Why Awake MRI Programs Are Transforming Pediatric Imaging

A recent multi-year quality improvement initiative, led by Juan Boriosi, MD, at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and published in Pediatric Radiology, explored how audiovisual distraction (AVD) technology can support awake MRI procedures for pediatric patients.

Conducted between October 2021 and January 2024, the project included children ages 4 to 18 who were offered AVD during their MRI exams. Using two open-bore AVD systems, the researchers broadened eligibility criteria over time to include more patients.

Reported outcomes included:

    •   28.8-point absolute drop in monthly use of minimal/moderate sedation among eligible patients

    •   100% diagnostic success for all AVD-triaged patients, with 95.7% completed within standard allotted exam times

    •   High family satisfaction, with 78% of caregivers “very satisfied” and 11% “satisfied”

    •   No statistically significant difference in throughput compared to sedated patients (P = 0.29)

These findings underscore a simple truth: when pediatric patients are engaged and comfortable, MRI procedures can often be completed successfully—without sedation.

How VISION Aligns with These Findings

At UX Platforms, we created the VISION Projector System to turn patient-comfort theory into everyday clinical success.

    •   Built for MRI. Built for workflow. VISION integrates seamlessly with your existing suite, helping reduce motion artifacts, keep scans on schedule, and keep patients engaged from start to finish.

    •   Proven in the field. Internal testing and customer feedback show VISION can be a powerful ally in sedation minimization efforts—especially for pediatric and anxious patients.

    •   Comfort with clinical purpose. By surrounding patients with calming visual and auditory engagement, VISION reinforces the same patient-first principles driving today’s most effective awake MRI programs—all without changing your standard protocols.

You’ve upgraded your magnets—now upgrade the patient experience.

Discover how VISION can help your team deliver calmer scans, higher compliance, and better care.

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Performance claims for VISION are based on internal testing and user feedback. The University of Wisconsin–Madison study summarized above did not evaluate the VISION system. Individual results may vary.

Important Note: The referenced study evaluated AVD technology in general and did not assess or endorse the VISION Projector System specifically. While the study did not evaluate VISION, it highlights patient engagement principles that our system is designed to support.

Source: Boriosi J, et al. A quality improvement project to reduce magnetic resonance imaging sedation in children.Pediatric Radiology (2025). Open Access under CC BY 4.0. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-025-06293-4