MRI scans are used to look at the brain, the muscles and many types of cancers which may not show up on other scans or may not provide a clear enough image to be useful.

The Problem with MRI Scanners and Vibration

An MRI scan machine is loud and has a lot of very rapidly moving parts. Because of that, it creates a lot of vibrations, but there are other problems to consider as well. In fact, with all MRI machines, no matter where they are located, there are actually two different problems, both directly attributed to vibration and both dangerous to the integrity of the machines and the scans they are producing.

Those two problems are:

1. Vibrational interference
2. Sound transmission

The only difference in the two is the direction in which they are generated. Both can negatively impact the results of the scan as well as the machine itself. An MRI machine is very expensive but so is the test that is done with it. In addition to being very costly, a scan is typically done to diagnose, rule out or categorize a very serious sickness or injury, where time may be of the essence.

Vibrational Interference

The term “vibrational interference” is used in reference to any type of vibration that is transmitted to the MRI scanner from the structure of the building and can come from any number of outside sources. For instance, it can refer to vibration from other machines in the building, typically a hospital which can mean elevators, other types of scanning equipment and more.

Even vibrations from traffic outside of the building itself, thunder from a passing storm and other sources of vibration can impact the delicate nature of the equipment which must be perfectly calibrated or it is not effective. If the vibrational interference is severe enough, it can literally cripple the scanner completely.

Sound Transmission

Just as vibrational interference impacts the MRI scanner from outside the area, coming from other areas of the building, sound transmission is a problem that is generated by the scanning machine and can be equally a problem to the rest of the building.

An MRI is a very loud machine and is typically considered a workplace hazard for a number of reasons. The noise that it generates can cause physical and emotional stress and illnesses that can result in an increased number of sick days and even permanent hearing loss. That can become a problem, not only for the technicians that are forced to work in the same area as the MRI scanner but for others who work in the same building who are subjected to the continual noise that is generated by each scan as they are performed.

In a busy hospital or clinic setting that can literally mean dozens of scans every day, often throughout the entire day and into the night. That can mean accumulated noise damage to the hearing for all the employees in that building.

Anti-Vibration Pads That Can Help With Both Problems

While the MRI machines themselves typically have some padding to protect the components and delicate parts from vibration, there are additional problems that must be dealt with as well. Those pre-installed anti vibration pads might not be enough to handle both vibrational interference and sound transmission effectively or may not be meant to withstand months, let alone years of constant use. There are other solutions to these problems that should and must be considered.

Because both types of vibration must be dealt with, there are likely to be several types of anti-vibration pads that are needed. Using Sorbothane can be the solution to all of these needs because it is adaptable and customizable especially when standard parts or designs do not hold the right solution for the needs.

There are many properties of this material that makes it the perfect solution to isolate vibration, including its ability to be cut and be shaped to virtually any design. In addition, it can be waterproofed if needed, and is chemical resistant.

The Less is More Principle and Sorbothane

The design of the MRI is very exacting and precise. The subtlest of changes can render the machine useless meaning that hundreds of thousands of dollars are wasted by the hospital or other facility. A pad that is too thick can disrupt the scans and may throw parts off kilter. Other pad materials may need to be made fairly thick to be effective but that is not the case with Sorbothane which because of the way it is created can be fairly thin and still be very effective at cutting down on both vibrational interference and sound transfer. It can also be made to be very small or very large depending on the placement and exact use it is being created for. That is why Sorbothane is the answer to so many issues, because it can be adapted in so many different ways.

In many cases, custom orders are the best suggestion especially when a part is being relied on to be absolutely perfect. First, visit the web site at http://www.sorbothane.com/blog to get more information about the qualities and properties of Sorbothane and how many different applications it has been used for in the past. Then, speak to a representative of the design team and allow them to help come up with the perfect solution for your needs including designing a perfect part.

Vibration increases noise output but it can also do other things as well. Some vibration is necessary but in some cases, the machine may start vibrating more and more, until finally it breaks. Sometimes that break is just a single piece or part that can be easily repaired or replaced and in other cases it means a complete loss of the machine. For the average person, that can mean a minor inconvenience but to a large company that relies on the machine it can be a devastating loss of time and revenue which in turn affects everyone.

A Machine in a Factory Breaks Down: The Chain of Hardship a Single Broken Part Creates

A machine in a factory can be considered its heart – it is the center of the whole operation, creating the product that is being relied on for the livelihood of everyone that works there, from the owner of the factory to the line workers and beyond the doors of that factory. Other people count on that machine and the product it is meant to create as well. For instance, the person who ships the product from factory to marketplace would have nothing to ship if the machine is out of commission. The person at the stores would have no product to sell. The advertisers would have nothing to market to new customers. And the customers are impacted too.

The longer a machine is down, the more the whole chain suffers. Soon there are layoffs at the factory, the customer starts having to pay higher prices for the product that they need. It is all because of damages that might have been avoidable with the right protection.

Moving Sensitive Equipment Requires the Right Protection as Well

Once a machine is in place, the protection from vibration becomes important but that is not when it actually starts. Rather, the need for machine vibration pads begins long before the machine arrives at its final destination at the point of installation. It must be protected during its transportation from point A to point B as well. Any excess jolting of the machine during this process can mean that it will not work correctly once it arrives.

Whether you are shipping a home blender from a warehouse to a customer’s home or moving a huge factory sized machine from one area of the factory to another, protection is key to a safe arrival.

Look at your new blender when it arrives. It probably came encased in Styrofoam packaging and was wedged very tightly into the box to give it some protection. Inside of the casing, other pieces were protecting the motor itself from jolts and damage during shipping. Now, look at a huge machine being moved inside of an even larger truck. That machine requires very special handling and some very serious padding to arrive safely.

Even in the case of a move inside of the factory, where a machine may only need to move a few feet away, it will still need to be protected so that the delicate components are not unduly jostled and potentially broken.

The Unique Properties of Sorbothane to the Rescue

While most people think that the Styrofoam packaging container is the main source of protection for the small appliance and while that may be true of some of its parts, it is not what is protecting the motor. In huge machinery, the protection comes from special padding material that is meant to absorb the vibration and to deflect it before it can cause damage to the machine.

The material of choice is Sorbothane because in addition to being highly effective at vibration control, it is also very unique in other ways as well. Meant to be used in place of other materials because it is a blend of properties, Sorbothane can be custom metered so that you are getting the exact size and thickness you need, no matter what the application might be.

In addition, it is unique because it is one of the very few materials that can be called environmentally friendly. It is not a product that is made of materials that will damage the earth or uses endangered ingredients. Sorbothane is even listed as non-toxic as determined by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Why You Should Choose Sorbothane for Your Needs

If you need to move a machine or protect it during its operation, you need Sorbothane. If you are looking to stop the accumulated damages from excessive vibration, you need Sorbothane. The first step to finding the right vibration control solution is to look at http://www.sorbothane.com/sorbothane-standard-products-guide.php to see what is listed there. However, if the right solution is not found there, it is only a matter of contacting the design team to discuss your exact needs.

Whether you need something way bigger than is ordered in the standard parts lists or something much smaller or just something different, the team can help you find exactly what you need. Sometimes it is a matter of slightly modifying an existing product while in other cases, it might be a matter of completely coming up with something new. That is what makes Sorbothane unique, not only as a product but as a company as well, allowing people to find exactly what they are looking for or helping to create the exact right solution. All products are built with the same level of pride whether they were designed by us or are a customer’s solution.

The problem of vibration

Everything comes in contact with vibration – with sensitive equipment like a scale, vibration can cause inaccurate readings and can increase the time needed for the scale to zero out.

Vibration can be present within any working environment and may cause multiple problems. The use of a vibration damping material such as a specific isolator can reduce or even eliminate destructive vibration.

How we’ve solved the problem in the past

Sorbothane, Inc. can engineer and produce custom vibration solutions for sensitive lab equipment, electronics, consumer products and industrial components to fit your specific application. Don’t just take our word for it, see what our friends at carefusion.com have to say:

“The situation here is that we have our scales on modular tables. So when we are working on the table with the scales, the readings would bounce around quite a bit and we would have to frequently average the numbers. When it came time to “tare” the scales they would take 1-2 minutes to settle down enough to zero themselves. With Sorbothane (2” – 30 Durometer Hemispheres) the scales take 5-10 seconds to “tare” and we can pound on the tables with our fists and the readings still remain totally stable!”

Thank you for all your help,

Mark

Sr. Tech, Manufacturing Engineer

How our vibration solutions can help you

Whether you are working with sensitive lab equipment, electronics, consumer products or industrial equipment, Sorbothane® is the perfect material to isolate unwanted vibration.

Sorbothane® is a unique material exhibiting both solid and liquid properties and can be adapted to any number of uses. Our engineers can discuss your exact needs and provide solutions that will be perfect for your application.

Standard Sorbothane® products and custom engineered solutions are available to isolate vibration and attenuate shock. Custom components can be specially designed and manufactured to meet your unique vibration damping requirements – contact our design team today for your free consultation.