Optical System Enables Communication During MRI procedures

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An optical communication system enables doctors to work smoothly and quietly during interventional magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) environments, speaking freely with both technicians and patients.

The Optoacoustics Interventional MR Optical Communication (IMROC) system is a non-ferromagnetic communication system based on specialized transducers and fiberoptic headphones, which stay clear of the MRI B-field. The system supports up to eight concurrent dialogs, eliminating gradient noise and providing enhanced voice quality. The IMROC system acoustic transducers were developed specifically for high-field MRI environments, and the system also integrates state-of-the-art digital signal processing and lightweight fiber optical headphones. Multichannel adaptive noise reduction and echo cancellation, together with full duplex communications, allow continuous contact between the MRI scanner and the control rooms.

The system is composed of fiberoptic headsets equipped with slim ear defenders and a fiberoptic MRI (FOMRI) II microphone with real time adaptive noise canceling and a self-hearing feature. An optical switching unit, which is worn by each staff member, enables instant control. The main control unit is composed of an electro-optical unit and a mixing and control console that enables six-channel communications management from the control room, providing stereo sound via an integrated MP4 stereo entertainment system to make patient comfort complete. The IMROC system is a product of Optoacoustics (Or Yehuda, Israel).

“We’ve used this communication system in 100% of the cases performed using interventional MRI,” said Kamran Ahrar, M.D., lead interventional radiologist at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC; Houston, TX, USA).

Interventional MRI procedures, where the surgeon or radiologist is located at the operating gantry, often require creative communication skills with the technicians in the control room. The problem is that one cannot use conventional headsets because of the magnetic field, which not only interferes with the electronic circuits, but can also present a danger by sucking the headphones into the tunnel. In addition, the MRI machine itself can be quite noisy.