MRI's meet entertainment

MRI machines are very important diagnostic tools for doctors, but their loud noises and dark spaces can bring out feelings of claustrophobia in children. The CAMC Foundation is raising money to purchase a device that will help lessen their uneasiness.

Resonance Technology created a headset called CinemaVision to distract children from the sounds of MRI machines through a 3-D virtual reality system. Charleston lawyer Timothy Bailey learned of the headset while his daughter was receiving care at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and wanted to bring the technology to Charleston. 

"We wanted to do something to get the kids in this region who depend on Women and Children's Hospital the same comfort," Bailey said. His law firm recently contributed money to the foundation to help purchase the headset.

CinemaVision is a special headset that is equivalent to watching a high-resolution 62-inch screen from a five and a half foot distance with built-in headphones.

"CinemaVision is wired to the computer running the MRI machine and its DVD player," Bailey said. "The child chooses a DVD from the library, or brings one in, and is immersed in a theater-like experience while the scan is performed. 

The top-notch technology eases the process of MRIs through entertainment that in turn causes fewer sedations and cancellations.

"Many children (and adults) must be sedated to complete MRI studies," Bailey said. "Watching and listening to Disney surely beats the clacking and banging in darkness without the system."

In addition to the headset's entertainment features, CinemaVision contains functional purposes such as two-way communication between the technologist and patient. It is compatible with all state-of-the-art MRIs since it has limited interference with the magnetic field. There are also no additional cables or filters involved, which present a hassle-free setup for technologists and provides convenience for patients.

The CinemaVision headset costs $42,000. Bailey is encouraging others to contribute to help purchase the headset.