熊孩子有救了 VR技術助其順利通過核磁共振檢查
核磁共振（MRI）檢查是目前人類最安全、最可靠的獲取身體器官影象的醫療手段之一。相比於CT來說，患者不用擔心放射線所帶來的副作用。然而對於孩子們來說，核磁共振檢查卻是他們的噩夢。因為他們必須要在昏暗、噪音極大的核磁共振機中接受檢查。這會對某些兒童造成心理上的創傷。
目前英國一家企業使用VR裝置，讓核磁共振治療變得更加簡單。即使是小孩子也可以完全接受。下面，我們就來看一看詳情吧。
MRI（核磁共振成像）利用強大的無線電波和磁場梯度組合，安全地生成人體內部器官的影象。並且MRI並不會讓人感覺到疼痛，也沒有副作用。但它卻是讓一個孩子感覺到畏懼的一個存在。
MRI， or “magnetic resonance imaging，”utilizes a combination of powerful radio waves and magnetic field gradients to safely generate images of persons internal organs。 They‘re absolutely painless， side effect-free， and one of the intimidating producers a child can endure while at a hospital。
核磁共振使用的是一個完全無痛的放射學技術，醫生可以安全的檢查病人的內部器官而不用擔心患者收到輻射的危險。但對於小一點的孩子來說，核磁共振掃描是一件可怕的經歷。這很大程度上歸因於其漫長的操作過程，狹小的空間以及複雜機械的噪音聲。
Despite remaining a completely painless radiology technique in which professionals can safely inspect the internals of a patient without the risk of radiation exposure， MRI scans can be a terrifying experience for younger children， due in large part to the lengthy-process， confined space， and loud noises as a result of the complex machinery。
英國國家衛生服務中心的核磁共振物理學家喬納森·阿什莫爾（Jonathan Ashmore）對這種既能拯救孩子生命，又能讓他們心生畏懼的醫療裝置所帶來的恐懼再熟悉不過了。他的辦公室在醫院的核磁共振檢查室旁邊，他經常聽到嚇壞了的孩子們的哭聲，在這個過程中，他愈發地對孩子們產生同情。
Jonathan， Ashmore， an MRI physicist with the United Kingdom‘s National Health Service， is all too familiar with the fears children have towards the life-saving， but intimidating， medical device。 With an office adjacent to his hospitals MRI exam room， Ashmore hears the cries of terrified children on a regular basis， growing sympathetic to their trauma in the process。
在《衛報》上，這位英國物理學家在一篇自費發表的文章中說：“我看到成年人一想到要進去就會哭得很難過，對孩子們來說，核磁共振可能會造成特別大的創傷。”“通常情況下，唯一的選擇就是讓孩子睡覺，但這個過程成本高昂，風險增加，而且相當可怕。“
“I‘ve seen adults collapse in tears at the thought of going in， so for children it can be particularly traumatic，” spoke the accomplished British physicist in a self-published article on The Guardian。 “Often the only option is to put the child to sleep， a procedure that is costly， adds risk and is also quite scary。”
阿什福德繼續說道：“如果孩子事先被嚇到了，那麼當他們到達掃描器時，已經來不及為他們的苦難做準備，也來不及讓他們感到舒適。“
“If the child is scared beforehand， then by the time they get to the scanner it‘s too late to prepare them for the ordeal and make them feel comfortable，” continues Ashford。
有了這些認識之後，阿什莫爾便決定研發一種工具，讓它可以幫助患者去核磁共振檢測間裡嘈雜和狹窄的環境。有了VR技術之後，這位物理學家認為可以利用360度的虛擬體驗來讓患者接觸到核磁共振機器所產生的不舒適的環境。
Armed with these realizations， Ashmore went to work developing a tool to better help incoming patients mentally prepare for the cramped and loud space。 Turning to VR technology， the physicist began developing a 360-degree virtual experience designed to expose patients to the uncomfortable environment created by an MRI machine。
“我們大約花了一年半左右的時間來打造這款應用，同時在接受了一些來自Belfast的開發者和合作夥伴的幫助後，才打造出了成品。這款應用利用MR掃描器建立了一個360度的視訊。孩子們可以免費體驗到它，並通過它來理解和適應那個（核磁共振）複雜且困難的檢測體驗。“
“Altogether it took more than a year and a half to create the app and after enlisting the help of a developer and some colleagues in Belfast， we had a finished product。 The app utilises 360-degree videos from within an MR scanner。 It‘s free and allows children to experience their upcoming scan in virtual reality， helping them to understand and prepare for what is often a difficult and scary experience。”
Ashmore表示，從目前的情況來看，效果非常明顯。
According to Ashmore， the results so far have proven extremely effective。
“我們在一些年輕的患者身上做了實驗，他們的反應幾乎一樣：孩子們似乎都很喜歡它。為了體驗它，有一些孩子還在等候區裡發生了衝突。在掃描的時候，孩子們甚至表現的非常興奮。“
“We trialled it on a handful of young patients and the response was unanimous： children seemed to love it。 We even had fights breaking out among siblings in the waiting areas as they all wanted a go。 Some children exclaimed they were even excited to come in for their scan。”
與此同時，它對父母也產生了巨大的影響。他們在看過這些體驗之後，原本對手術的緊張心情得到了放鬆，間接地為孩子們創造了一個更加舒適和放鬆的檢測環境。
Even more surprising， however， were the effects on the parents。 Providing a preview of the experience to the guardians eased their concerns regarding the procedure， in turn creating a more comfortable and relaxed environment for the child。
目前，這款VR體驗已經在倫敦的三家醫院使用了，另外還有兩家醫院正在籌備使用之中。Ashmore希望未來可以研發一種類似VR體驗，來讓成人患者。
Currently the app is being utilized King‘s College Hospital in London， the Royal Belfast Hospital， and Raigmore Hospital in Inverness。 The app is under ongoing development at Guy’s and St Thomas‘s hospital and Southampton Hospital。 Ashmore hopes to develop a similar VR experience in the future tailored specifically to adult patients。
雖然網路上已經有一些類似的核磁共振VR模擬器，但是都不大完美。而Ashmore的這款應用則是請到了精通該領域的醫療專業技術團隊打造，效果更好。
While there are plenty of half-baked attempts at an MRI simulator floating around the web， Ashmore offers a more polished experience designed from the ground up by a team of medical professionals well-versed in the field。
最後，Ashmore表示：“孩子們和VR技術的相遇，就像是我們和計算機技術一樣，我認為VR成為我們日常生活的一部分只是時間的問題。“
“Children embrace VR technology much like my generation embraced the original computer – and like the computer， I think it‘s only a matter of time before VR becomes part of our everyday lives。”
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