Communication apparatus and devices for surgical robotic systems are described. The communication apparatus can include a user console in communication with a communication device having a surgical tool. The communication device can include a microphone to convert a sound input into an acoustic input signal. The communication device can transmit the acoustic input signal to the user console for reproduction as a sound output for a remote operator. The surgical tool can include an endoscope having several microphones mounted on a housing. The surgical tool can be a sterile barrier having a microphone and a drape. The microphone(s) of the surgical tools can face a surrounding environment such that a tableside staff is a source of the sound input that causes the sound output, and a surgeon and the tableside staff can communicate in a noisy environment. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Communication apparatus and devices for surgical robotic systems are described. The communication apparatus can include a user console in communication with a communication device having a surgical tool. The communication device can include a microphone to convert a sound input into an acoustic input signal. The communication device can transmit the acoustic input signal to the user console for reproduction as a sound output for a remote operator. The surgical tool can include an endoscope having several microphones mounted on a housing. The surgical tool can be a sterile barrier having a microphone and a drape. The microphone(s) of the surgical tools can face a surrounding environment such that a tableside staff is a source of the sound input that causes the sound output, and a surgeon and the tableside staff can communicate in a noisy environment. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Active auscultation may be used to determine organ (e.g., lung or heart) characteristics of users. An acoustic or piezo-electric signal (e.g., a pulse, a tone, and/or a broadband pulse) may be projected into an animal (typically human) body or thorax. The signal interacts with the body, or lungs, and in some cases may induce resonance within the body/lungs. A resultant signal may be emitted from the body which may be analyzed to determine, for example, a lung's resonant frequency or frequencies and/or how the sound is otherwise absorbed, reflected, or modified by the body. This information may be indicative of lung characteristics such as lung capacity, a volume of air trapped in the lungs, and/or the presence of COPD.

A transport incubator comprising an incubator, frame, and supporting components. The incubator is self-leveling, vibrationally isolated, and features active noise canceling or reduction. The frame is composed of lightweight composites and features composite air tanks.

A mobile x-ray system having an x-ray source and an electronic control system for firing of the x-ray source includes a sound cancellation system. A microphone is used to detect incoming sound waves and a speaker is used to emit a canceling audio signal to defeat the detected incoming sound waves. The canceling audio signal destructively interferes with the incoming sound waves to attenuate or cancel at least portion of the detected incoming sound waves.

Active noise cancellation is employed to address unwanted acoustical noise generated by various equipment associated with an ophthalmic surgical system. Active noise cancellation may be used within a chassis of the ophthalmic surgical system, within an air compressor used with the ophthalmic surgical system, and within a reciprocating surgical probe used with the ophthalmic surgical system.

A passive neonatal transport incubator (PNTI), useful for thermo-regulating a neonate, comprising an inner volume configured by means of size and shape to accommodate the neonate, the inner volume is defined by an envelope having a main longitudinal axis with a proximal end and an opposite distal end, the envelope is at least partially perforated. Further, the PNTI is configured to be ventilated by an independently ventilated medical device, and is configured by means of size, shape and material to allow the neonate to be examined by the medical device.

Provided are methods and apparatus for enhancing a signal-to-noise ratio. In an example, provided is an apparatus configured to modify audio to better match the way the human brain processes audio by modifying the audio to a form which takes advantage of human echolocation capabilities. When humans listen to audio, they subconsciously listen for an echo and thus subconsciously focus on listening to, and for, meaningful information in audio. The focus causes humans to ignore noise in the audio, which results in enhancing a signal-to-noise ratio. In an example, the provided apparatus compensates for shortcomings of a device to which the apparatus is coupled by adjusting a respective amplitude of at least one constituent audio frequency of an output digital audio stream of the apparatus.

In one aspect, the invention is a sleep device. The sleep-aide device includes a soft housing adapted to be disposed over a user's head, a microphone positioned on the housing to receive an ambient sound signal, a suppression circuit that receives the ambient sound signal and produces a suppression sound signal, and a set of transducers, arranged in the soft housing, which receive the suppression sound signal. The suppression sound signal has a magnitude and phase to substantially cancel the ambient sound signal at the user's ear.

In another aspect, the sleep-aide device includes a microphone to receive an ambient sound signal, a suppression circuitry, which receives the ambient sound signal and transmits a suppression sound signal based on the ambient sound signal, and a transducer which receives the suppression sound signal, which has a magnitude and phase to substantially cancel the ambient sound signal at the user's ear. The sleep device also includes an earphone housing, which is attached to the ear when worn by a user, containing the microphone, the suppression circuitry and the transducer.

Disclosed are a noise reduction box and a respirator. The noise reduction box includes a housing and a blower. The housing includes a first chamber, a second chamber, an air inlet and an air outlet. The first chamber and the second chamber are connected to each other, and the air inlet and the air outlet are connected to the first chamber respectively. The blower is disposed in the first chamber, and includes an air intake connected to the second chamber and a tuyere connected to the air outlet.