Motion during scan induces image quality degradation (blurred images, motion "ghost" artifacts) to a degree that may require repetition of the scan. The sensitivity to motion increases with newer imaging like functional and diffusional MRI and with higher resolution scanners. As 20-30% of all scans are affected by motion, the direct annual financial burden of motion artifacts, due to the need to repeat scans, is estimated at $1 Billion in the USA alone.

Realtime motion information from the EndoScout is used by the scanner to re-align the gradients to counteract the effect on motion during scan. The elimination of motion artifacts by realtime motion tracking can improve image quiality and reduce the cost of scanning by eliminating the need to repeat scans. This may be of particular importance with imaging of non-cooperative patients like children and older patients with acute CNS disorders (e.g. stroke) or chronic diseases (e.g. Parkinson or Alzheimer).

Clinical applications: