Development of a simple MR-compatible vibrotactile stimulator using a planar-coil-type actuator

Hyung Sik Kim, Mi Hyun Choi, Yoon Gi Chung, Sung Phil Kim, Jae Hoon Jun, Jang Yeon Park, Jeong Han Yi, Jong Rak Park, Dae Woon Lim, Soon Cheol Chung

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

For this study, we developed a magnetic resonance (MR)-compatible vibrotactile stimulator using a planar-coil-type actuator. The newly developed vibrotactile stimulator consists of three units: control unit, drive unit, and planar-coil-type actuator. The control unit controls frequency, intensity, time, and channel, and transfers the stimulation signals to the drive unit. The drive unit operates the planar-coil-type actuator in response to commands from the control unit. The planar-coil-type actuator, which uses a planar coil instead of conventional electric wire, generates vibrating stimulation through interaction of the current of the planar coil with the static magnetic field of the MR scanner. Even though the developed tactile stimulating system is small, simple, and inexpensive, it has a wide range of stimulation frequencies (20 ~ 400 Hz, at 40 levels) and stimulation intensities (0 ~ 7 V, at 256 levels). The stimulation intensity does not change due to frequency changes. Since the transient response time is a few microseconds, the stimulation time can be controlled on a scale of microseconds. In addition, this actuator has the advantages of providing highly repeatable stimulation, being durable, being able to assume various shapes, and having an adjustable contact area with the skin. The new stimulator operated stably in an MR environment without affecting the MR images. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we observed the brain activation changes resulting from stimulation frequency and intensity changes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)364-371
Number of pages8
JournalBehavior Research Methods
Volume45
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2013

Keywords

  • Electromagnetic
  • MR-compatible
  • Planar-coil-type actuator
  • Vibrotactile stimulator

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