Acoustic noise reduction in medical
equipment

Philips Applied Technologies offers highly advanced facilities for acoustic noise measurement and analysis, and extensive know-how in all aspects of acoustic noise reduction. With this expertise we support our customers in realizing products that offer a more relaxing, less stressful experience for clinicians and patients.

Philips Applied Technologies offers highly advanced facilities for acoustic noise measurement and analysis, and considerable know-how in all aspects of acoustic noise reduction. The facilities we offer include anechoic and reverberant rooms for evaluating acoustic measurements. For acoustic measurements, we rely on advanced tools such as the scanning laser vibrometer that maps the velocity profile over vibrating surfaces, and near-field acoustic holography that maps local air pressure across an emitting surface. The latter technique can also visualize the acoustic energy emitted through apertures such as slits. It has proven especially valuable in helping to reduce acoustic noise in the bores of new MR scanner designs by, for example, indicating areas where damping and sealing of joints between adjacent panels can be improved. Philips Applied Technologies has, in fact, played an important role in reducing acoustic noise in the company’s MR scanners, further contributing to Philips’ Ambient Experience solutions for MR described elsewhere in this brochure.

Advanced air-pressure measurement and analysis

Although CT scanners are inherently quieter than MR scanners, they still suffer from noise due to rotating fan blades and to air turbulence caused by the high-speed motion of the CT rotor. With our extensive experience in fan-induced-noise reduction and in holographic measuring techniques, our acoustics group is well equipped to address such problems.