# MRI Compatible Robot for Improved Pain Injections in Adults and Children

> **NIH NIH R01** · CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 2021 · $697,517

## Abstract

Project Summary
 The goal of this Bioengineering Research Grant proposal is to develop and evaluate a
patient-mounted MRI-compatible robot that allows accurate needle placement for injections
around nerves to treat pain in adult and pediatric patients. This body-mounted robot will
completely eliminate radiation exposure during perineural injection procedures by transitioning
from fluoroscopic and computed tomography (CT) guidance to the MRI environment. MRI
provides unmatched visualization of the targeted nerves and delivery of the locally injected
medications around these nerves without the need of an artificial contrast agent. The robot will
enable needle tip and target visualization under MRI in real-time through an integrated imaging
coil, built-in fiducials for image registration, and active needle insertion/rotation.
Our specific aims are to:
1. Develop a clinical grade, patient-mounted MRI-compatible robot for pain injections in the
 lower back and pelvis. The robot will be strapped on the area of interest and will precisely
 orient a needle guide for injection in the scanner bore. The robot will include active needle
 driving to enable real-time imaging of the path and needle tip as the needle is advanced via
 remote control.
2. Develop an MRI imaging coil and registration fiducials for the robotic system that are
 integrated into the robot mount. This approach will enable high resolution imaging of the
 anatomy of interest and co-registration of the imaging and robotic coordinate systems.
3. Develop a trajectory planning workstation for image-to-robot registration, selection of the
 target location, and trajectory verification.
4. Integrate the robot with the planning workstation and evaluate the system in the MRI
 environment using phantoms and cadavers. If any issues are found, they will be corrected
 before clinical trials begin.
5. Complete clinical feasibility studies, beginning with an adult study at Johns Hopkins. Once
 the adult study shows the robot system is feasible and safe, we will move to a pediatric
 study at Children's National.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10115036
- **Project number:** 5R01EB025179-04
- **Recipient organization:** CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Kevin R. Cleary
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $697,517
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-06-01 → 2024-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10115036

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10115036, MRI Compatible Robot for Improved Pain Injections in Adults and Children (5R01EB025179-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10115036. Licensed CC0.

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