Patent ID: 11921183
Assignee: KING'S COLLEGE LONDON
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  A | IPC A  G

Claim 19:
20. A method of providing controlled and non-distorted oscillating stress to a subject under Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) assessment, the method comprising the steps:
attaching a container having a first rotationally mounted eccentric mass arranged to rotate therein to the subject, the container having at least one outer surface that, in use, transmits vibrations to the subject, a flexible drive shaft being functionally connected to the rotationally mounted eccentric mass and arranged to impart rotational energy to the rotationally mounted eccentric mass, wherein the rotationally mounted eccentric mass, the container, and the flexible drive shaft are made from MR compatible material, and wherein the flexible drive shaft comprises a flexible rotating core within a flexible non-rotating sheath;
rotationally driving the flexible drive shaft with a non-MR compatible motor to impart rotational energy to the rotationally mounted eccentric mass and thereby generate non-distorted vibrations that are transmitted by the outer surface of the container to the subject, the non-MR compatible motor being located outside an MR operating area when an MR compatible transducer is in use;
determining the rotational position of the rotationally mounted eccentric mass about its rotational axis; and
maintaining and matching a phase of the vibrations between subsequent uses of the MR compatible transducer.