# US 2019/0317170 A1 · Synchronization devices and methods for synchronizing imaging systems and stimulation systems

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- Number: US 2019/0317170 A1
- Document ID: US20190317170A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/469,016
- Filed: 2017-12-12
- Published: 2019-10-17
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-12
- Assignees: LVIS Corporation
- Applicants: LVIS Corporation
- Inventors: Michael MADSEN; Zhongnan FANG; Jin Hyung LEE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190317170A1

## CPC

- A61B 5/055: involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging
- A61B 5/4064: {Evaluating the brain (for intracranial pressure A61B5/031; for cerebral blood gases A61B5/14553; using EEG A61B5/369)}
- A61B 5/7292: {Prospective gating, i.e. predicting the occurrence of a physiological event for use as a synchronisation signal}
- A61N 1/05: for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode (A61N1/06 takes precedence)
- A61N 1/08: Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating {(for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925)}
- A61N 1/36128: {Control systems}
- G01R 33/28: Details of apparatus provided for in groups G01R33/44 - G01R33/64
- G01R 33/4806: {Functional imaging of brain activation}
- G01R 33/5613: {Generating steady state signals, e.g. low flip angle sequences [FLASH]}
- G01R 33/5676: {Gating or triggering based on an MR signal, e.g. involving one or more navigator echoes for motion monitoring and correction}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)

## Abstract

Examples described herein may provide for pre-triggering imaging scans (e.g. fMRI scans) using an electronic timer synchronized to a stimulation system.

## Claims

### Claim 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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising performing dummy scans with the fMRI system at a time between the initiation time and the stimulation time.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the one period after the initiation time is prior to a second stimulation time when the patient is again stimulated by the implanted stimulator.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 further comprising performing dummy scans with the fMRI system at a time between the one period after the initiation time and the second stimulation time.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving indication of an initial stimulation time from the implanted stimulator and calculating, using an electronic timer, the initiation time at least in part by adding the period to the initial stimulation time and subtracting a settling time during which the fMRI is configured to achieve the steady state.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising providing a trigger signal from the electronic timer to the fMRI system at the initiation time.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising counting, with the electronic timer, the period, and providing another trigger signal from the electronic timer to the fMRI system at the one period after the initiation time.

### Claim 8

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.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, wherein the synchronization circuitry is further configured to calculate a next time of scan initiation at least in part by adding the period to the initial time; and
wherein the trigger circuitry is further configured to provide another trigger to the scanning system at the nest time.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, wherein the synchronization circuitry is provided in a field programmable gate array (FPGA) device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, further comprising a display configured to display a remaining time until the initial time.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, wherein the device is configured to implement a state machine, and wherein a first state comprises a standby state, the device further comprising a second input configured to receive an indication to exit standby state, and wherein the synchronization circuitry is configured to calculate the initial time responsive to receipt of the indication of stimulation when the device has exited the standby state.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12, wherein the second input comprises a user accessible switch.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The device of claim 12, wherein a second state comprises an initial trigger calculation state during which the synchronization circuitry is configured to calculate the initial time, and wherein a third state comprises a repetitive trigger state during which the synchronization circuitry is configured to calculate next trigger times by adding the period to a previous trigger time.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, further comprising a memory configured to store the period.

### Claim 16

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.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the fMRI system is configured to provide at least one dummy scan prior to attaining the steady state.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the synchronization device is configured to receive an initial indication of stimulation from the stimulation system, and wherein the synchronization device is configured to determine a first trigger time by adding a period of the simulations provided by the stimulation system to a time of the initial indication and subtracting a settling time during which the fMRI system is configured to attain the steady state.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the synchronization device is configured to provide a trigger signal to the fMRI system to initiate a scan at the first trigger time.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the synchronization device is configured to determine subsequent trigger times by adding multiples of the period to the first trigger time.

### Claim 21 (depends on 20)

The system of claim 20, wherein the synchronization device is configured to provide trigger signals to the fMRI system to initiate scans at the subsequent trigger times.