Institute of Measurement Science
Topic
Detection and evaluation of stress impacts on the examined person during scanning in an MRI scanner based on analysis of the multi-channel PPG signal
PhD. program
Measurement technology
Year of admission
2024
Name of the supervisor
Dr. Ing. Jiří Přibil, (PhD.)
Contact:
Receiving school
Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava
Annotation
Noise and vibration generated in MRI devices during the scanning process has negative physiological as well as psychological effects on an investigated person. Final stress effect depends on the intensity and duration of the exposure. The stress factors including direct changes in blood pressure, shape of a heart pulse, and heart rate can be detected and classified from continually sensed photoplethysmographic signal (PPG). For determination of systolic/diastolic arterial blood pressure values based on heart rate and pulse transit time parameters, it is necessary to use the multi-channel PPG signal sensed in real-time. Special construction of PPG sensors must be developed to enable proper function in the environment of strong radiofrequency disturbance together with stepwise changed magnetic field which is present in the scanning area of the running MRI device. The subject of the thesis will be to detect, analyze and quantify emerging stress effects in order to find appropriate measures to minimize them. The applicant is expected to have knowledge in areas of human physiology, methods of biomedical signal measurement and sensing, numerical methods for signal processing, and statistical analysis.