MRI-VisAct: a Bowden-cable-driven MRI-compatible series viscoelastic actuator

The presence of strong magnetic fields in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment limits the integration of robotic rehabilitation systems in the MRI process. The tendency to improve imaging quality by the amplification of magnetic field strength further tightens the bidirectional compatibility constraints on MRI-compatible rehabilitation devices. We present the design, control and characterization of MRI-VisAct– a low-cost, Bowden-cable-actuated rotary series viscoelastic actuator that satisfies the bidirectional compatibility requirements to the maximum extent. Components of MRI-VisAct that are placed in the magnet room are built using nonconductive, diamagnetic MRI-compatible materials, while ferromagnetic or paramagnetic components are placed in the control room, located outside the MRI room. Power and data transmission are achieved through Bowden cables and fibre optics, respectively. This arrangement ensures that neuroimaging artefacts are minimized, while eliminating safety hazards, and device performance is not affected by the magnetic field. MRI-VisAct works under closed-loop torque control enabled through series viscoelastic actuation. MRI-VisAct is fully customizable; it can serve as a building block of higher-degrees-of-freedom MRI-compatible robotic devices.