MRI Sound Pressure Level Exposure of Neonates and Staff in Different MRI Systems

Motivation: Successfully scan neonatal patients by eliminating noise induced patient movements and reduce MRI sound level exposure to patients and staff. Goal(s): Utilize clinical neonate head protocols from wide bore MRI systems on a dedicated neonatal MRI system. Approach: Measure sound pressure level exposure to patients and staff of common clinical neonatal head imaging protocols in a dedicated neonatal MRI system, a 3T wide bore, and 1.5T wide bore MRI system. Results: Reduced sound pressure level exposure to patients and support staff by utilizing a dedicated neonatal MRI system. Impact: Eliminate medical and logistical challenges associated with moving a neonate from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to the radiology department and reduce sound pressure level exposure to neonatal patients and support staff by utilizing a dedicated neonatal MRI system.