A novel acoustically quiet coil for neonatal MRI system

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Acoustics
• Neonatal Care

Background:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) procedures generate significant acoustic noise, posing risks of physiological distress and developmental issues for infants, particularly preterm neonates.
• High sound pressure levels during neonatal MRI can negatively impact infant well-being and require mitigation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel acoustically quiet MRI coil designed to reduce sound pressure levels for neonates undergoing MR procedures.
• To compare the acoustic performance of the new quiet coil against a conventional body coil in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) MRI setting.

Main Methods:

• A new MRI coil incorporating sound-abating materials was designed with a conventional high-pass birdcage RF design.
• Acoustic performance was assessed by measuring sound pressure level and frequency response using six standard clinical MRI protocols on two small footprint NICU MRI systems.
• Comparisons were made between the acoustically quiet coil and a conventional body coil.

Main Results:

• The acoustically quiet coil demonstrated an average sound pressure level of 82.2 dBA across six protocols, compared to 91.1 dBA for the conventional body coil.
• The quiet coil was consistently 9 dBA quieter on average (range 6-10 dBA).
• While harmonic profiles were similar, the quiet coil exhibited lower acoustic amplitude, up to 20 dBA reduction.

Conclusions:

• The novel acoustically quiet MRI coil effectively reduces sound pressure levels during neonatal MR procedures.
• This coil represents a significant advancement in minimizing acoustic risks for vulnerable infant populations in the NICU.
• The findings support the use of this quieter coil technology to improve the safety and comfort of neonates undergoing MRI.