Researchers are testing out technology that would reduce alarm noise in intensive care units, reports Physician’s Briefing.

Noting that free-field auditory medical alarms have created hazards for patients and clinicians, with the harsh characteristics of the alarm noise profile creating discomfort for patients and contributing to psychological problems, Joseph J. Schlesinger, MD, from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn, and colleagues presented details on a frequency-selective silencing device that can remove the alarm sounds from the patient perspective.

The researchers note that using a Raspberry Pi and digital filters to remove the alarm sounds, which primarily serve to alert clinicians, the device transmits other sounds to the patient. This allows the patients to hear everything and effectively communicate without experiencing the negative consequences of audible alarms.

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