Sound Cancelling Intercom for MRI - Isis Project No 3135

Predictive noise reduction to enable easier conversations between radiologists and patients undergoing MRI, leading to improved patient comfort and examination efficacy.

Marketing Opportunity

The Oxford Invention is a method for reducing noise produced by an MRI machine. It can be applied both in the radiologist’s intercom and in patient headsets, and requires digital noise subtraction software to be run on a PC. It would be envisaged that a solution based on this invention could be supplied with new MRI scanners or as a retrofitable improvement.

The Oxford Invention

In spite of the increasing use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), there are many patients who are uncomfortable in the narrow, enclosed tube that is the MRI machine. Not only claustrophobic, MRI machines also generate a lot of noise, making conversations between the radiologist and patient very difficult. Consequently about 5% of patients are unable to undergo such examinations.

Although several solutions have been proposed which use multiple microphones and subtraction of background noise from patient speech, their success at improving the MRI examination experience has been limited. The new Oxford system for digital noise subtraction uses the MRI machine’s gradient coil current and the RF power produced as the major noise predictors. Software to carry out the real time digital noise subtraction via linear regularisation to produce a near optimal filtration would run on a PC in the MRI suite and may be applied to two-way communication between the patient and radiologist, improving patient comfort and also the efficacy of the examination. 

Patent Status

This invention is the subject of a UK Patent Application.  Isis would like to talk to companies interested in developing the commercial opportunity. Please contact the Isis Project Manager to discuss this further.

Request Further Information: Project Number 3135 - Sound Cancelling Intercom for MRI