Measurement and active-passive control of noise in neonatal incubators

摘要

This paper discusses work performed on measuring the interior sound and implementing noise control techniques on neonatal incubators. There is concern that the noise levels inside incubators may be excessive and harmful to the preterm infant. Work is thus directed towards measuring and estimating the noise and implementing and testing appropriate noise control treatments. The noise in a typical neonatal incubator was measured in the hospital environment and in the laboratory setting of an anechoic chamber. The noise was analyzed and the results indicate a significant level of low frequency sound particularly when devices such as ventilator pumps are employed. Different passive and active noise control strategies were implemented and the noise levels re-measured. The results indicate that these noise control techniques have the potential to significantly reduce the incubator interior noise levels.