| Abstrakt: |
Purpose This work reports our experience on MRI acoustic noise as acoustic experts as well as advisors for the local authority. The aims are. • the protection of people health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being of any person in the magnetic resonance practice • reducing possible distortions of competition • avoiding expensive protection actions after installation. Materials and methods In order to correctly assess the risk, a procedure has been adopted in accordance to: • Italian law and 89/391/EEC Safety and Health of Workers at Work Directive, • European Standards, literature data and our experience. E.g. if RMI site is planned in civil contest, the noise levels are to be referred to WHO values and, in Italy, to values of municipal regulation for protection from noise. For the activity of medical reporting and control room we consider quality levels recommended in EN ISO 11690–1-1996. In this paper, are specified the necessary data and the roles involved as manufacturer, RM site project planner, and physician. When data are insufficient, the procedure describes experimental sets with reference points (isocenter bore&laser cross&..), phantoms, sequences, condenser and optic microphones and protocol to obtain information.. Results At isocenter ear position (1.5T) SPL shows more then 110 dBA&dBC for some sequences. In some cases a surrounding activity had to be moved. To neglect the noise could cause annoying problems as operator/patient interferences and health effects for patient, worker and surrounding inhabitants. It’s possible to manage the risk choosing adequate site, technology, HW, reducing noise at source and/or adopting collective protection and finally passive and active ear protectors and PPE. A suitable measurement protocol can be useful to assess noise and to plan adequate protections when RM is by now working. Conclusions Acoustic noise has to be considered and assessed as one of the first steps in the MR site planning and activity. It can be reduced to appropriate level. Acoustic noise would be evaluated mandatorily also by competent authorities for the control of compliance of the RM implants for a formal green light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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