US-12616427-B2 - Reducing audible noise produced by a component of a computed tomography imaging system

Abstract

A computed tomography imaging system includes a gantry. The computed tomography imaging system further includes a rotating frame rotatably supported in the gantry. The rotating frame includes an X-ray source configured to emit X-ray radiation that traverses an examination region and an X-ray radiation sensitive detector disposed opposite the X-ray source across the examination region and configured to detect X-ray radiation traversing the examination region and generate a signal indicative of the detected X-ray radiation. The computed tomography imaging system further includes at least one component of the gantry or the rotating frame that produces audible noise. The computed tomography imaging system further includes an audible noise reducer configured to reduce the audible noise. The audible noise reducer includes a resonator tuned to a first frequency of the audible noise.

Inventors

• Samuel Edward Maule
• Jonathan Boutot

Assignees

• GE Precision Healthcare LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240424

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A computed tomography imaging system, comprising: a gantry; a rotating frame rotatably supported in the gantry, the rotating frame, including: an X-ray source configured to emit X-ray radiation that traverses an examination region; and an X-ray radiation sensitive detector disposed opposite the X-ray source across the examination region and configured to detect X-ray radiation traversing the examination region and generate a signal indicative of the detected X-ray radiation; at least one component of the gantry or the rotating frame that produces audible noise; and an audible noise reducer configured to reduce the audible noise, wherein the audible noise reducer includes a resonator tuned to a first frequency of the audible noise.
2. 2 . The computed tomography imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the resonator includes a first chamber and a cover with a first region for the first chamber that includes a first set of apertures, a first volume of the first chamber and a first cross-sectional area and a first depth of the apertures of the first set correspond to the first frequency, and the resonator resonates at the first frequency in response to receiving the audible noise.
3. 3 . The computed tomography imaging system of claim 2 , wherein the resonator includes a second chamber and the cover includes a second region for the second chamber that includes a second set of apertures, and a second volume of the second chamber and a second cross-sectional area and a second depth of the apertures of the second set correspond to the second frequency.
4. 4 . The computed tomography imaging system of claim 3 , wherein the resonator concurrently reduces the first frequency and the second frequency.
5. 5 . The computed tomography imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the resonator includes a first chamber and a cover with a first region for the first chamber that includes a first set of adjustable size apertures, wherein a first size of the apertures correspond to first frequency and a second size of the apertures correspond to a second frequency of the audible noise.
6. 6 . The computed tomography imaging system of claim 5 , wherein the resonator alternatively reduces the first frequency and the second frequency.
7. 7 . The computed tomography imaging system of claim 6 , further including: a controller configured to control a size of the apertures.
8. 8 . The computed tomography imaging system of claim 6 , wherein the resonator is configured to automatically switch between reducing the first frequency and reducing the second frequency based on a speed of air flow across resonator.
9. 9 . The computed tomography imaging system of claim 1 , further including: a gantry cover, wherein the gantry cover includes the resonator.
10. 10 . The computed tomography imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one component includes at least one of an intake blower and a fan.
11. 11 . The computed tomography imaging system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one component includes the rotating frame.
12. 12 . A method, comprising: receiving audible noise at a resonator of an imaging system, wherein the audible noise is produced by a component of the imaging system, and the resonator is tuned to a first frequency of the audible noise, wherein the resonator includes a first chamber and a cover with a first region for the first chamber that includes a first set of apertures, a first volume of the first chamber and a first cross-sectional area and a first depth of the apertures of the first set correspond to the first frequency; and generating, by the resonator, an audible signal at the first frequency and out of phase of the first frequency, wherein the generated signal destructively interferes with the first frequency, thereby reducing the audible noise.
13. 13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the resonator is tuned to at least a second frequency of the audible noise, the resonator includes a second chamber and the cover includes a second region for the second chamber that includes a second set of apertures, and a second volume of the second chamber and a second cross-sectional area and a second depth of the apertures of the second set correspond to the second frequency.
14. 14 . The method of claim 13 , further including: concurrently reducing the first frequency and the second frequency.
15. 15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein an aperture size of the first set of apertures is adjustable, and further including: automatically adjusting the size of the apertures based on a speed of air flow across resonator, changing a resonant frequency of the resonator from the first frequency and second frequency of the audible noise.
16. 16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein an aperture size of the first set of apertures is adjustable, and further including: controlling the size of the apertures based on a voltage applied to a cooling system of the imaging system, which changes the frequency of the audible noise that is canceled.
17. 17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein an aperture size of the first set of apertures is adjustable, and further including: controlling the size of the apertures based on a speed of an intake blower or a fan the imaging system.
18. 18 . A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with computer executable instructions, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to: set a first speed of an intake blower or fan of an imaging system, wherein the intake blower or the fan produces audible noise; and set a size of an adjustable size aperture of resonator of an imaging system to resonate at a first frequency of the audible noise corresponding to the first speed.
19. 19 . The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to: change the first speed to a second speed; and adjust the size of the adjustable size aperture of resonator of the imaging system to resonate at a second frequency of the audible noise corresponding to the second speed.
20. 20 . The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to: adjust the size of the adjustable size aperture based on a voltage applied to the blower or the fan.

Description

FIELD The following generally relates to reducing audible noise produced by an electrical and/or mechanical component of an imaging system, finds particular application to computed tomography (CT), and is also amenable to other imaging modalities and/or other systems. BACKGROUND A computed tomography (CT) imaging system includes a stationary frame/gantry that houses electrical and mechanical components utilized in the production, emission and detection of X-rays. For example, the gantry houses a rotating frame that is rotatably supported via a bearing or the like in the gantry, components such as an X-ray source, a high voltage generator, a data acquisition system, a first part of the bearing, etc. are carried on the rotating frame, and other components such as controls, a complementary part of the bearing, etc. are affixed in the gantry. Some of these components produce heat that could be detrimental to components and/or quality of the imaging, if not dissipated. An approach for reducing such heat includes employing an air cooling system with the gantry. For example, a blower and/or a fan has been employed to move air inside of the gantry to carry heat away from components. Some of these components, during operation (e.g., moving air with blowers and/or fans, rotating the rotating frame, etc.) produce audible noise (i.e., unintended and/or undesired sound in the audible range, twenty (20) to twenty kilohertz (20 kHz), of the electromagnetic spectrum), which may be perceivable by a subject being imaged and/or a clinician operating the imaging system. Air intake blowers, for instance, have produced lower frequency audible noise, such as frequencies lower than six hundred (600) Hz, which can be audibly perceived by the subject and/or the clinician. An approach for reducing audible noise includes utilizing a sound absorber with the imaging system. Unfortunately, such an approach is not well-suited for lower frequencies, which are more difficult to absorb relative to higher frequencies due to their longer wave lengths. In view of at least the foregoing, there is an unresolved need for an improved approach for reducing audible noise from a component of an imaging and/or other system. SUMMARY Aspects described herein address the above-referenced problems and others. This summary introduces concepts that are described in more detail in the detailed description. It should not be used to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. In one aspect, a computed tomography imaging system includes a gantry. The computed tomography imaging system further includes a rotating frame rotatably supported in the gantry. The rotating frame includes an X-ray source configured to emit X-ray radiation that traverses an examination region and an X-ray radiation sensitive detector disposed opposite the X-ray source across the examination region and configured to detect X-ray radiation traversing the examination region and generate a signal indicative of the detected X-ray radiation. The computed tomography imaging system further includes at least one component of the gantry or the rotating frame that produces audible noise. The computed tomography imaging system further includes an audible noise reducer configured to reduce the audible noise. The audible noise reducer includes a resonator tuned to a first frequency of the audible noise. In another aspect, a method includes receiving audible noise at a resonator of an imaging system. The audible noise is produced by a component of the imaging system. The resonator is tuned to a first frequency of the audible noise. The resonator includes a first chamber and a cover with a first region for the first chamber that includes a first set of apertures, a first volume of the first chamber and a first cross-sectional area and a first depth of the apertures of the first set correspond to the first frequency. The method further includes generating, by the resonator, an audible signal at the first frequency and out of phase of the first frequency. The generated signal destructively interferes with the first frequency, thereby reducing the audible noise. In another aspect, a computer readable medium is encoded with computer executable instructions. The computer executable instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to set a first speed of an intake blower or fan of an imaging system, wherein the intake blower or the fan produces audible noise and set a size of an adjustable size aperture of resonator of an imaging system to resonate at a first frequency of the audible noise corresponding to the first speed. Those skilled in the art will recognize still other aspects of the present application upon reading and understanding the attached description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The application is illustrated by way of example and not limited by the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference