Development of an Inexpensive MRI-Compatible Force Measurement Device

Motivation: Conventional load cells are not MRI-compatible, and MRI-compatible fiber optic force sensors are expensive and require specialized data collection systems. Goal(s): Our goal was to develop and test a low-cost, MRI-compatible device for continuous force measurement. Approach: We developed a hydraulic-based system for measuring continuous compressive forces within the magnet bore during scans. Results: Pre-cycling increased the measurement repeatability of the device. The device was completely MRI-compatible and measured continuous compressive forces while simultaneous MRI data was acquired. Impact: Our newly developed device is an inexpensive option for measuring continuous compressive forces during simultaneous MRI scans and is particularly useful for researchers who want to use a conventional electronic data acquisition system.