Title: Motion detection of patient in MRI using mechanical mercury switches

Authors: Musaab Hassan; Sahar Khider; Sahar Mahjob; Ibrahim Ahmed

Addresses: School of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Sudan University of Sciences and Technology, P.O. Box 407, Khartoum, Sudan. ' Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Medical Sciences and Technology, P.O. Box 12810, Khartoum, Sudan. ' Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Medical Sciences and Technology, P.O. Box 12810, Khartoum, Sudan. ' Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Medical Sciences and Technology, P.O. Box 12810, Khartoum, Sudan

Abstract: The quality of the MRI produced image is very sensitive to motion effects due to movement of the patient inside the device. In this project, motion detection device was designed, implemented and tested. The device is capable of determining the level of motion, e.g., major or minor. A set of eight mercury sensors, placed at different directions and at different angles, permits determining the level as well as the direction of the patient motion. The sensors' output signals were processed and interfaced to personal computer as well as to an LED board. The level and the direction of patient motion were successfully displayed on GUI which was programmed using Delphi software.

Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging; MRI; motion detection; mercury switches; interfacing; GUI; mechanical switches; patient detection; patient motion; mercury sensors.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBBR.2012.049587

International Journal of Biomechatronics and Biomedical Robotics, 2012 Vol.2 No.1, pp.1 - 6

Published online: 27 Aug 2014 *

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