Acoustic Characteristics and Quantitative Analysis for Safety Management of noise Generated during MrI Scan Song Hyun-Og1, Lim Cheong-Hwan2 1Dept. of Health Care, Hanseo University, 46. Hanseo 1-ro, Haemi-Myun, Seosan-Si, Chungcheognam-do, 31962, Republic of Korea 2Dept. of Radiological Science, Hanseo University, 46. Hanseo 1-ro, Haemi-Myun, Seosan-Si, Chungcheognam-do, 31962, Republic of Korea Online published on 14 May, 2018. Abstract This study aimed to provide basic data for safety management against noise by identifying its acoustic characteristics generated in MRI examinations by quantitative analyses. Noise was measured from four different kinds of MRI equipment with various magnetic field intensities and sequences. The MRI equipment used was characterized by 0.35T, 1.0T, 1.5T, and 3.0T. To evaluate the noise in the MRI scan and control rooms, frequency and waveform characteristics from the noises were analyzed by their time history curves. The sequences were T1 of SE, T2 of FSE, T2* of GE, and DWI of high-speed data collection. The frequency of the noise measured in the MRI scan and control rooms, and the magnetic field intensities at 500-1, 000 Hz, as well as the noise frequency measured in the MRI scan room. However, the frequency of the noise in the MRI control room was measured in a diverse fashion. Analyses of the noises’ wave forms revealed that most of the MRI scan and control room noises possessed the characteristics of steady and quasi-steady impulsive noises. In the 1.5T equipment, a repetitive impulsive noise was the salient feature. Research on the MRI safety should be conducted continuously and safety rules strictly enacted. It is expected that this study can be utilized by studies on MRI safety and that it will reinforce MRI safety management regulations. Top Keywords MRI, Acoustic noise, Hearing protection, Hearing loss, Safety management. Top |