The authors of the solution are Assoc. Prof. Bartłomiej Stasiak, Assoc. Prof. Adam Wojciechowski, and Dr Arkadiusz Tomczyk. Children at the Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute in Lodz can enjoy games while undergoing MRI examinations.
During an examination using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), it is necessary for the patient to perform a set activity for a set period of time and at a set rhythm (the stimuli evoked in the brain by these activities are analysed). Unfortunately, such an examination become difficult in the case of children, who are unable to repeat the pre-set movements with sufficient concentration. This excludes younger children from this type of diagnosis.
Thanks to a solution by computer scientists from Lodz University of Technology, children receive a manometric pear (in the form of a rubber toy) and a remote-control activity console during diagnosis. This makes it easier for the diagnosticians to carry out the examination and reduces stress for the young patients.