The present invention provides an apparatus for reducing acoustic noise in a
magnetic resonance imaging device including a suspension element including at least
one resilient element and an active drivable element for applying a compensating
force to reduce vibration transmission. The active drivable element is positioned
so as to not directly support the weight of the gradient coil assembly, which avoids
applying strong forces to relatively fragile active drivable elements, such as
piezoelectric force transducers. Force signals for the active drivable element
are derived in a feed-forward manner from the applied gradient waveform or from
motion of the gradient coil assembly bracket. Alternatively, the active drivable
element can be driven by signals derived from measured vibration or other motion
of parts of the MRI magnet, gradient coils or rf coils.
