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US 2019/0317170 A1Published application
Synchronization devices and methods for synchronizing imaging systems and stimulation systems
AssigneeLVIS Corporation
InventorsMichael MADSEN, Zhongnan FANG, Jin Hyung LEE
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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.
Claims21
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.
A device comprising:
- 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.
1 more element
A system comprising:
- 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.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.