# US 12,000,912 B2 · MRI scanner-compatible virtual reality system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,000,912 B2 - Document ID: US12000912B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/606,519 - Filed: 2020-04-24 - Published: 2022-11-03 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-04-26 - Assignees: King's College London - Applicants: King's College London - Inventors: Joseph Hajnal; Tomoki Arichi; Kun Qian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000912B2 ## CPC - G01R 33/283: {Intercom or optical viewing arrangements, structurally associated with NMR apparatus} - G06F 3/011: {Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00)} - A63F 13/213: comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells (A63F13/219 takes precedence) - A63F 13/25: Output arrangements for video game devices - A63F 13/90: Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets - G06F 3/012: {Head tracking input arrangements} - G06F 3/013: {Eye tracking input arrangements (G06F3/015 takes precedence)} - G01R 33/56509: {due to motion, displacement or flow, e.g. gradient moment nulling (G01R33/567 takes precedence)} - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Aspects and embodiments provide an MRI scanner-compatible virtual reality system comprising: user equipment locatable within an MRI scanner bore, the user equipment being configured to provide a subject with an immersive virtual environment; the system further comprising: at least one sensor configured to track eye movement of the subject; wherein interaction of the subject with the immersive virtual environment is controlled by the tracked eye movement. Aspects and embodiments may be implemented in a manner which recognises that VR techniques, which typically rely upon dynamic movement of a VR subject, can be used to aid with maintenance of minimal motion of a subject to be placed within an MRI scanner bore. Implementations may be such that calmness of a subject can be increased and awareness of their physical surroundings diminished, thus allowing for successful MRI image acquisition whilst seeking to minimise distress, boredom and/or frustration experienced by the subject under study. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An MRI scanner-compatible virtual reality system comprising: user equipment locatable within an MRI scanner bore, said user equipment being configured to provide a subject with an immersive virtual environment; said system further comprising: at least one sensor configured to track eye movement of said subject; wherein interaction of said subject with said immersive virtual environment is controlled by said tracked eye movement wherein said system is configured to provide the subject with an interactive gaze target which changes or evolves whilst gaze of said subject is determined to remain in contact with said gaze target, to provide subject feedback and improve overall subject engagement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein elements of said user equipment are constructed from materials which do not influence a magnetic field within said MRI scanner bore. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein elements of said VR systems which are magnetically or electrically disruptive are located outside said scanner bore. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein visual input for provision of said immersive virtual environment is relayed to said subject from outside the scanner bore via an optical system including a projector and one or more mirrors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor configured to track eye movement of said subject comprises at least one camera forming part of said user equipment, and wherein said cameras are located on said user equipment a distance from a subject placed in said user equipment selected to mitigate electromagnetic interference in an MRI image captured by use of said scanner bore. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein a processing device required to create said virtual reality environment is located outside said scanner bore. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein said user equipment is dimensioned to fit within said scanner bore. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein one or more elements of said virtual reality system is removably decouplable from said MRI scanner. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein interaction of said subject with said immersive virtual environment is primarily controlled by said tracked eye movement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A system according to any preceding claim 1, wherein said user equipment comprises one or more limiters, located within said user equipment, to restrict head movement of said subject. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein said tracked eye movement comprises: gaze estimation achieved via pupil tracking. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein said tracked eye movement comprises: deformable eye shape tracking. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein said tracked eye movement comprises: pupil tracking including head pose compensation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein said tracked eye movement comprises: determining, from images obtained by said sensors, subject head movement and wherein said system is configured to use said determined head movement to correct or compensate MRI images obtained by said MRI scanner. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein changes in subject head pose are estimated based on displacements of eye corners determined from one or more images of said subject's eye captured by said sensors, and wherein said changes are used to provide motion compensation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein said immersive virtual environment is concordant with a physical environment experienced by said subject. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein said user equipment includes sound sensors configured to provide an input to said system such that an aural landscape forming part of said virtual environment includes main elements of an aural landscape within said scanner bore. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein said user equipment includes one or more motion sensors configured to provide an input to said system such that a visual landscape forming part of said virtual environment is concordant with motion experienced by a subject within said scanner bore. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein said system comprises: sound and image sensors configured to provide said system with information about a party located outside said scanner bore and to insert said party into said virtual environment to interact with said subject.