MR Technology Research Articles

An interview with Professor Benjamin Becker: understanding our brain and mental disorders requires collaboration across all disciplines

Abstract From July 20th to 22nd, 2024, the ISMRM Endorsed Workshop on MR for Psychiatry was held in Chengdu City, China. This prestigious event attracted numerous academic elites worldwide, and Professor Benjamin Becker from the University of Hong Kong was invited. On the morning of July 20, during the “Advances in MR Technology” session, Professor Becker delivered an engaging lecture entitled “Novel approaches to precision MRI-imaging of human emotion”. His presentation was met with great enthusiasm and sparked lively discussions among the participants. Following the conference, the Psychoradiology journal interviewed Professor Benjamin Becker. In the interview, Benjamin emphasized the significant role of interdisciplinary collaboration, spanning various fields including psychology, neuroscience, clinical medicine, biomedical engineering, and computer science. Professor Becker firmly believed that such collaboration was crucial for a deeper understanding of the brain and psychiatric disorders. Additionally, he highly valued the importance of international cooperation, especially in addressing global mental health issues and challenges related to psychiatric disorders.

Effects of 16.8-22.0 T high static magnetic fields on the development of zebrafish in early fertilization.

Despite some existing studies on the safety of high static magnetic fields (SMFs), the effects of ultra-high SMFs above 20.0 T for embryonic development in early pregnancy are absent. The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of 16.8-22.0 T SMF on the development of zebrafish embryos, which will provide important information for the future application of ultra-high field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Two-hour exposure to homogenous (0 T/m) 22.0 T SMF, or 16.8 T SMFs with 123.25 T/m spatial gradient of opposite magnetic force directions was examined in the embryonic development of 200 zebrafish. Their body length, heart rate, spontaneous tail-wagging movement, hatching and survival rate, photomotor response, and visual motor response (VMR) were analyzed. Our results show that these ultra-high SMFs did not significantly affect the general development of zebrafish embryos, such as the body length or spontaneous tail-wagging movement. However, the hatching rate was reduced by the gradient SMFs (p < 0.05), but not the homogenous 22.0 T SMF. Moreover, although the zebrafish larva activities were differentially affected by these ultra-high SMFs (p < 0.05), the expression of several visual and neurodevelopmental genes (p < 0.05) was generally downregulated in the eyeball. Our findings suggest that exposure to ultra-high SMFs, especially the gradient SMFs, may have adverse effects on embryonic development, which should cause some attention to the future application of ultra-high field MRIs. As technology advances, it is conceivable that very strong magnetic fields may be adapted for use in medical imaging. Possible dangers associated with these higher Tesla fields need to be considered and evaluated prior to human use. Ultra-High static magnetic field may affect early embryonic development. High strength gradient static magnetic field exposure impacted zebrafish embryonic development. The application of very strong magnetic fields for MR technologies needs to be carefully evaluated.

A Systematic Review of the Use and Effect of Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Mixed Reality in Physical Education

New technologies are tools that are present in daily life on a regular basis. In order to improve the didactic process, education must take into account these new technologies. In the field of physical education, the significance of these technologies is reflected in the existence of applications that can be carried out within the field, both for educational purposes and for physical fitness and health. This is due to the potential presented by virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality. The objective of this study was to examine the utilisation and impact of AR, VR and MR technologies in physical education at the compulsory stage. In order to achieve this objective, a design based on the PRISMA methodology for conducting systematic reviews was employed. The databases of WOS, Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar were subjected to analysis. The results indicate that there has been a notable increase in research activity in this field in recent years. The analysis yielded four principal areas of focus, namely the utilisation of pedagogical methodologies, the enhancement of motor and health-related competencies, and moreover, the facilitation of optimal integration of students in physical education. The utilisation and consequences of novel technologies represent a suitable instrument for enhancing the educational experience of students enrolled in physical education programmes.

MRehab: A Mixed Reality Rehabilitation System Supporting Integrated Speech and Hand Training

Integrated speech and hand-motor training is an effective post-stroke rehabilitation method. However, few interactive systems and assistive technologies were developed in this field. Driven by this challenge, we leverage Mixed Reality technology, which merges immersive virtual scenarios with physical hands-on tools in the real world, to provide patients with multi-modal interactions and engaging training experiences. Following a user-centered design approach, we first interviewed seven therapists to identify user requirements and design considerations. We further designed MRehab, an interactive rehabilitation system that allows patients to regain speech and hand skills through MR scenarios that depict daily living activities. We conducted a preliminary user test with 12 patients and 5 therapists to validate the feasibility and understand the user experience with MRehab. The results confirmed its feasibility for hand-motor training. Additionally, the patients expressed high motivation, engagement, and a positive attitude toward using MRehab. Our findings demonstrate the potential of MR technology in integrated speech and hand function rehabilitation training.

MR-OCTAVIUS 4D with 1500 MR and 1600 MR arrays is suitable for plan QA in a 1.5 T MRI-linac

To ensure the accuracy of radiation delivery to patients in a 1.5 T MRI-linac, the implementation of quality assurance (QA) devices compatible with MR technology is essential. The OCTAVIUS 4D MR, made by PTW (Freiburg, Germany) is designed to ensure consistent and ideal alignment of its detectors with the direction of each beam segment. This study focuses on investigating the fundamental characteristics of the detector response for the OCTAVIUS Detector (OD) 1500 MR and OCTAVIUS 1600 MR when used in the MR-compatible OCTAVIUS 4D. Characteristics examined included short-term reproducibility, dose linearity, field size dependency, monitor unit (MU) rate dependency, dose-per-pulse dependency, and angular dependency. The evaluation of OD 1500 MR also involved measuring 25 clinical treatment plans across diverse target sizes and anatomical sites, including the liver/pancreas, rectum, prostate, lungs, and lymph nodes. One plan was measured with the standard setup and with a 5 cm left offset. The OD 1600 MR was not available for these measurements. The capability of the OD 1500 MR to identify potential errors was assessed by introducing a MU and positional shift within the software. The results demonstrated no significant differences in short-term reproducibility ( <0.2% ), dose linearity ( <1% ), field size dependency ( <0.7% for field sizes larger than 5 cm × 5 cm), MU rate dependency ( <0.8% ), dose-per-pulse dependency ( <0.4% ) and angular dependency (standard deviation <0.5% ). All tests of clinical plans were successfully completed. The OD 1500 MR demonstrated compatibility with the standard 95% pass rate when employing a global 3%/3 mm gamma criterion, and a 90% pass rate using a global 2%/2 mm gamma criterion. The detector demonstrated the capacity to measure treatment plans with a 5 cm left offset. With the standard parameters, the gamma test was sensitive to position errors but required an addition tests of mean/median dose or point dose in order to detect small dose difference.

90‐2: Invited Paper: Toward the Challenges of 4K MR Using AMLCD

This article discusses the challenges of adopting high‐resolution AMLCD in 4K MR technology. Key innovations include LTPO for improved the aperture of VR LCDs by 20‐30%, especially for highres VR, and COA to reduce transmittance issues and enhance color uniformity in 4K VR LCDs.

Bridging the gap: improving correspondence between low-field and high-field magnetic resonance images in young people.

Portable low-field-strength magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems represent a promising alternative to traditional high-field-strength systems with the potential to make MR technology available at scale in low-resource settings. However, lower image quality and resolution may limit the research and clinical potential of these devices. We tested two super-resolution methods to enhance image quality in a low-field MR system and compared their correspondence with images acquired from a high-field system in a sample of young people. T1- and T2-weighted structural MR images were obtained from a low-field (64mT) Hyperfine and high-field (3T) Siemens system in N = 70 individuals (mean age = 20.39 years, range 9-26 years). We tested two super-resolution approaches to improve image correspondence between images acquired at high- and low-field: (1) processing via a convolutional neural network ('SynthSR'), and (2) multi-orientation image averaging. We extracted brain region volumes, cortical thickness, and cortical surface area estimates. We used Pearson correlations to test the correspondence between these measures, and Steiger Z tests to compare the difference in correspondence between standard imaging and super-resolution approaches. Single pairs of T1- and T2-weighted images acquired at low field showed high correspondence to high-field-strength images for estimates of total intracranial volume, surface area cortical volume, subcortical volume, and total brain volume (r range = 0.60-0.88). Correspondence was lower for cerebral white matter volume (r = 0.32, p = 0.007, q = 0.009) and non-significant for mean cortical thickness (r = -0.05, p = 0.664, q = 0.664). Processing images with SynthSR yielded significant improvements in correspondence for total brain volume, white matter volume, total surface area, subcortical volume, cortical volume, and total intracranial volume (r range = 0.85-0.97), with the exception of global mean cortical thickness (r = 0.14). An alternative multi-orientation image averaging approach improved correspondence for cerebral white matter and total brain volume. Processing with SynthSR also significantly improved correspondence across widespread regions for estimates of cortical volume, surface area and subcortical volume, as well as within isolated prefrontal and temporal regions for estimates of cortical thickness. Applying super-resolution approaches to low-field imaging improves regional brain volume and surface area accuracy in young people. Finer-scale brain measurements, such as cortical thickness, remain challenging with the limited resolution of low-field systems.

In vitro investigation of the effects of high-intensity therapeutic ultrasound (HITU) in glial tumor cell culture.

Amidst the evident challenges posed by brain tumors and the evident limitations of conventional treatment methodologies like surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, our primary objective was to probe the therapeutic potential of high-intensity therapeutic ultrasound (HITU). The aim was to introduce a safer, cost-effective, and efficient alternative to existing treatments, especially beneficial for inaccessible brain tumor sites and resource-constrained medical facilities. Leveraging post-1990s MR technology advancements, we employed the non-invasive HITU technique, akin to high-intensity focused ultrasound. This method directs acoustic energy to tissues, primarily inducing coagulation necrosis by absorbing energy and elevating tissue temperatures. Glial tumor cells were subjected to HITU to assess its effects. Upon applying HITU to glial tumor cells, significant alterations in cellular structural integrity were evident. The main action of HITU was the absorption of acoustic energy, leading to a notable temperature rise and coagulation necrosis. Flow cytometry indicated significant cellular changes post-HITU. ANOVA and t-test analyses showed a significant relationship between HITU application and time (p<0.05). The Shapiro-Wilk test revealed non-normal data distribution (p<0.05), leading to the use of nonparametric methods. The t-test results after HITU displayed significant differences (p<0.05) in cell counts and fluorescence intensity between control and treated groups. This result was consistent across multiple tests, indicating the reliability of the method in causing cellular damage to the tumor cells. Our laboratory analyses offer compelling evidence that HITU is not merely feasible but is also a promising non-invasive approach in the treatment paradigm of brain tumors. Standing distinctively apart from radiotherapy, HITU averts early, or late complications commonly associated with the former. While the path ahead mandates comprehensive research to ascertain its clinical utility, preliminary indications firmly posit HITU as a groundbreaking prospect in the management of brain tumors.

Review of Lumbosacral MR Neurography

Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) is increasingly used for the evaluation of lumbosacral plexopathy and peripheral neuropathy.1 Although clinical evaluation and electroclinical studies are helpful in evaluating function, they are limited in their ability to characterize the underlying pathology. Electromyography is very sensitive for nerve injury but lacks specificity and cannot depict the level of anatomic detail often needed to localize the nerve lesion and for treatment planning.1 Furthermore, conventional imaging studies, such as MRI or CT, have a role in evaluating extrinsic structural abnormalities that may compress the nerves, such as retroperitoneal hematomas or pelvic abscesses, but are unable to adequately depict the lumbosacral plexus and peripheral nerves due to limited imaging contrast between neural tissue and adjacent soft tissues.2 With advances in MR technology and acquisition technique, MRN has become a frequently requested advanced imaging modality for the detection of lumbosacral plexopathy and muscles and nonneural structures in the lumbar spine and pelvis.1 , 3

The impact of mixed reality serious games on mortise and tenon learning in college students

As an intangible cultural heritage, traditional handicrafts are significant in artistic education. Due to limited approaches to communicating traditional handicrafts and appreciating content, it cannot be easy to carry out effective skill inheritance in an art education situation in a modern teaching environment. This study uses mixed reality technology to develop a serious game for learning traditional handicrafts. The objective is to improve students' attitudes by promoting a digital teaching environment. This research uses traditional Chinese mortise and tenon joints for the case study. The effects of serious games using MR technology and traditional teaching methods were compared through quasi-experiments on students' academic performance, learning motivation and situational interest. The results show that serious games can have advantages in acquiring and retaining knowledge, stimulating students' learning motivation and situational interest. This study aims to support cultural heritage education methods.

A QUALITATIVE STUDY ABOUT FALSE PERCEPTION STUDENTS TOWARDS THE MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING EQUIPMENT IN RADIOLOGY DEPARTMENT

Introduction-Magnetic resonance imaging has been called the most important development in medical diagnosis since the discovery of the x-ray 100 years ago. It became the most important tools of modern radiology Purpose-The aim of the study is to find out the students false perception towards the magnetic resonance imaging equipment in radiology department. Methodology- A prospective study was conducted by making objective type questionnaire and filled it by the students of paramedical college. Result-At the end of study, following results were observed the studys result revealed several key themes regarding false perceptions of MRI equipment among students.23.04% students expressed fear of radiation exposure. 19.82% students held misconceptions about the potential danger of MRI scan. These misconceptions may arise from a lack of understanding and underlying principles of MR technology.18.43% students think that MRI generates images of the body by emitting sound waves and measuring their echoes. The most common false believe that MRI is only used for bone scan (28.57%). 20.74% students think that MRI can cause cancer.29.49% students have no idea about noise during the MRI scan.38.80% students are not aware about the prohibited items to the MRI room. Conclusion- Comparing courses wise MRI safety knowledge in subjects by using chi-square test It is found statistically significant with p – Value 0.00623, It means course wise MRI safety knowledge were change.Comparing to the others course medical lab technology (MLT) students have better knowledge about MRI equipment.The study did not find any significant differences in false perception of MRI equipment based on age or gender among the students. It implies that age and gender may not be significant factors in shaping these perceptions within this particular group.

Experience and prospects of using virtual reality technologies in medicine

VR/AR technologies make it possible not only to facilitate the work of operating surgeons, but also to make the training of young specialists more effective, because the drawings in the textbook do not provide a complete understanding of the structure of the human body.The purpose of this review is to qualitatively assess the use of VR technologies in medicine, which can be considered from three sides: in teaching students, in the work of doctors, and for the rehabilitation of patients.Materials and methods. An information search was conducted on the resources of eLibrary, PubMed, CyberLeninka over the past 10 years. The keywords were the terms of augmented and virtual reality, as well as a set of keywords for associated comorbidity.Conclusions. In minimally invasive operations, MR technologies can improve the accuracy of surgical intervention, which will increase the likelihood of success of the operation. MR technologies are a more promising area in medicine than VR and AR technologies. Mixed reality technologies can be used in student education, preoperative planning, and during the surgical operation itself. The relative speed of creating an MR image makes it faster and more accurate to make a diagnosis, develop a patient treatment regimen, as well as more efficient and simple communication between doctors and patients

Using mixed reality technique combines multimodal imaging signatures to adjuvant glioma photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) promotes significant tumor regression and extends the lifetime of patients. The actual operation of PDT often relies on the subjective judgment of experienced neurosurgeons. Patients can benefit more from precisely targeting PDT's key operating zones. We used magnetic resonance imaging scans and created 3D digital models of patient anatomy. Multiple images are aligned and merged in STL format. Neurosurgeons use HoloLens to import reconstructions and assist in PDT execution. Also, immunohistochemistry was used to explore the association of hyperperfusion sites in PDT of glioma with patient survival. We constructed satisfactory 3D visualization of glioma models and accurately localized the hyperperfused areas of the tumor. Tumor tissue taken in these areas was rich in CD31, VEGFA and EGFR that were associated with poor prognosis in glioma patients. We report the first study using MR technology combined with PDT in the treatment of glioma. Based on this model, neurosurgeons can focus PDT on the hyperperfused area of the glioma. A direct benefit was expected for the patients in this treatment. Using the Mixed Reality technique combines multimodal imaging signatures to adjuvant glioma PDT can better exploit the vascular sealing effect of PDT on glioma.

Innovative Promotion Technologies: Brand Management in the Digital Environment

As innovative technologies spread, the role of means of interaction with customers in the digital environment is growing. Virtual reality technologies are becoming one of the most promising tools for significantly expanding customer interaction in the context of digital transformation. The purpose of this article is to analyze the brand strategies of the leading companies and show the possibilities of using virtual reality technology and the concept of the metaverse for brand formation and promotion. We also aim to assess the prospects and formulate recommendations on the use of the digital environment in brand management strategies. To achieve the set goal, several tasks were completed. The authors analyzed the experience of using the digital environment for interacting with customers and studied the influence of VR, AR, MR, and XR technologies on brand management. Additionally, the possibilities of using the metaverse concept for brand management was defined. In this work, general scientific theoretical and empirical research methods were applied. The study furthers the theoretical foundations of brand management in the digital environment via innovative branding technologies that support an increase in the competitive performance of companies.

Is mixed reality technology an effective tool for retail? A vividness and interaction perspective

There is increasing interest in studies analyzing the influence of technologies that integrate virtual and real-world components on consumer behavior. These technologies include augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality. Mixed reality is a user environment in which physical reality and digital content are combined in a way that enables interaction with and among real-world and virtual objects. In spite of previous works related with MR and retails spaces, little is known about how consumers respond to MR features and which elements of the MR-based experience, such as vividness and novelty, impact behavior. In this study, we have explored the relative advantage of mixed reality in retail shopping practices over a traditional-based purchase. Implicit reactions of shoppers when interacting with products with and without MR glasses were compared. The results reveal that participants wearing MR glasses exhibited different patterns of interaction (i.e., frequency and interaction with product duration) that differed from those indicated by participants who did not wear the MR technology. At the level of purchase decision, our results show that the use of MR smart glasses has an impact on decision times that relates to a utilitarian purchase type. Based on participants’ explicit answers to questionnaires, the reported findings further show that the perceived hedonic and utilitarian values of the purchase experience were higher when MR was used, which also affected future purchase intentions and perceived emotional state as reported by consumers’ experience and satisfaction in the context of retail.

A mixed-reality stimulator for lumbar puncture training: a pilot study

BackgroundThe simulation is one of the basic methods of medical education, which is often used for procedural skills training. However, the existing simulator lacks internal anatomical landmarks. The study developed a mixed-reality stimulator and evaluated its usability and feasibility in lumbar puncture training.MethodsThe study recruited 40 subjects, including medical students, residents and faulty with varied levels of experience. Before training, participants completed the questionnaire about the basic information and watched a presentation about mixed reality. After practicing on mixed-reality stimulator, which provided internal anatomical structure, the examination was carried out and the results were documented. At the end of the training, trainees completed a survey of MR technology.ResultsIn this study, participants generally believed that the MR technology was very realistic (90%), and that the presentation of internal anatomy could help the operation (95%). Moreover, 72.5% and 75%, respectively, strongly agreed that the MR technology promoted learning and should be used in medical training. After this training, the success rate of puncture and the puncture time were significantly improved in experienced and non-experienced participants.ConclusionThe existing simulator was easy to be transformed into MR simulator. This study showed the usability and feasibility of MR simulator in lumbar puncture training. As a potentially good tool to simulated medical skills training, next, MR technology would be developed and evaluated in more clinical skills teaching scenarios.

Intelligent diagnosis value of preoperative T staging of colorectal cancer based on MR medical imaging.

Colorectal cancer is a common malignant tumor in clinic. With the change of people's diet, living environment and living habits, the incidence of colorectal cancer has risen sharply in recent years, which poses a great threat to people's health and quality of life. This paper aims to investigate the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer and improve the efficiency of clinical diagnosis and treatment. This paper firstly introduces MR Medical imaging technology and related theories of colorectal cancer through literature survey, and then applies MR technology to preoperative T staging of colorectal cancer. 150 patients with colorectal cancer admitted to our hospital every month from January 2019 to January 2020 were used as research objects to carry out the application experiment of MR Medical imaging in the intelligent diagnosis of preoperative T staging of colorectal cancer, and to explore the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and histopathological T staging diagnosis coincidence rate of MR Staging. The final study results showed that there was no statistical significance in the general data of stage T1-2, T3 and T4 patients (p > 0.05); for patients with preoperative T stage of colorectal cancer, the overall diagnosis coincidence rate of MR Was 89.73%, indicating that it was highly consistent with pathological T stage; compared with MR Staging, the overall diagnosis coincidence rate of CT for preoperative T staging of colorectal cancer patients was 86.73%, which was basically consistent with the diagnosis of pathological T staging. At the same time, three different dictionary learning depth techniques are proposed in this study to solve the shortcomings of long MR Scanning time and slow imaging speed. Through performance testing and comparison, it is found that the structural similarity of MR Image reconstructed by depth dictionary method based on convolutional neural network is up to 99.67%, higher than that of analytic dictionary and synthetic dictionary, which proves that it has the best optimization effect on MR Technology. The study indicated the importance of MR Medical imaging in preoperative T staging diagnosis of colorectal cancer and the necessity of its popularization.

Three-dimensional Digital Reconstruction and Application of AR_MR Technology in Medicine

Three-dimensional Digital Reconstruction and Application of AR_MR Technology in Medicine

Characteristics of Mixed Reality Technology and Its Application in Engineering Fields

Mixed reality, or MR, is a technology that incorporates information from real scenes in a virtual environment, allowing the actual and virtual worlds to be linked to enhance the realism of the user experience. With the rapid development of the 5G network and communication technology, MR technology has been used on a larger scale in every industry in the future. This study analyzes its use in engineering and non-engineering domains, discussing its benefits and drawbacks. MR can be used for data sharing and efficient communication, assisting workers in understanding and guiding their operation, and facilitating project management. However, its disadvantages include unreal images, delayed tracking, restricted condition for the environment, unsatisfactory user experience, and high costs. In non-engineering fields, MR is mainly applied to simulation, real-time interaction and so on in the military, medical science and education fields. The application of MR technology in engineering fields is mainly about construction, disaster management, and prevention. It enhances the work efficiency for construction by allowing 3D visualization of concealed or complex structure, and timely annotation. It eliminates risks for disaster management and prevention by conducting simulated drills, and optimizing escape routines.

메타버스 기술 확장과 패션브랜드 콜라보레이션 현황에 관한 연구

This study is to study fashion brand collaboration according to the expansion of metaverse technology. As a theoretical background, the types of metaverse technology were analyzed into four categories, and metaverse platform types implemented according to technological development were classified. The results of analyzing the types of fashion platforms growing through metaverse technology expansion are as follows. First, the game platform type, an early metaverse type, is an MMORPG type. Game users achieve goals through avatars, communicate with users, play games, and target the MZ generation. For fashion brands collaborating with game platforms, VR virtual fashion expands the business by overcoming realistic marketing limitations and merging real and virtual products beyond simple games. Second, the community platform type combines group play and cultural activities with social media games. It is being used as a space to build a brand identity for the MZ generation by providing fashion shows and virtual store experiences to users through fashion shows and virtual store experiences through collaboration with the metaverse platform and item creation through avatars. Third, the collaborative business platform is a service that supports video conferencing and multi-collaboration and is based on the development of AR, VR, MR, XR, and 3D design technology according to the development of metaverse technology. It is a representative type that suggests the direction of the future fashion platform as a meta-commerce platform that provides a shopping experience without time and space restrictions through collaboration with fashion brands based on delicate meta technology and connects with actual purchases. This study is meaningful in that it analyzes the impact of the convergence of metaverse technology and fashion brands on the development of the fashion industry and suggests the direction of future fashion platform implementation. It is expected that further studies on changes and future values will follow.