What we are studying

The purpose of the study is to develop, test, adjust, and improve new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging techniques for detection of function using our magnetic resonance systems and an investigational device that may help rehabilitation from stroke. The investigational device, called Magnetic Resonance Compatible Hand-Induced Robotic Device (MR_CHIROD), resembles regular exercise handgrips, and you will use it like you would with other exercise handgrips. The testing and improvement of magnetic resonance techniques requires multiple MR images several times using different settings used to obtain the MR image. The images are then compared to determine which of the settings under test allows the best visualization of the desired aspect of the brain.

Why it is important

Success will facilitate selection of patients and personalized treatment planning optimized to yield improvements based on MRI metrics. Specifically, this study may identify bio-markers of brain recovery that can be monitored during therapy, inform therapy adjustments, and advance our ability to predict stroke recovery outcome. For chronic stroke patients, we anticipate demonstrating that recovery is possible for a longer period of time than previously thought, including motor skill improvements beyond 6 months after a stroke event, owing to the capacity for neuroplasticity and functionally adaptive reorganization. If this research indicates continued improvement with physical therapy, then the limitations of Medicare and other insurances should be extended to assist in longer-term recovery of stroke victims, thus improving their quality of life, especially in the geriatric patient population, where stroke is most prevalent. This study may result in significant societal benefit, as they are the first step in creating new procedures for non-invasive MRI compatible hand induced robotic device. For the participants, there may be no direct benefit. However, the anticipated outcome of this study is that these investigations will lead to improved image quality and information content which may prove to be beneficial to the medical care of others in the future.

What we hope to accomplish

One-hundred, 18-70 year old, patients (≥ 6 months after stroke), will be recruited through registries of stroke survivors who have agreed to be contacted for stroke recovery and rehabilitation studies maintained at the Massachusetts General Hospital and affiliates. Twenty-four, healthy, age-matched volunteers will form a control group. Brain maps and tractography of the stroke patients will be compared to those of controls to determine any differences in plasticity.