Reducing unwanted nerve stimulation during MRI scans
Mitigation of peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) in MRI
Creating MRI hardware and real-time monitoring to cut down the tingling or muscle twitches people can feel during scans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11359742 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project designs new MRI gradient coils that produce weaker nerve-activating electric fields while keeping image quality high. Researchers use computer models of human anatomy and nerve responses plus lab testing to predict when stimulation will occur. They are expanding their models to cover more body sizes and scan locations and building real-time monitoring to detect nerve activation during a scan. The work aims to move prototype coils and monitoring tools into clinical MRI systems at hospitals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who experience tingling, muscle twitches, or discomfort during MRI, or those needing fast cardiac, brain, spine, or body MRI sequences, would be the most likely candidates for testing these improvements.
Not a fit: Patients who never feel nerve sensations during MRI or whose imaging does not use fast switching gradient sequences may not notice a benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, scans could be faster and more comfortable because technicians could use quicker imaging settings without causing nerve sensations.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work by these investigators produced validated models and prototype coil designs that reduced PNS in lab tests, but broader clinical use and real-time monitoring are still being developed.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Guerin, Bastien — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Guerin, Bastien
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.