MR-compatible, 3.8 inch dual organic light-emitting diode (OLED) in-bore display for functional MRI

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 13; no. 10; p. e0205325
• Main Authors: Ko, YunKyoung, Yun, Seong Dae, Hong, Suk-Min, Ha, Yonghyun, Choi, Chang-Hoon, Shah, N. Jon, Felder, Jörg
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 11.10.2018; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Batteries; Biology and Life Sciences; Brain; Brain mapping; Color; Compatibility; Computer and Information Sciences; Converters; Emission analysis; Emission measurements; Emissions; Engineering and Technology; Functional magnetic resonance imaging; Image contrast; Liquid crystal displays; Low noise; Magnetic resonance imaging; Magnetic shielding; Medical imaging; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine and Health Sciences; Neurosciences; NMR; Noise; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Organic light emitting diodes; Oxygen; Paradigms; Perceptions; Physical Sciences; Projectors; Quantum dots; Research and Analysis Methods; Screens; Sensory stimulation; Tidal bores; Visual signals; Visual stimuli; Germany
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205325

Functional MRI (fMRI) is a well-established method used to investigate localised brain activation by virtue of the blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) effect. It often relies on visual presentations using beam projectors, liquid crystal display (LCD) screens, and goggle systems. In this study, we designed an MR compatible, low-cost display unit based on organic light-emitting diodes (OLED) and demonstrated its performance. A 3.8" dual OLED module and an MIPI-to-HDMI converter board were used. The OLED module was enclosed using a shielded box to prevent noise emission from the display module and the potentially destructive absorption of high power RF from the MRI transmit pulses. The front of the OLED module was covered by a conductive, transparent mesh. Power was supplied from a non-magnetic battery. The shielding of the display was evaluated by directly measuring the electromagnetic emission with the aid of a pickup loop and a low noise amplifier, as well as by examining the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of phantom MRI data. The visual angle of the display was calculated and compared to standard solutions. As a proof of concept of the OLED display for fMRI, a healthy volunteer was presented with a visual block paradigm. The OLED unit was successfully installed inside a 3 T MRI scanner bore. Operation of the OLED unit did not degrade the SNR of the phantom images. The fMRI data suggest that visual stimulation can be effectively delivered to subjects with the proposed OLED unit without any significant interference between the MRI acquisitions and the display module itself. We have constructed and evaluated the MR compatible, dual OLED display for fMRI studies. The proposed OLED display provides the benefits of high resolution, wide visual angle, and high contrast video images during fMRI exams.