TY  - CONF
SN  - 1-4244-0032-5
AV  - none
M2  - New York
ID  - eprints3479
N2  - In this paper we propose an MR (magnetic resonance) compatible electrocutaneous stimulator able to inject an electric current, variable in amplitude and frequency, into the fingertips in order to elicit tactile skin receptors (mechanoreceptors). The desired goal is to evoke specific tactile sensations selectively stimulating skin receptors by means of an electric current in place of mechanical stimuli. The field of application ranges from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) tactile studies to augmented reality technology. The device here proposed is designed using safety criteria in order to comply with the threshold of voltage and current permitted by regulations. Moreover, MR safety and compatibility criteria were considered in order to perform experiments inside the MR scanner during an fMRI acquisition for functional brain activation analysis. Psychophysical laboratory tests are performed in order to define the different evoked tactile sensation. After verifying the device MR safety and compatibility on a phantom, a test on a human subject during fMRI acquisition is performed to visualize the brain areas activated by the simulated tactile sensation.
Y1  - 2006///
T2  - EMBS Annual International Conference
UR  - http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=4461928
A1  - Hartwig, Valentina
A1  - Cappelli, Claudia
A1  - Vanello, Nicola
A1  - Ricciardi, Emiliano
A1  - Scilingo, Enzo Pasquale
A1  - Giovannetti, Giulio
A1  - Santarelli, Maria Filomena
A1  - Positano, Vincenzo
A1  - Pietrini, Pietro
A1  - Landini, Luigi
A1  - Bicchi, Antonio
TI  - A compatible electrocutaneous display for functional magnetic resonance imaging application
ER  -