Valentina Edelman

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a highly informative diagnostic method; however, its quality heavily depends on the patient’s immobility. Even minimal movements, such as breathing, can cause artifacts that complicate image interpretation, not to mention more significant movements, such as twitching or shivering. Given the high cost of the procedure, repeated scanning is undesirable. The aim of this study was to prepare patients for MRI procedures using specialized training software designed to minimize involuntary movements and improve diagnostic quality. The software tracked participants’ movements in an MRI simulator and reproduced characteristic scanning sounds. The Farnebäck optical flow algorithm detected even the slightest movements captured by the camera, allowing for the evaluation of movements during training sessions and improving patient readiness for actual scanning. A pilot study conducted on a group of 10 students aged 21–27 years demonstrated a significant reduction in the average number of movements during testing—from 27.7 in the first test to 8.3 in the second, corresponding to an average decrease of 19.4 movements. Additionally, two participants showed a noticeable reduction in anxiety levels after the first test, which likely contributed to the decrease in movements, emphasizing the importance of psychological preparation in enhancing training effectiveness. The study results suggest potential improvements in the quality of diagnostic images, which can increase their diagnostic value and enhance patient comfort during actual scanning, reducing the likelihood of repeated procedures.

The aim of this study is to prepare patients for MRI procedures using a specialized training application. The software tracks participants’ movements within the MRI simulator and reproduces sounds characteristic of the scan. The Farneback optical flow algorithm detects even the slightest movements captured by the camera, allowing for movement assessment during the training session and enhancing patient readiness for real scanning. The project is aimed at reducing the likelihood of involuntary movements during scanning. For this purpose, specialized software and a simulator are used to provide effective preparation for the MRI diagnostic procedure. A pilot study was conducted on a group of 10 students aged 21 to 27. The findings reveal a significant reduction in the average of movements during testing, decreasing from 27.7 movements in the first test to 8.3 movements in the second test, representing an average reduction of 19.4 movements. Furthermore, two participants exhibited a notable decrease in self-reported anxiety levels after the first test.

The aim of this study is to prepare children and adults for real magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedures using specialized training application. The software, designed to track movements and reproduce the characteristic sounds of the procedure, uses the Farneback optical flow algorithm to precisely detect even the slightest movements of participants. This allows for an assessment of the movements during an MRI scan training session in order to improve the patient's performance in real-life scanning. Our study demonstrates that simulator training improved participants' understanding of the procedure. Following the training, 40% of participants showed a decrease in the number of detected movements compared to the baseline test, and 33% of participants did not exhibit any movements in the subsequent test. These results demonstrate that the suggested training can effectively prepare patients for the MRI procedure.