Journal article
A low‐cost, microcontroller‐based gas delivery system for respiratory stimuli in MRI studies
- Abstract:
-
Purpose
The design and validation of a low-cost, microcontroller-based gas delivery system that automates fixed inspired respiratory stimuli for MRI experiments.
MethodsThe system uses three solenoid valves controlled by an Arduino-based circuit to switch between premixed medical gases according to predefined timings. By using the MRI scanner external timing signal, gas delivery can be synchronized with image acquisition. The system was constructed using commercial components, with a material cost ∼£650 GBP (∼$880 USD). The system was integrated with a single-use breathing circuit and evaluated using hypercapnic and hyperoxic stimuli. End-tidal oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) were measured using a respiratory gas analyzer and physiological responses were assessed using BOLD MRI at 3 T.
ResultsThe system delivered reliable, repeatable gas transitions during MRI-triggered protocols. During hypercapnia (elevated carbon dioxide level, 5% CO2) (n = 15), the mean increase in end-tidal CO2 was 8.7 ± 1.8 mmHg from a baseline of 32.2 ± 3.1 mmHg, producing a mean gray matter BOLD signal increase of 3.2% ± 1.7%. During hyperoxia (elevated oxygen level, 60.5% O2) (n = 15), the mean increase in end-tidal O2 was 292.3 ± 59.0 mmHg from a baseline of 114.5 ± 10.7 mmHg, with an associated BOLD signal change of 1.2% ± 1.7%. Across both protocols, respiratory and BOLD responses were consistent across participants.
ConclusionThis microcontroller-based system provides an inexpensive and reliable method for administering fixed inspired respiratory stimuli with automated MRI synchronization. It offers an intermediate option between manual systems and commercial gas blenders, making it well suited for technical and methodological studies in cerebrovascular reactivity, hyperoxia-BOLD, and related applications.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
Actions
Access Document
- Files:
-
-
(Preview, Accepted manuscript, pdf, 812.3KB, Terms of use)
-
- Publisher copy:
- 10.1002/mrm.70543
Authors
- Funder identifier:
- https://ror.org/029chgv08
- Grant:
- 203139/A/16/Z
- Grant:
- 203139/Z/16/Z
- Funder identifier:
- 10.13039/100000002
- Grant:
- 203139/Z/16/Z
- Funder identifier:
- 10.13039/501100020624
- Grant:
- NIHR203310
- Funder identifier:
- https://ror.org/0439y7842
- Grant:
- EP/S021507/1
- Funder identifier:
- https://ror.org/0187kwz08
- Grant:
- NIHR203316
- Publisher:
- Wiley
- Journal:
- Magnetic Resonance in Medicine More from this journal
- Volume:
- 96
- Issue:
- 6
- Pages:
- 2907-2913
- Place of publication:
- United States
- Publication date:
- 2026-08-12
- Acceptance date:
- 2026-07-20
- DOI:
- EISSN:
-
1522-2594
- ISSN:
-
0740-3194
- Pmid:
-
42590816
- Language:
-
English
- Pubs id:
-
2451940
- Local pid:
-
pubs:2451940
- Source identifiers:
-
W7202372206
- Deposit date:
-
2026-11-02
- ARK identifier:
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
- Copyright date:
- 2026
- Rights statement:
- © 2026 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. All rights reserved, including rights for text and data mining and training of artificial intelligence technologies or similar technologies.
- Notes:
-
This is the accepted manuscript version of the article. The final version is available online from Wiley at https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mrm.70543
For the purpose of open access, the author(s) has applied a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising.
- Licence:
- CC Attribution (CC BY)
If you are the owner of this record, you can report an update to it here: Report update to this record