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Abstract #2608

Towards Truly Quiet MRI: Animal Scale Gradient as a Test Platform for Acoustic Noise Reduction

AbdEl-Monem M. El-Sharkawy1, William A. Edelstein1

1Division of MR Research, Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States

MRI acoustic noise often exceeds 100 dB, causing patient anxiety and discomfort, and is an obstacle to interventional MRI procedures. Clinical MRI acoustic noise reduction is a long-standing unsolved engineering challenge made especially difficult because special equipment and large-scale engineering test facilities are needed for experiments. Our approach is to produce a Truly Quiet (< 70 dB) small-scale animal imager. Results serve as a test platform for acoustic noise reduction measures that can be implemented in clinical scanners. We have so far decreased noise in an animal scale system from 108 dB to 81 dB, a 27 dB reduction.

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Keywords

able accelerometers acoustic amplifier animal animals anxiety applied background bands bare become beyond bicycle bone calibrated calibration central clinical coil components conduction connections containing control conveyed cylinder damage decrease detected direct directly discomfort division eddy enable enclosed enclosure equipment excited expensive experimental fiberglass fields fixture flanges flexible form frequency full functionality good gradient gradients grown handling hardware hearing held helix imperfect individually inflatable inner insert inside isolating isolation leaked little long loud magnet maintaining measured measures measuring mechanical mechanically metal meter microphone modern monitor needed next noise octave open outer outside pads part passive patient pink placed platform position positioned potential power pressure produced protection pulse pump quiet radiology reach recorded reduce reduced reduction require respectively scale scanner scanners scroll shield shielding sound speakers special spectra spectrum spring stored substantially sufficient support supports surfaces system technologies thick third towards transmission true truly tube tubing usually vacuum vibration vibrations wall windings wires