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Discogenic pain is the most common cause of chronic low back pain, accounting for 39% of causes. One possible diagnostic method to determine the cause of discogenic pain is provocative discography. However, this method is not available to patients with severe fissures due to degenerative disc disease. In this paper, we present a diagnostic probe in which plastic optical fiber (POF), which is located in a hole in the flexible tube of the probe, can be steered to the vicinity of fissures in the annulus fibrosus. Then, a linear motor placed inside the grip generates a minute axial vibration of the POF tip, which irritates the tiny pain nerves located near fissures. The intensity of the pain thus generated is used as a guideline to determine the level of discogenic disease. The frequency and amplitude of the vibration discography ranged from 2.5 Hz to 5.7 Hz and 1.5 mm to 3.4 mm, respectively. The applicability of the designed probe was successfully confirmed by testing the modified intradiscal microprobe in an ex vivo animal experiment.

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In this study, to find out the effect of psychological anxiety of the patients during MRI examination on the claustrophobia and vital signs, As for a study tool, to measure Anxiety Sensitivity Index(ASI), Kamsung Evaluation Index of Life Environmental Noise(KEI), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-IV) was used, and for vital signs, blood pressure and pulse rate were measured pre and post MRI examination. In conclusion, it was indicated that though the effect of the general characteristics, psychological anxiety, on noise sensitivity and claustrophobia was small, the psychological anxiety of the patients during MRI examination affected claustrophobia and vital signs.