MRI Robot - Potential Uses

Potential Uses

MRI robots have many potential uses. These would include brachytherapy, biopsy, neuroscience research and tumor removal. One type of tumor removal that would greatly benefit from MRI robots would be brain tumor removal. Brain tumors are extremely difficult to remove. There is also the potential to not completely remove the tumor. By using real-time imaging, the whole brain tumor would have a greater chance of being removed.

Within neuroscience, MRI robots could be used to help better understand if a stroke victim will be responsive to robot-aided rehabilitation and other rehabilitation methodologies. Using functional MRI (fMRI) or other forms of functional neuroimaging methods, researchers can monitor and notice changes in functional connectivity within the brain. When using fMRI, a MRI robot would be used to help mimic everyday tasks such as shoulder and elbow movement.

Another area where MRI robots could be extremely helpful is in prostate biopsies. Currently, most prostate biopsies are performed using transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). However, approximately 20% of people with prostate cancer who have a biopsy done with TRUS will be told they do not have cancer. One issue with TRUS is that it is unable to differentiate between healthy and cancerous cells. Differentiating between cell types is one of the advantages of MRI. Thus, an MRI robot used for prostate biopsies would assist in correctly diagnosing prostate cancer.