patricia.callum@va.gov)

TechLink: