| abstract |
Disclosed are compositions and articles for a semi-rigid hydrogel material that provides an acoustic coupling medium for ultrasound diagnostic and treatment techniques. In one aspect, a hydrogel material for an acoustic coupling medium includes a sodium alginate block copolymer, a dimethylacrylamide monomer, and water. In some implementations, the sodium alginate block copolymer is present in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 25 wt %, the dimethylacrylamide monomer is present in an amount of about 1 wt % to about 40 wt %, and the water is present in an amount of at least about 50 wt % of the total weight of the hydrogel composition. |