E!12776 TRAC-SCAN Karolinska Institutet

Important results from the project

This project aimed at combining a "point-cloud" 3D camera with brain MRI to be able to correct for the patient´s involuntary head motion in realtime. In the project, new MR imaging techniques have been programmed, using motion data from the 3D camera (placed near the patient´s face) to update the slice positions in realtime during imaging. Now, a comprehensive generic clinical brain MRI protocol is ready for clinical use on patients that cannot remain still with their head, not the least including pediatric patients.

Expected long term effects

The developed technology for brain MRI can be used on patients who have difficulty remaining still, without the need to use anesthesia. These include adult patients with pain, claustrophobia, cognitive defects, dementia, but not least younger children, who are routinely anesthetized today for the MRI examination. In addition to the fact that anesthesia complicates the MRI examination, it entails long waiting times, fewer MRI examinations per day, and discomfort for patients and parents. For brain MRI, this can now probably be avoided in most cases.

Approach and implementation

The technical part of the project was the larger part and the time required, where communication between the 3D camera ("TracOline" by the partner TracInnovations) and its peripherals had to be made compatible with the MR camera system, including various forms of network communication, automatic coordinate control. In addition, several new imaging techniques for brain MRI have been programmed and optimized by the project team, which can listen to motion information data from the 3D camera and update the position of the image plane with only a 0.1 seconds delay.