Nous Imaging has created a software-based biofeedback solution, called Framewise Integrated Real-Time MRI Monitoring (FIRMM), for acquiring better brain MR exams.
The St. Louis startup has attracted $6.6 million in venture capital and government research investments, including funding from the Small Business Innovation Research program at the National Institute of Mental Health.
Instead of reimaging or using anesthesia to capture sufficient brain MR images in patients who move in the scanner, Nous suggests using its FIRMM software, which uses cameraless motion monitoring.
FIRMM was used as part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study -- the largest, long-term study of brain development in the U.S. FIRMM is also in use at more than 55 academic brain imaging centers, according to Nous.
Initially only Siemens Healthcare MRI scanners were able to use FIRMM. However, Nous recently released an updated research version of FIRMM (v.3.2) that is compatible with GE Healthcare MRI systems.
