New ‘Sound Blinds’ Unveiled Reducing Hospital Noise

A new material that gives never before seen effects on sound and noise is to be trialed in hospitals and other noisy locations like motorways.

How these sound blinds can aid hospital efforts

This technology allows scientists to turn plastic sheets into noise-canceling panels with the same noise-reduction effect of as two inches of plywood but weighing four to six times less. These sheets are easily movable and the panels can transform a noisy living room, office space, etc.

A study by the British Medical Journal reported that 40% of hospital patients are bothered by noise at night with levels regularly exceeding international recommendations. Another study from March of this year showed noises levels were as high as 88dB have been seen in intensive care units, like blaring music through your headphones for a whole day.

The company that created the Sonoblind panels, Metasonixx, is a spin-out from the Universities of Sussex and Bristol. It was founded by Dr Gianluca Memoli, from the school of Engineering of Informatics of the University of Sussex and by Professor Bruce Drinkwater, of Bristol University, has just been awarded the Armourers & Brasiers Ventrue Prize, which comes with a £25,000 investment.

Dr Memoli said “Our panels are much lighter than traditional solutions for noise abatement and, if required, can even let air and light through”, and “Some of the panels can be used as grilles to silence air conditioning units and extractor fans or as part of blinds, to keep the noise out while the window stays open.”

Trials are about to start in UK hospitals in an attempt to reduce the constant noise on busy wards, A 2020 study by St. George’s hospital in London attributes unwanted noise mostly to medical equipment like ventilators and their alarms. This excess noise has been implicated in causing patient issues like inducing stress, delaying recovery, high blood pressure and reduced performance and stress for staff.

Metasonixx is also soon to start working with MOVYON, the centre for research and innovation within the Autostrade per l’Italia Group. It will look at using these panels to create quiet areas for drivers in peaceful outdoor settings.

Speaking on this, John Eccles, one of the Metasonixx technicians said “The measurements to characterise the local soundscape are underway near Florence, and our initial ideas will be presented at Euronoise 2021, in October”. Metasonixx is also working with companies like Apollo Tyres LTD and Bioecology to incorporate its patented tech into other scenarios.

Professor Bill Bonfield, chairman of the Armourers and Brasiers Venture Prize judging panel said “Our prize looks to encourage scientific entrepreneurship in the UK and provide funding to help innovative developments like this realise their potential.”

Dr Memoli said “We intend to use the Venture Prize money to manufacture panels, to be used in trials in hospitals and offices across the UK”, and “Our designs take inspiration from devices that shape light – like lenses, holograms and LCD displays. Metasonixx’s technology, based on acoustic metamaterials, can be the ultimate defence against noise at home or in open offices.”

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