Title :
Evaluation of Electrorheological Fluid Dampers for Applications at 3-T MRI Environment
Author :
Khanicheh, Azadeh ; Mintzopoulos, Dionyssios ; Weinberg, Brian ; Tzika, A. Aria ; Mavroidis, Constantinos
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Mech. & Ind. Eng., Northeastern Univ., Boston, MA
fDate :
6/1/2008 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
This paper evaluates the use of electrorheological fluids (ERFs) within a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment. ERF is a semiactive variable impedance material, which could be used as an alternative type of resistive force/torque generation or in combination with other actuators as a damper/clutch to modulate the output force/torque of the actuator. In this paper, an ERF damper/brake is introduced and its magnetic resonance (MR) compatibility is examined at a 3-T MR imaging environment by measuring the output performance of the damper and the SNR of the MRI images. The experimental results showed that damper´s resistive force generation while positioned within the MRI is almost the same as that in normal operation. The signal-to-noise investigation was performed both with a phantom and human. The results indicated that the ERF damper did not affect the MRI images when it was operated over 30 cm away from the MRI´s RF coil. We hope that the synthesis and tables presented in this paper can facilitate the choice of ERF brake actuation principle to various applications in an MR environment.
Keywords :
actuators; biomedical MRI; brakes; electrorheology; shock absorbers; ERF brake actuation principle; MRI environment; actuators; electrorheological fluid dampers; magnetic resonance imaging; resistive force generation; resistive force-torque generation; semiactive variable impedance material; Actuators; Damping; Imaging phantoms; Impedance; Magnetic liquids; Magnetic materials; Magnetic resonance; Magnetic resonance imaging; Shock absorbers; Torque; Actuator; brake; damper; electrorheological fluid (ERF); functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI); magnetic resonance (MR) compatible robotic/mechatronic systems; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
Journal_Title :
Mechatronics, IEEE/ASME Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TMECH.2008.924043