Pressure tactile stimulation system compatible with magnetic resonance

Abstract

The utility model discloses a pressure tactile stimulation system compatible with magnetic resonance. The pressure tactile stimulation system comprises a main control module, a pressure generation module and a pressure stimulation module, the master control module is responsible for overall control and feedback adjustment of the system and comprises an FPGA and a solid-state relay connected with the FPGA. The pressure generating and adjusting module is used for generating and adjusting air pressure and comprises an air pump, a flow meter, a three-way adjusting valve and a pressure sensor which are connected in sequence; the pressure stimulation module is used for converting air pressure into physical pressure stimulation and applying the physical pressure stimulation to the skin of a testee and comprises an air bag, and a flexible air supply pipe is connected to the air bag. According to the utility model, rapid arrangement in different magnetic resonance sites can be realized, and functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment requirements with high time resolution can be satisfied.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to functional magnetic resonance imaging task experiment technical field especially, it relates to a magnetic resonance compatible pressure haptics stimulation system. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the rise of high temporal resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technology, researchers need a system that can provide precise pressure stimulation in high magnetic field environments. Such a system not only needs to have low latency and high control accuracy, but also needs to be able to adapt to different experimental conditions, including various fMRI experimental designs and patient conditions. Especially in the study of neural responses and brain functional network connections caused by haptic stimulation, such a system can provide more abundant research data and analysis possibilities. In neuroscience research, pressure stimulation is one of the important means to explore the functions of sensory and motor systems. By applying precise pressure stimulation, researchers can observe the responses of different brain regions to haptic input and thus understand the working mechanism of the sensory cortex and related neural networks. However, applying pressure stimulation in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment has the problems of inconvenient device installation and inability to meet high temporal resolution requirements. SUMMARY

[0003] In order to solve the problems of inconvenient installation of mechanical pressure stimulation devices in existing functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments and inability to meet high temporal resolution experimental requirements and inability to fine-tune stimulation paradigms, the utility model provides a magnetic resonance compatible pressure haptics stimulation system to solve the above problems.

[0004] The application discloses a magnetic resonance compatible pressure haptics stimulation system, which comprises a main control module, a pressure generation module and a pressure stimulation module.

[0005] The main control module is responsible for the overall control and feedback adjustment of the system, including an FPGA and a solid-state relay connected to the FPGA.

[0006] The pressure generation and adjustment module is used to generate and adjust air pressure, and comprises a gas pump, a flow meter, a three-way regulating valve and a pressure sensor connected in sequence.

[0007] The pressure stimulation module is used to convert air pressure into physical pressure stimulation and apply it to the skin of the subject, and comprises an air bag, a flexible air supply pipe and an air path quick connector, wherein the air bag and the flexible air supply pipe are connected through the air path quick connector.

[0008] The solid-state relay is connected with the gas pump and the three-way regulating valve respectively, the flow meter is connected with the FPGA, and the pressure sensor is connected with the FPGA.

[0009] Preferably, the FPGA model is AMD Xilinx 7020.

[0010] Preferably, the master module and the pressure generating module are located in a magnetic resonance control room, the FPGA (101) of the master module is connected with the flow meter (202) and the pressure sensor (204) of the pressure generating module through IIC serial lines, and the solid-state relay (102) of the master module is connected with the air pump (201) and the three-way regulating valve (203) of the pressure generating module through control signal lines.

[0011] Preferably, the pressure stimulation module is located in a magnetic resonance scanning room and directly contacts the human body to provide pressure stimulation.

[0012] Preferably, the three-way regulating valve is used for adjusting the air flow rate and flow in the air path, and the three passages are connected to the flow meter, the pressure sensor and the gas outlet, respectively.

[0013] Preferably, the flexible air supply pipe (302) is made of polyurethane material.

[0014] Preferably, the magnetic resonance compatible pressure haptic stimulation system further comprises a stimulation fixing module, the stimulation fixing module comprises a wearable fabric bandage, a webbing grid is arranged on the inner side of the fabric bandage, and a magic tape is arranged on the outer side of one end of the fabric bandage.

[0015] Preferably, a plurality of webbing grids are arranged, and the air bag can be placed in any webbing grid, so that the pressure change of the air bag provides haptic pressure stimulation for a specific point.

[0016] The magnetic resonance compatible pressure haptic stimulation system has the following beneficial effects:

[0017] (1) The assembly is flexible and easy to install, and can be quickly arranged in different magnetic resonance sites.

[0018] (2) The pneumatic device is used to drive mechanical components to realize stimulation through air pressure change, and the innovative air path design and the low-delay air valve actuator can meet the functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment demand in response speed and control precision.

[0019] (3) The pressure sensor and the flow meter are used to monitor the pressure and flow of the gas in the air path in real time, and the master module is used to realize closed-loop air pressure regulation, different stimulation pressures and working modes can be set to meet the customization demand in the functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 The magnetic resonance compatible pressure haptic stimulation system is a schematic diagram of the embodiment of the utility model.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the pressure generation module structure according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the pressure stimulation module structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the stimulation fixation module structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] The attached figures are labeled as follows:

[0025] 101-FPGA, 102-Solid State Relay, 201-Air Pump, 202-Flow Meter, 203-Three-Way Regulating Valve, 204-Pressure Sensor, 301-Airbag, 302-Flexible Air Delivery Tube, 303-Quick Connector for Air Path, 401-Fabric Strap, 402-Webbing Mesh, 403-Hook and Velcro. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0027] This application discloses a magnetic resonance-compatible pressure-tactile stimulation system, such as... Figure 1 As shown in the diagram, white arrows indicate electrical connections for serial ports, black arrows indicate electrical connections for control signals, and gray arrows indicate gas path connections and gas flow direction. The system includes a main control module, a pressure generation module, and a pressure stimulation module. The main control module and pressure generation module are located in the MRI control room and are connected via control signal lines and an IIC serial port. The pressure stimulation module is located in the MRI scanning room and comes into direct contact with the human body, providing pressure stimulation.

[0028] The master control module is responsible for the overall control and feedback regulation of the system, including the FPGA 101 and the solid-state relay 102 connected to the FPGA 101. In a specific embodiment, the FPGA 101 uses a model number AMD Xilinx 7020 FPGA to implement the operating logic and closed-loop feedback control of each component of the pressure generation and regulation module. The solid-state relay 102 uses a high-speed relay based on MOSFET, which can respond to control signals within 1 ms, ensuring low latency characteristics. The solid-state relay 102 is connected to the air pump 201 and the three-way regulating valve 203, respectively, and the solid-state relay 102 controls the switching of the air pump 201 and the three-way regulating valve 203 to achieve rapid adjustment of air flow and pressure. In addition, the master control module is provided with a BNC interface, which can receive a trigger signal from a magnetic resonance scanner at the start of an experimental scan, and respond to the pressure stimulus generated by the pressure generation module according to the experimental design, adapting to block design-based functional magnetic resonance imaging experiments.

[0029] The pressure generation module is used to generate and regulate air pressure, as shown in Figure 2 The pressure generation module is used to generate and regulate air pressure, as shown in

[0030] The solid-state relay 102 is connected to the air pump 201 through a control signal line, and the working state of the air pump 201 is controlled by the master control module through the solid-state relay 102, which is started at the beginning to provide stable air flow and pressure to the air path. The flow meter 202 is used to monitor the air flow rate output by the air pump 201 to ensure that the air pump 201 is working normally and providing stable air pressure. The flow meter 202 is connected to the FPGA 101 through an IIC serial line to feed back the real-time detection air flow data to the master control module, which adjusts the output of the air pump accordingly to maintain the target pressure. The three-way regulating valve 203 is used to adjust the air flow rate and flow in the air path, and is connected to the solid-state relay 102 through a control signal line. Its three passages are connected to the flow meter 202, the pressure sensor 204 and the gas exhaust outlet, respectively. In the normal working mode, the three-way regulating valve 203 connects the flow meter 202 and the pressure sensor 204 passages to realize closed-loop pressure control; when the air pressure needs to be reduced, the regulating valve switches to the gas exhaust outlet to release excess gas. The pressure sensor 204 is used to detect the pressure change in the air path in real time, and the pressure sensor 204 is connected to the FPGA 101 through an IIC serial line to convert the pressure data into a digital signal and feed back to the master control module. The master control module dynamically adjusts the working state of the air pump 201 and the three-way regulating valve 203 according to the feedback signal of the pressure sensor to ensure that the air path pressure is stable at the set target value.

[0031] The pressure stimulation module is used to convert air pressure into physical pressure stimulation that is applied to the subject's skin, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the system includes an airbag 301, a flexible air delivery tube 302, and a quick-connect airway connector 303. The airbag 301 and the flexible air delivery tube 302 are connected via the quick-connect airway connector 303. The airbag 301 can change its height according to changes in air pressure. The expansion and contraction of the airbag 301 converts air pressure into corresponding tactile pressure stimulation. The flexible air delivery tube 302 is also connected to the pressure sensor 204 via the quick-connect airway connector 303, allowing for quick connection, arrangement, and replacement of the airway, and ensuring the stability and flexibility of airflow transmission. In one specific embodiment, the flexible air delivery tube 302 has inner and outer diameters of 8 mm and 12 mm, respectively, and is made of polyurethane (PU) material. The main advantage of using a PU-made flexible air delivery tube 302 for gas transmission is its excellent pressure resistance and abrasion resistance. PU material has strong tensile and bending resistance, enabling it to maintain its integrity and flexibility in complex experimental environments. Furthermore, the PU material exhibits extremely low ductility and deformation, ensuring that the gas pressure within the pipeline does not change significantly when transmitting gas at a specified pressure, thus guaranteeing that the final delivered gas pressure matches the initial pressure measured by the pressure sensor. Additionally, the extremely smooth inner surface of the PU tube reduces friction and viscosity effects during airflow. According to laminar flow theory in fluid mechanics, the smooth inner wall maintains smooth airflow, avoids turbulence, and minimizes pressure loss during gas flow. Moreover, the flexible air delivery tube 302, made of flexible material, ensures convenient and quick installation and placement in various locations.

[0032] Based on the above embodiments, one embodiment proposes a stimulation fixation module for fixing and adjusting the position of the airbag 301 in the pressure stimulation module. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the stimulation fixation module includes a wearable fabric strap 401. The inner side of the fabric strap 401 has a webbing mesh 402, and one end of the fabric strap 401 has a Velcro 403 on its outer side. Multiple webbing meshes 402 are provided, and an airbag 301 can be placed in any of them, allowing pressure changes from the airbag 301 to provide tactile pressure stimulation to specific locations. The Velcro 403 allows for fixation and adjustment when the strap is wrapped around the stimulation area. The strap comes in different sizes and lengths, allowing for selection of appropriate sizes for different stimulation areas such as the hand, arm, and lower limb.

[0033] In one specific embodiment, the workflow of the magnetic resonance-compatible pressure tactile stimulation system disclosed in this application is as follows:

[0034] At the beginning, the master module starts the air pump 201 through the solid-state relay 102, and the air pump 201 delivers air to the air path at a flow rate of 20 L / min and a pressure of 130 KPa. The flow meter 202 monitors the air flow rate output by the air pump in real time, ensuring that the air pump 201 is working normally and that the air path pressure is stable. The air enters the pressure sensor 204 through the three-way regulating valve 203 and finally reaches the air bag 301 of the pressure stimulation module. The pressure sensor 204 continuously monitors the pressure changes in the air path and converts these changes into digital signals transmitted to the master module. When the pressure sensor 204 detects that the pressure reaches the specified stimulation pressure, the three-way regulating valve 203 adjusts to reduce the air flow in the air path entering the pressure sensor 204, and when the pressure sensor 204 detects that the pressure is insufficient for the target pressure, the three-way regulating valve 203 increases the air flow to quickly reach the target pressure. The control of the system for the presented target pressure is realized by the PID control of the FPGA 101 to regulate the flow of gas in the air path. When the system is working or needs to reduce the pressure, the three-way regulating valve 203 switches the path to open the path connected to the gas exhaust outlet, releasing excess gas to reduce the air pressure and ensure system safety. Different pressure stimulation experiments can be set in the FPGA of the master module to set the corresponding pressure control logic.

[0035] All components located in the magnetic resonance scanning room in the embodiments of the application are made of non-ferromagnetic materials and non-metallic materials, avoiding potential safety risks and image quality effects in a strong magnetic environment. At the same time, the system adopts a pneumatic driving mode, which drives mechanical components to realize pressure stimulation through air pressure changes, ensuring the compatibility and safety of the device in a strong magnetic field environment.

[0036] The basic principles and main features of the present application and the advantages of the present application are shown and described above. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present application is not limited by the above embodiments, and the above embodiments and descriptions in the specification are only to illustrate the principles of the present application. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application, various changes and improvements can be made to the present application, and these changes and improvements all fall within the scope of the claimed present application. The scope of protection of the present application is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A magnetic resonance-compatible pressure-tactile stimulation system, characterized in that, It includes a main control module, a pressure generation module, and a pressure stimulation module; The main control module is responsible for the overall control and feedback adjustment of the system, including FPGA (101) and solid-state relay (102) connected to FPGA (101). The pressure generation and regulation module is used to generate and regulate air pressure, including an air pump (201), a flow meter (202), a three-way regulating valve (203), and a pressure sensor (204) connected in sequence. The pressure stimulation module is used to convert air pressure into physical pressure stimulation and apply it to the skin of the subject. It includes an airbag (301), a flexible air delivery tube (302), and a quick-connect airway connector (303). The airbag (301) and the flexible air delivery tube (302) are connected by the quick-connect airway connector (303). The solid-state relay (102) is connected to the air pump (201) and the three-way regulating valve (203) respectively. The flow meter (202) is connected to the FPGA (101). The pressure sensor (204) is connected to the FPGA (101).

2. The magnetic resonance-compatible pressure-tactile stimulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The FPGA (101) is an AMD Xilinx 7020.

3. The magnetic resonance-compatible pressure-tactile stimulation system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The main control module and pressure generation module are located in the magnetic resonance control room. The FPGA (101) is connected to the flow meter (202) and pressure sensor (204) through the IIC serial port line. The solid-state relay (102) is connected to the air pump (201) and three-way regulating valve (203) through the control signal line.

4. The magnetic resonance-compatible pressure-tactile stimulation system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The pressure stimulation module is located in the magnetic resonance scanning chamber and comes into direct contact with the human body to provide pressure stimulation.

5. The magnetic resonance-compatible pressure-tactile stimulation system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The three-way regulating valve (203) is used to regulate the air velocity and flow rate in the gas path. The three passages of the three-way regulating valve (203) are respectively connected to the flow meter (202), the pressure sensor (204) and the gas outlet.

6. The magnetic resonance-compatible pressure-tactile stimulation system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The flexible air delivery pipe (302) is made of polyurethane material.

7. The magnetic resonance-compatible pressure-tactile stimulation system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The magnetic resonance compatible pressure tactile stimulation system also includes a stimulation fixation module, which includes a wearable fabric strap (401), with a webbing mesh (402) on the inner side of the fabric strap (401) and a Velcro (403) on the outer side of one end of the fabric strap (401).

8. The magnetic resonance-compatible pressure-tactile stimulation system according to claim 7, characterized in that, Multiple webbing grids (402) are provided, and the airbag (301) can be placed in any webbing grid (402) so that the pressure change emitted by the airbag (301) provides tactile pressure stimulation to a specific location.

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