DENTAL24: Noise Cancelling a Dental Drill
- Program: Mechanical Engineering
- Course: EN.530.404 MechE Senior Design
Project Description:
Dental drill noise creates discomfort and may fuel a patient’s aversion to treatment. The DENTAL24 team developed a device to reduce the noise experienced by the patient. The device captures vibrations conducted through the patient’s bones, processes those signals, and outputs inverse “canceling” signals with an amplitude and phase specific to each ear. Bone conduction headphones transmit noise canceling signals to the patient and improve their experience during the procedure. The team and sponsor have applied for a patent for their novel approach.
Project Photo:
The DENTAL24 team has performed many tests on its own (mostly!!) willing members to better understand how dental drill vibrations move through the human head.