Quiet MRI with novel acoustic noise reduction

Fast scan techniques, which are used to reduce scanning times, have raised scanning noise levels in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) systems, resulting in greater patient discomfort and stress. It is well known that this noise is caused by vibration of the gradient coil due to the Lorentz forces generated by the current in the gradient coil, which is placed in a static magnetic field. We have confirmed that MRI noise can be substantially reduced by sealing the gradient coil in a vacuum chamber to block airborne vibration propagation, by supporting the gradient coil independently to block solid vibration propagation and by decreasing the eddy currents induced in RF coils, the RF shield and the static-field-magnet cryostat. Based on these findings, we have developed a silent MRI system in which scanning noise is markedly reduced under a wide range of scanning conditions.     

Acoustic noise reduction in a 4 T MRI scanner.

High-field, high-speed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can generate high levels of noise. There is ongoing concern in the medical and imaging research communities regarding the detrimental effects of high acoustic levels on auditory function, patient anxiety, verbal communication between patients and health care workers and ultimately MR image quality. In order to effectively suppress the noise levels inside MRI scanners, the sound field needs to be accurately measured and characterized. This paper presents the results of measurements of the sound radiation from a gradient coil cylinder within a 4 T MRI scanner under a variety of conditions. These measurement results show: (1) that noise levels can be significantly reduced through the use of an appropriately designed passive acoustic liner; and (2) the true noise levels that are experienced by patients during echo planar imaging.     

Acoustic noise reduction in a 4 T MRI scanner

High-field, high-speed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can generate high levels of noise. There is ongoing concern in the medical and imaging research communities regarding the detrimental effects of high acoustic levels on auditory function, patient anxiety, verbal communication between patients and health care workers and ultimately MR image quality. In order to effectively suppress the noise levels inside MRI scanners, the sound field needs to be accurately measured and characterized. This paper presents the results of measurements of the sound radiation from a gradient coil cylinder within a 4 T MRI scanner under a variety of conditions. These measurement results show: (1) that noise levels can be significantly reduced through the use of an appropriately designed passive acoustic liner; and (2) the true noise levels that are experienced by patients during echo planar imaging.     

Analysis and reduction of acoustic noise from a brushless DC drive

It has been found that stator excitation in brushless DC motor drives can excite mechanical resonances in the motor and, thus, produce acoustic noise in a similar way to switched reluctance drives. A technique has been developed to alter the commutation pattern of a brushless DC motor to avoid exciting and reinforcing these mechanical resonances producing a significant reduction in pure tone acoustic noise which is emitted during mechanical resonance. The origin of the vibration and acoustic noise is explained and the theory of discrete frequency noise reduction described in this paper. The method proposed for quieter control of the brushless DC motor could be achieved at a very low cost     

The origin and reduction of acoustic noise in doubly salientvariable-reluctance motors

An experimental study of the acoustic noise emitted from an inverter-driven doubly salient variable-reluctance motor (VRM) is presented. A list of possible noise sources is given. Through a series of experiments, all but one source is eliminated as being important, and the remaining source is shown to be dominant. The dominant noise source is the ovalizing deformation of the stator due to its radial magnetic attraction to the rotor. The emitted noise is particularly strong when the frequency of deformation coincides with that of a natural mechanical resonance of the stator. Several methods of reducing acoustic noise emission are studied. One successful method is the introduction of dither into the control of the motor in order to spread the spectrum of noise excitation and reduce its coupling to the mechanical resonance of the stator     

Analysis and reduction of vibration and acoustic noise in theswitched reluctance drive

This paper describes the results of an extensive study into the production and reduction of acoustic noise and vibration in the switched reluctance motor drive. Time domain analysis has been used to draw conclusions about the effects of changing the operating parameters of the power electronic controller on the vibration and acoustic noise. Experimental results have been taken from a four-phase switched reluctance motor drive with one-, two-, or four-phase excitation. The results of this time domain study reveal important information about the stator vibration which would not be apparent from frequency spectra. The results have been used to derive operational concepts for the power electronic controller to reduce the acoustic noise and vibration produced by the drive. A new control technique has been developed to cancel the stator vibration. Using this novel control method, experimental results show that the vibration and acoustic noise produced by a switched reluctance drive can be reduced dramatically without affecting the performance of the drive     

Wavelet-based noise reduction for improved deconvolution of time-series data in dynamic susceptibility-contrast MRI

Dynamic susceptibility-contrast (DSC) MRI requires deconvolution to retrieve the tissue residue function R(t) and the cerebral blood flow (CBF). In this study, deconvolution of time-series data was performed by wavelet-transform-based denoising combined with the Fourier transform (FT). Traditional FT-based deconvolution of noisy data requires frequency-domain filtering, often leading to excessive smoothing of the recovered signal. In the present approach, only a low degree of regularisation was employed while the major noise reduction was accomplished by wavelet transformation of data and Wiener-like filtering in the wavelet space. After inverse wavelet transform, the estimate of CBF·R(t) was obtained. DSC-MRI signal-versus-time curves (signal-to-noise ratios 40 and 100) were simulated, corresponding to CBF values in the range 10–60 ml/(min 100 g). Three shapes of the tissue residue function were investigated. The technique was also applied to six volunteers. Simulations showed CBF estimates with acceptable accuracy and precision, as well as independence of any time shift between the arterial input function and the tissue concentration curve. The grey-matter to white-matter CBF ratio in volunteers was 2.4±0.2. The proposed wavelet/FT deconvolution is robust and can be implemented into existing perfusion software. CBF maps from healthy volunteers showed high quality.     

Indirect current control of active filter for harmonic elimination with novel observer-based noise reduction scheme

Active power filters have been developed recently to solve the harmonics disturbance problems on power system networks. The direct current control scheme is generally used to control the harmonic compensating current directly for current source active power filters. To improve the characteristics of harmonic elimination, the voltage regulation scheme is proposed which regulates the filter capacitor voltage at the input side. Hence the voltage regulation scheme is an indirect current control technique for making sinusoidal line current. To implement this proposed scheme, the electronic differentiator should be used. By using the conventional differentiator, high frequency noise is generated in the controller. This deteriorates both the accuracy and reliability of the controller. To reduce this noise, a novel observer-based noise reduction scheme is proposed for our active filter system. The observer-based algorithm and characteristics of indirect current-controlled active filters are investigated through simulations and experiments.     

水轮机空化声发射信号的联合降噪与特征提取北大核心CSCD

探究水轮机空化诱导的声发射信号随空化状态的变化规律对监测空化具有重要意义。为解决声发射信号携带噪声和特征提取困难的问题,本文建立一种基于自适应迭代滤波分解-奇异谱分析联合降噪和固有时间尺度分解结合特征参数的特征提取方法。首先,采用自适应迭代滤波分解结合相关系数对声发射信号初步降噪,滤除明显噪声分量,重构剩余分量并通过奇异谱分析进一步降噪,将所得信号与趋势分量相加,完成整个降噪过程。然后,对降噪后信号进行固有时间尺度分解,筛选出有效分量,计算其绝对能量和相对能量熵。最后,分析它们随空化系数变化的规律。研究结果表明,绝对能量和相对能量熵随空化系数的变化具有明显的规律性,均能反映水轮机空化的发展状况。     

复杂声学环境下语音空调语音降噪方法研究及应用

通过研究语音空调在复杂声学环境下的回声消除和混响消除方法,以此来解决远场语音空调识别率低及鲁棒性较差的问题.采用频域分块自适应滤波方法进行回声消除,对大混响环境优化收敛速度,设计基于时频掩码多通道线性预测方法来自适应降噪.首先使用深度学习技术来构建信号时频掩码模型,然后采用多通道线性预测自适应晚期混响抑制技术,结合掩码模型获取时频掩码信息,快速有效地抑制掉信号中混响成分,最后采用基于瞬态数据与特征值分解的空域滤波技术,结合掩码信息,准确估计多维空域信号导向矢量与噪声统计量,设计空域滤波器,有效抑制掉噪声干扰,提高识别鲁棒性.     

复杂声学环境下语音空调语音降噪方法研究及应用

通过研究语音空调在复杂声学环境下的回声消除和混响消除方法,以此来解决远场语音空调识别率低及鲁棒性较差的问题.采用频域分块自适应滤波方法进行回声消除,对大混响环境优化收敛速度,设计基于时频掩码多通道线性预测方法来自适应降噪.首先使用深度学习技术来构建信号时频掩码模型,然后采用多通道线性预测自适应晚期混响抑制技术,结合掩码模型获取时频掩码信息,快速有效地抑制掉信号中混响成分,最后采用基于瞬态数据与特征值分解的空域滤波技术,结合掩码信息,准确估计多维空域信号导向矢量与噪声统计量,设计空域滤波器,有效抑制掉噪声干扰,提高识别鲁棒性.     

对降低SR电机振动和噪声的两步换相法的实验分析

基于SR电机定子振动特性频域和时域实验结果,对角度位置控制（APC）和电压PWM工况下“两步换相法”的有效性及局限性进行了实验分析。研究表明,SR电机定子振动具有多个主振型,如何从总体最大限度地降低定子振动出发优化两步换相的时间间隔是值得进一步研究的问题;电压PWM方式斩波期间电流关断引起的冲击振动和位置换相引起的冲击振动一样,均可通过两步换相法抑制,但在斩波期间的每一斩波段采用两步换相法有一定的局限,当斩波频率设计值较高或电机固有频率较低时不宜采用,因此应进一步研究电压PWM方式下振动抑制的策略。     

Fan noise reduction of household refrigerator

The authors describe the method of reducing the fan noise, especially the impeller noise, of a household refrigerator. The fan in the refrigerator tested is a propeller fan, and the fan unit consists of an impeller, which has four blades, a rear board, which covers the evaporator, and a front board, which has a number of openings. The flow through the openings freezes food in the freezer. By measuring the internal flow with a laser Doppler velocimeter, it was made clear that the flow through the impeller was not symmetrical to the axis. The unsymmetrical flow seems to be caused by the restrictions of flow passages, and it might produce the impeller noise. The search for the sound source by the sound intensity method indicated that the noise was radiated through the openings of the front board. Guiders were installed on the rear board in the fan unit to guide the flow away from the openings. As a result, the impeller noise was reduced, whereas the flow was kept almost the same     

Complex diffusion process for noise reduction

Signal de-noising and restoration is an essential step for many signal processing algorithms and applications. One of the most common problems is the removal of some interesting structures in the signal during the restoration process. The capability of methods based on partial differential equations (PDEs) in image restoration and de-noising prompted many researchers to search for an improvement in the technique. In this paper, a new method is presented for signal de-noising, based on PDEs and Schrodinger equations, named as complex diffusion process (CDP). This method assumes that variations on signals are like geometric heat flow, in which heat transfers from a warm environment to a cooler one, until temperatures of the two environments are balanced. In this model, sudden variations in a signal not explained by PDEs are considered as noise. Results of our study show that CDPs are very suitable for signal de-noising. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method, a number of experiments have been performed using Sinusoid, multi-component and FM signals cluttered with noise. The results indicate that the proposed method outperforms the approaches for signal de-noising known in prior art.     

一种AGC控制的低噪声水声接收机

在深水隔水管监测系统上,为了接收水下节点发射的信号,研究设计了一款低噪声低功耗水下接收机。在海洋环境下,由于发射机发射功率,传播损失以及传播过程中噪声干扰等影响,造成接收信号畸变、衰减、动态范围增大等问题,不利于后端数字处理。本系统选择低噪声芯片,优化电路结构、降低系统噪声,通过六阶椭圆滤波器,选择所需频带信号通过,采用AGC实现大动态范围的压缩。海试结果显示,该系统具有高灵敏度、低噪声、低功耗、接收动态范围大等优点。     

Current harmonics and acoustic noise in AC adjustable-speed drives

AC adjustable-speed drives (ASDs) are finding increased opportunities for applications in which acoustic noise is a major consideration for acceptability. The major source of noise in an ASD is the excitation of the motor by nonsinusoidal currents. For load characteristics that simulate the performance required for fans and compressors, ASDs based on induction motors, permanent-magnet motors, and switched reluctance motors have been examined for correlation between current and acoustic noise. The effects that the specific types of noise produced by drives have on human subjects is examined with regard to temporary and permanent hearing-threshold shifts     

Evaluation of acoustic noise and mode frequencies with design variations of switched reluctance machines

The stator mode frequency, as well as the intensity of acoustic noise generated by magnetic radial force, is related to the geometry, configuration, and material properties of the switched reluctance machine (SRM). Two different four-phase 8/6 SRMs with similar specifications, torque-speed requirements, and envelope dimensions have been designed and built for experiments related to noise intensity and stator mode frequencies. One of these two SRMs, labeled as low-noise SRM is designed following the low-noise design guidelines. The other one, labeled as conventional SRM is designed following the conventional design methodology. The mode frequencies and noise pressure levels for both the SRMs have been calculated using the analytical models. Acoustic-noise data collected from a test bench are analyzed to correlate the experimental and theoretical results.     

Relationship between magnetic field strength and magnetic-resonance-related acoustic noise levels

The need for better signal-to-noise ratios and resolution has pushed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) towards high-field MR-scanners for which only little data on MR-related acoustic noise production have been published. The purpose of this study was to validate the theoretical relationship of sound pressure level (SPL) and static magnetic field strength. This is relevant for allowing adequate comparisons of acoustic data of MR systems at various magnetic field strengths. Acoustic data were acquired during various pulse sequences at field strengths of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 Tesla using the same MRI unit by means of a Helicon rampable magnet. Continuous-equivalent, i.e. time-averaged, linear SPLs and 1/3-octave band frequencies were recorded. Ramping from 0.5 to 1.0 Tesla and from 1.0 to 2.0 Tesla resulted in an SPL increase of 5.7 and 5.2 dB(L), respectively, when averaged over the various pulse sequences. Most of the acoustic energy was in the 1-kHz frequency band, irrespective of magnetic field strength. The relation between field strength and SPL was slightly non-linear, i.e. a slightly less increase at higher field strengths, presumably caused by the elastic properties of the gradient coil encasings. Electronic Publication     

Vibration modes and acoustic noise in a four-phase switchedreluctance motor

Acoustic noise in the switched reluctance motor (SRM) is caused primarily by the deformation of the stator lamination stack. Acoustic noise is most severe when the periodic excitation of the SRM phases excites a natural vibration mode of the stack. The natural vibration modes and frequencies of a four-phase, 8/6 SRM are examined. Structural finite element analysis is used to compute the natural modes and frequencies. Impulse tests on the stator stack verify the calculations and show which modes are excited. Heuristic arguments are developed to predict the operating conditions that will excite the natural modes. Measurement of vibration while the machine is under load shows which operating conditions excite the natural modes and verifies the predictions. An approximate formula is derived to predict the frequency of the fundamental vibration mode in terms of lamination dimensions and material properties. The formula is validated by comparison with finite element calculations for several laminations, and hence is shown to be useful in design trade-off studies     

Characterization of vibration and acoustic noise in a gradient-coil insert

High-speed switching of current in gradient coils within high magnetic field strength magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners results in high acoustic sound pressure levels (SPL) in and around these machines. To characterize the vibration properties as well as the acoustic noise properties of the gradient coil, a finite-element (FE) model was developed using the dimensional design specifications of an available gradient-coil insert and the concentration of the copper windings in the coil. This FE model was then validated using experimentally collected vibration data. A computational acoustic noise model was then developed based on the validated FE model. The validation of the finite-element analysis results was done using experimental modal testing of the same gradient coil in a free-free state (no boundary constraints). Based on the validated FE model, boundary conditions (supports) were added to the model to simulate the operating condition when the gradient-coil insert is in place in an MRI machine. Vibration analysis results from the FE model were again validated through experimental vibration testing with the gradient-coil insert installed in the MRI scanner and excited using swept sinusoidal time waveforms. The simulation results from the computational acoustic noise model were also validated through experimental noise measurement from the gradient-coil insert in the MRI scanner using swept sinusoidal time waveform inputs. Comparisons show that the FE model predicts the vibration properties and the computational acoustic noise model predicts the noise characteristic properties extremely accurately.