# US 9,438,981 B2 · MRI compatible headset > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,438,981 B2 - Document ID: US9438981B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/989,478 - Filed: 2016-01-06 - Published: 2016-04-28 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-05-18 - Assignees: Neocoil, LLC - Applicants: NeoCoil, LLC - Inventors: Brian Brown; Manuel J. Ferrer Herrera; Richard J. Smaglick - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9438981B2 ## CPC - H04R 1/1016: {Earpieces of the intra-aural type} - A61B 5/055: involving electronic [EMR] or nuclear [NMR] magnetic resonance, e.g. magnetic resonance imaging - G10L 21/0272: Voice signal separating - H04R 1/1033: {Cables or cables storage, e.g. cable reels (cord reels per se H02G11/02; arrangements for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of conductors or cables B65H75/34; extensible conductors or cables, e.g. self-coiling cords H01B7/06)} - H04R 1/1091: {Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083} - H04R 5/033: Headphones for stereophonic communication {(details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10)} - H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones - H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING ## Abstract A wireless headset capable of receiving audio signals transmitted wirelessly and compatible for use in an MRI scanner is disclosed. The headset includes a first wireless module connected to the first earphone and a second wireless module connected to the second earphone. Each wireless module is electrically connected to a speaker in the respective earphone. The first wireless module receives the audio signal from a remote source and coordinates transmission of the audio signal to each of the speakers. The compact nature of each earphone minimizes the length of wire runs. In addition, the headset is made of materials having low magnetic susceptibility such that they will not be affected by the magnetic field from the MRI scanner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A magnetic resonance (MR) compatible headset for receiving a radio frequency (RF) audio signal during an MR scan, comprising: a first earphone operable to be worn by a patient within a MR scanner during the MR scan, the first earphone including: a first housing having at least one opening through a surface located proximate to a first ear canal of the patient when the first earphone is worn by the patient, an RF audio module mounted proximate the first housing, such that the RF audio module is located within the MR scanner during the MR scan, the RF audio module configured to receive the RF audio signal and output a wired audio signal, a signal processing device configured to receive the wired audio signal and to process the wired audio signal into a first channel signal and a second channel signal, and a first speaker mounted within the first housing proximate the at least one opening of the first housing, wherein the first speaker is configured to receive the first channel signal and to reproduce the first channel signal as an audio output; a second earphone operable to be worn by the patient within the MR scanner during the MR scan, the second earphone including: a second housing having at least one opening through a surface located proximate to a second car canal of the patient when the second earphone is worn by the patient, and a second speaker mounted within the second housing proximate the at least one opening of the second housing, wherein the second speaker is configured to receive the second channel signal and to reproduce the second channel signal as an audio output; and a transmission means for transmitting the second channel signal between the signal processing device and the second speaker, wherein each component of the headset is made of materials having a low magnetic signature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The MR compatible headset of claim 1 wherein each component of the headset is made of materials having a low magnetic susceptibility. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The MR compatible headset of claim 1 wherein the transmission means includes an electrical conductor connected between the first and second earphones and at least one cable trap connected in series with the electrical conductor, the cable trap configured to reduce currents induced by magnetic fields during the MR scan. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The MR compatible headset of claim 1 wherein the transmission means includes a first optical transceiver in the first earphone, a second optical transceiver in the second earphone, and an optical fiber connecting the first and second optical transceivers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The MR compatible headset of claim 1 wherein the transmission means includes a second RF audio module in the second earphone and the RF audio module in the first earphone is configured to retransmit the second channel signal to the second RF audio module. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The MR compatible headset of claim 1 wherein: the first earphone further includes a proximity sensor having a detection range and configured to generate a signal corresponding to an object present within the detection range; and the RF audio module and the signal processing device are configurable to operate in a first operating mode or a second operating mode as a function of the signal generated by the proximity sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The MR compatible headset of claim 1 wherein the RF audio signal is a stereo signal having a left and a right channel and the signal processing device separates the left channel into one of the first or second channel signals and separates the right channel into the other of the first or second channel signals. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The MR compatible headset of claim 1 wherein: the first earphone further includes at least one microphone configured to detect ambient audio signals and generate a first signal corresponding to the ambient audio signals; and the signal processing device is further configured to: receive the first signal corresponding to the ambient audio signals, generate a second signal that cancels at least a portion of the first signal, and combine the second signal with at least one of the first channel signal and the second channel signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The MR compatible headset of claim 8 further comprising a microphone configured to receive the patient's voice and transfer a third signal to the signal processing device corresponding to the patient's voice, wherein the signal processing device is further configured to add the second signal to the third signal and to generate a fourth signal resulting from the summation of the second and third signals. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The MR compatible headset of claim 1 wherein each of the first and the second earphone is a bud-style earphone, configured to engage a patient's ear canal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The MR compatible headset of claim 1 further comprising: a support arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the support arm connected to one of the first earphone or the second earphone; and a microphone mounted proximate the second end of the support arm, wherein the microphone is configured to receive the patient's voice and transfer a signal to the RF audio module and wherein the RF audio module is configured to wirelessly transmit the signal received from the microphone. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The MR compatible headset of claim 11 wherein the microphone receives ambient noise along with the patient's voice and the RF audio module is configured to: process the signal to separate the patient's voice from the ambient noise; generate an audio signal that cancels at least a portion of the ambient audio signals, and add the audio signal that cancels at least a portion of the ambient audio signals to the signal received from the microphone prior to wirelessly transmitting the signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The MR compatible headset of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second earphones further includes a display unit. ### Claim 14 A magnetic resonance (MR) compatible headset operable to be worn by a patient within an MR scanner during an MR scan, wherein the MR compatible headset receives a radio frequency (RF) audio signal during the MR scan, the MR compatible headset comprising: an RF audio module configured to receive the RF audio signal and output a wired audio signal; a signal processing device configured to receive the wired audio signal and to process the wired audio signal into a first channel signal and a second channel signal; a first earphone including: a first housing having at least one opening through a surface located proximate to a first ear canal of the patient when the first earphone is worn by the patient, a first speaker mounted within the first housing proximate the at least one opening of the first housing, wherein the first speaker is configured to receive the first channel signal and to reproduce the first channel signal as an audio output; a second earphone including: a second housing having at least one opening through a surface located proximate to a second ear canal of the patient when the second earphone is worn by the patient, and a second speaker mounted within the second housing proximate the at least one opening of the second housing, wherein the second speaker is configured to receive the second channel signal and to reproduce the second channel signal as an audio output; a first communication connection between the signal processing device and the first speaker for transmitting the first channel signal; and a second communication connection between the signal processing device and the second speaker for transmitting the second channel signal, wherein each component of the headset is made of materials having a low magnetic signature. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The MR compatible headset of claim 14 wherein the RF audio module and the signal processing device are each located within the first housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The MR compatible headset of claim 15 wherein the second communication connection includes an electrical conductor connected between the first and second earphones and at least one cable trap connected in series with the electrical conductor, the cable trap configured to reduce currents induced by magnetic fields during the MR scan. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The MR compatible headset of claim 15 wherein the second communication connection includes a first optical transceiver in the first earphone, a second optical transceiver in the second earphone, and an optical fiber connecting the first and second optical transceivers. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The MR compatible headset of claim 15 wherein the second communication connection includes a second RF audio module in the second earphone and the RF audio module in the first earphone is configured to retransmit the second channel signal to the second RF audio module. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The MR compatible headset of claim 14 wherein: the first earphone further includes at least one microphone configured to detect ambient audio signals and generate a first signal corresponding to the ambient audio signals; and the signal processing device is further configured to: receive the first signal corresponding to the ambient audio signals, and generate a second signal that cancels at least a portion of the first signal, and combine the second signal with at least one of the first channel signal and the second channel signal. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The MR compatible headset of claim 14 wherein each component of the headset is made of materials having a low magnetic susceptibility.