A wearable bluetooth LE sensor for patient monitoring during MRI scans.

Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference · 2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 2885

Study snapshot

PublicationAnnual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference · 2016

Study typeengineering

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

This paper presents a working prototype of a wearable patient monitoring device capable of recording the heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, surface temperature and humidity during an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiment. The measured values are transmitted via Bluetooth low energy (LE) and displayed in real time on a smartphone on the outside of the MRI room. During 7 MRI image acquisitions of at least 1 min and a total duration of 25 min no Bluetooth data packets were lost. The raw measurements of the light intensity for the photoplethysmogram based heart rate measurement shows an increased noise floor by 50LSB (least significant bit) during the MRI operation, whereas the temperature and humidity readings are unaffected. The device itself creates a magnetic resonance (MR) signal loss with a radius of 14 mm around the device surface and shows no significant increase in image noise of an acquired MRI image due to its radio frequency activity. This enables continuous and unobtrusive patient monitoring during MRI scans.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeengineering

Effect directionmixed

PopulationNot supplied

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF · 7 MRI image acquisitions of at least 1 min; total duration 25 min

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In 7 MRI image acquisitions (total 25 min), no Bluetooth data packets were lost. Photoplethysmogram light-intensity raw measurements showed an increased noise floor by 50 LSB during MRI operation, while temperature and humidity readings were unaffected. The device caused MR signal loss with a 14 mm radius around its surface and showed no significant increase in MRI image noise attributable to its RF activity.

Outcomes measured

Bluetooth data packet loss during MRI
Noise floor of photoplethysmogram (light intensity) during MRI operation
Temperature and humidity sensor readings during MRI
MRI signal loss/artifact radius around device
MRI image noise due to device radio frequency activity

Limitations

No human participant population described in the abstract
Sample size for subjects not reported
Exposure parameters (e.g., Bluetooth frequency, RF power/SAR, MRI field strength) not reported
Short total test duration (25 min)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "engineering",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "bluetooth LE wearable device during MRI",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "7 MRI image acquisitions of at least 1 min; total duration 25 min"
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Bluetooth data packet loss during MRI",
    "Noise floor of photoplethysmogram (light intensity) during MRI operation",
    "Temperature and humidity sensor readings during MRI",
    "MRI signal loss/artifact radius around device",
    "MRI image noise due to device radio frequency activity"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In 7 MRI image acquisitions (total 25 min), no Bluetooth data packets were lost. Photoplethysmogram light-intensity raw measurements showed an increased noise floor by 50 LSB during MRI operation, while temperature and humidity readings were unaffected. The device caused MR signal loss with a 14 mm radius around its surface and showed no significant increase in MRI image noise attributable to its RF activity.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "No human participant population described in the abstract",
    "Sample size for subjects not reported",
    "Exposure parameters (e.g., Bluetooth frequency, RF power/SAR, MRI field strength) not reported",
    "Short total test duration (25 min)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "Bluetooth low energy",
    "wearable sensor",
    "patient monitoring",
    "MRI compatibility",
    "photoplethysmogram",
    "heart rate",
    "SpO2",
    "temperature",
    "humidity",
    "RF activity",
    "MRI artifact"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "medical-mri",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Wearable Bluetooth LE device tested for operation and imaging artifacts during MRI scans."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1109/embc.2016.7591844
PubMed: 28269385

Read the original paper →

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