Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Other

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The General Hospital Corporation

Daniel Merfeld

Steven D Rauch

Conrad Wall, Iii

Wangsong Gong

Csilla Haburcakova

Richard Terry

Faisal Karmali

Marc Steven Weinberg

Jerome L Ackerman

Koeun Lim

Adrian Priesol

Shomesh Ernesto Chaudhuri

Richard Lewis

Michael Saginaw

A magnetic resonance imaging ('MRI') system that can be operated while a subject performs, experiences, or otherwise undergoes naturalistic motion. This movable MRI ('mMRI') system includes a magnet whose position and orientation can be changed while the subject is moving, such that the magnet and subject maintain a substantially fixed spatial relationship relative to each other.

Systems and methods for moving magnetic resonance imaging

The methods, systems, and computer program products described herein enable the amount of information that can be acquired during a defined period of vestibular testing to be significantly increased while also significantly reducing the time required to collect data during such vestibular testing. These objects are achieved by intelligent data collection methods and systems configured to adaptively control a motion platform in a way that increases the amount of information gleaned from each data collection event and to achieve synergies based on the different types of, and the order of, data analysis and calibration methods used.

Data collection for vestibulogram construction

A method for predicting whether a patient is afflicted by a vestibular disorder includes assaying vestibular noise; identifying a characteristic of the vestibular noise; and at least in part on the basis of the characteristic of the vestibular noise, providing information for predicting that a patient has a vestibular disorder.

Detection of vestibular disorders based on vestibular noise

A method for providing relief from Meniere's disease, includes reversibly disabling vestibular function following detection of an attack of Meniere's disease following detection of an attack of Meniere's disease.

Vestibular stimulator

Methods and systems, including computer readable mediums, are provided for transforming a measurement made relative to a first reference frame into a corresponding measurement relative to a second reference frame. Sensor signals that are produced by sensors in response to the sensors' motion relative to the first reference frame are transformed using a transformation matrix. The transformation generates corrected sensor signals that are relative to the axes of the second reference frame.

Sensor signal alignment

An apparatus to reduce the sensitivity of the vestibular system to stimulation. The apparatus comprises a plugging device configured to constrain the movement of endolymph fluid within a semicircular canal, and a control module coupled to the plugging device that causes the plugging device to maintain a set actuated position.

Vestibular canal plug

An apparatus to stimulate the vestibular system of an individual. The apparatus comprises an optical stimulator configured to optically stimulate a nerve area affecting a person's balance, and a control module coupled to the optical stimulator, the control module being configured to control the optical stimulator.

Optical vestibular stimulator

An apparatus for stimulating the vestibular system includes an actuator disposed to interact with the vestibular nerve and a controller for causing the actuator to interact with the vestibular nerve. The result of the interaction is that the brain receives a stationary signal.

A method for assessing vestibular system function includes stimulating the inner ear with an audible range signal; collecting data representative of audible range ocular motion; and on the basis of the data, evaluating vestibular system function.

Audible range oculocometry for assessment of vestibular function

An apparatus to stimulate the vestibular system of an individual. The apparatus comprises an actuator configured to mechanically stimulate a semicircular canal, and a control module coupled to the actuator that controls the actuator in response to motion information associated with the individual.

Mechanical vestibular stimulator

Method for optical stimulation of the vestibular system

A wearable balance prosthesis provides a information indicative of a wearer's spatial orientation. The balance prosthesis includes an motion sensing system to be worn by the wearer and a signal processor in communication with the motion sensing system. The signal processor provides an orientation signal to an encoder. The encoder generates a feedback signal on the basis of the estimate of the spatial orientation provides that signal to a stimulator coupled to the wearer's nervous system.

Growing community of inventors

Lincoln, MA, United States of America

Daniel Merfeld