Transcript Sound Therapy

Sound Therapy
Noah Walcutt
(ME)
and
Cindy Hlavacek
(BME)
Advised by
Thomas Anderson, MA
What is Sound Therapy?
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Sound/Music can have therapeutic effects
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Emotional well-being & Consciousness
Physical health
Communication abilities
Cognitive skills
Evidence in the writings of Aristotle & Plato
WWI & WWII
– Musicians visited hospitals across the country playing
music for injured soldiers
– Veterans said the music helped alleviate the physical
and emotional trauma of war
Motivation: Potential Benefactors
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All ages
Mental health needs
Developmental and learning disabilities
Alzheimer's disease and other aging related
conditions
Substance abuse
Brain injuries
Physical disabilities
Acute and chronic pain
Project Statement
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Construct an advanced and unique
prototype to be used for sound therapy
focusing on:
– Electronic operation
– Ease of application
– Patient & Therapist mobility and comfort
How Will it Work?
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Magnets
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Strings
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Computer controls magnets which
control the guitar strings
Guitar strings create vibrations which
resonate the wooden dome
Dome acts as a sound board for the
intensification of vibration inside the
base enclosure
Walls of the enclosure further
intensify the sound
Patient sitting underneath dome
inside enclosure experiences the
generated “music”
Initial Design
~ 4.5’
Guitar
Strings
(4x5=20)
Base Enclosure
supports
Top Dome
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Electronic
4 Guitar Strings
The Details
Solenoid
Boxes
DAC
Circuit
Board
– 120V External power source
– LabView controls NI 3501 DAC
– DAC controls circuit board components
for all 20 guitar strings
DAC  Resistor  Bipolar Transistor
 Steady State Relay (SSR)
 Solenoid (inductor) (x20)
– Solenoids eject magnets
that strike guitar strings on
dome like piano hammers
Completed Work
Course Requirements (up to 12/13/2007)
 Construction of wooden base
enclosure and dome with guitar
strings/tuners
 Construction of basic circuit
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– 10kΩ Resistors, Bipolar Transistors, SSRs,
Solenoid Boxes
Current Work
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Continue researching sound therapy
and existing devices
Debug & finalize electronic construction
of striker circuit board and wiring to
DAC and solenoid boxes
Complete electronic and mechanical
design of strikers to successfully punch
guitar strings
Future Work
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Finalize electronic design & construction of strikers
Continue Problem Research
Mechanical Optimization: consistent and reliable string striking
Write and incorporate LabView software
Integrate/mount all electronic components to wooden
dome
Application of Sound Therapy suggested by advisor:
– Design moveable walls to utilize more sound space
– Modify stand
 Finishing work: sanding, painting, or coating
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Remaining course requirements:
reports, presentations, etc
Overall Status
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Right on schedule!