THICKNESS EFFECTS OF THE METALLIC AND INSULATING MEMBRANES OF CYLINDRICAL ELECTROMAGNETIC SHOCK WAVE TRANSDUCERS USED IN EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK WAVE THERAPY

摘要

The study was to experimentally test the effects of the thickness of the metallic foil and insulating membrane encompassing the solenoid coil of the cylindrical electromagnetic shock wave transducer employed in extracorporeal shock wave therapy, in relation to the pressure pulse produced. The thicknesses considered were 30, 50, 100, 150, 200 μm in the foil and 50, 100, 150, 200, 300, 500 μm in the insulating membrane. Total 30 shock wave transducers covering all the thickness combination of each pair of the 2 membranes were constructed and tested. The results showed that the shock wave production was maximized at a particular thickness 50 μm of the metallic foil and when the insulator was as thin as possible.