Elastomeric Casing Shell for MRI Noise Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic resonance devices generate high operating noise due to the interaction of the gradient unit with the magnet, causing unpleasant sound transmission to patients, which conventional housing units fail to adequately mitigate despite their sound insulation properties.
Innovation Solution
A medical imaging device housing unit with a netlike supporting structure and an elastic spring-mass unit, comprising a heavy mass element and an airborne-sound absorbing element, is designed to dampen and separate soundwaves, reducing radiation and providing effective noise insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional casing shells made of glass-fiber reinforced plastic or thermoplastic are used, then sound insulation is provided by mass, but radiation response increases due to material stiffness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by using elastomeric materials with specific viscoelastic properties instead of conventional stiff materials. The elastomeric material has a specific loss factor (tan δ) and shear modulus that optimizes both sound insulation and radiation response, resolving the contradiction between these two properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material structures combining elastomeric materials with appropriate fillers or reinforcements to achieve the desired balance between mass, stiffness, and damping properties. This allows optimization of both sound insulation and radiation response simultaneously.
2Stability of the object's composition
If additional stiffening elements and stiffening units are added to the casing shell, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the stiffening function directly into the elastomeric material itself through appropriate material selection and formulation, eliminating the need for separate stiffening elements. The material's inherent viscoelastic properties provide both structural stability and damping in a single integrated component.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric material serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural stability, sound insulation, vibration damping, and radiation response control. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function, reducing overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If conventional casing shells are used, then assembly is straightforward, but noise damping and sound separation are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the viscoelastic parameters of the elastomeric material, specifically the loss factor and shear modulus, to achieve superior noise damping and sound separation while maintaining ease of assembly. The material properties are tuned to provide effective damping without complicating the assembly process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly minimizes soundwave radiation from the housing unit during device operation, reducing noise exposure to patients while being cost-effective and environmentally friendly, with the elastic spring-mass unit effectively absorbing airborne sound and providing additional stability and protection.
Implementation Method 1
achieve a damping and/or separation of soundwaves as a result of high mass inertia and absorption of the vibrational energy of soundwaves
Implementation Method 2
the soundwaves (in particular airborne soundwaves) cause individual particles of the airborne-sound absorbing element to vibrate, wherein a vibrational energy that is generated within the airborne-sound absorbing element is converted into thermal energy
Implementation Method 3
the soundwaves (in particular airborne soundwaves) cause individual particles of the airborne-sound absorbing element to vibrate, wherein a vibrational energy that is generated within the airborne-sound absorbing element is converted into thermal energy
Implementation Method 4
a vibrational energy that is generated within the airborne-sound absorbing element is converted into thermal energy
Implementation Method 5
achieve a stiffening of the casing shell, which also has large vibration damping and/or airborne-sound absorbing surfaces and/or regions
Implementation Method 6
large vibration damping and/or airborne-sound absorbing surfaces and/or regions
Data Source
AI summary
A medical imaging device is presented. The medical image device includes a detection unit and a housing unit that surrounds the detection unit. The housing unit has at least one casing shell. The at least one casing shell includes a netlike supporting structure unit and an elastic spring-mass unit. The netlike supporting structure unit is at least partially embedded within the elastic spring-mass unit.