Reducing Patient Movement in MRI: A Case Study

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.