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Acoustic coupling pads for the control of ultrasound neuromodulation exposure
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Acoustic coupling pads for the control of ultrasound neuromodulation exposure

Samantha Schafer and Mark Schafer
The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, v 152(4), pp A155-A155
Oct 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0015870

Abstract

We have developed acoustic coupling pads that facilitate single-blind and double-blind neuromodulation experiments by selectively transmitting ultrasound without affecting the audible sound. The pads were made from a skin-safe two-part silicone with little to no ultrasonic attenuation, that also provided the necessary acoustic properties, stability and flexibility. To inhibit the transmission of ultrasound, a foam disk was imbedded into the pad during the manufacturing process. The design goal for acoustic attenuation was −40 dB. 20 sets of transmit pads and non-transmit pads were fabricated. Acoustic transmission loss was measured in a water tank with a 60 mm diameter, 80 mm focus circular disk transducer operated at 650 kHz and a standard hydrophone (Reson TC4038). Transmit pads had an average of −0.4 dB loss; non-transmit pads met the required −40 dB loss (average: −47.4 dB). An operator experienced with ultrasound treatments was unable to distinguish them by visual inspection or casual physical manipulation. An experienced subject exposed to a typical treatment regimen was not able to distinguish any audible difference. The acoustic coupling pads create identical testing situations for single-blind and double-blind studies for neuromodulation treatments so that neither the patient nor the operator administering the treatment can distinguish which patient group received the ultrasound treatment and which did not.

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