Research with Sooma DUO: a platform built for rigorous science
Sooma DUO is made for tDCS clinical research as well as clinical care. The system supports double-blind, sham-controlled (placebo) designs, flexible stimulation parameters, and remote monitoring with structured data capture, so research teams can run controlled trials in the clinic or at home.
Many clinical studies across a wide range of research questions trust Sooma devices, and the platform is designed to make controlled, reproducible protocols straightforward to run.
Precise Stimulation Parameters for tDCS Clinical Research
Sooma DUO gives investigators precise, programmable control over stimulation, with the consistency that controlled trials require.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Direct current output (tDCS) | 0 to 6 mA |
| Alternating current output (tACS) | Up to ± 2 mA AC (4mA peak to peak) Frequency range 0 to 250 Hz |
| Dose control | Programmable session parameters with dose delivery reporting |
| Contact quality | Continuous automatic resistance monitoring and voltage adjustment during stimulation |
| Electrode placement | Easy to use head cap with pre-set positions for reproducible montages, also custom placements available |
| Blinding | Double-blind (Patient and researcher) sham-stimulation |
Double-blind, sham-controlled designs in tDCS Clinical Research
Sooma DUO supports active and sham (placebo) stimulation. Sham mode reproduces the brief ramp-up and ramp-down sensations of active stimulation without delivering the therapeutic dose, so neither the participant nor the person running the session can easily tell the two apart. This makes the device well suited to double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, the gold standard for clinical evidence.
The double-blind features of Sooma DUO have been evaluated by the FDA to be robust and acceptable for large-scale pivotal at-home trials.
Built for remote and home-based trials
The same connected tools that support clinical care also support research at a distance. Studies can extend beyond the clinic while keeping tight control of protocol adherence and data quality.
- Guided participant sessions. The Sooma App walks participants through each session and connects to the device, reducing variability in self-administered protocols.
- Adherence and dose tracking. Every session is logged, with completed and missed sessions and accurate dose delivery recorded per participant.
- Structured outcome capture. Validated questionnaires such as the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 can be collected on schedule through the app.
Sooma has a long track record here. In 2016, a Sooma device was used in one of the first double-blind, sham-controlled at-home tDCS studies (Hyvärinen et al. 2016, PLOS One).
Trusted by researchers worldwide
Here are some examples of publications with Sooma devices
- Reduction of symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder after transcranial direct current stimulation treatment: A real-world study
- No add-on therapeutic benefit of at-home anodal tDCS of the primary motor cortex to mindfulness meditation in patients with fibromyalgia
- A four-month home-based tDCS study on patients with Alzheimer’s disease
- Self-Administered Domiciliary tDCS Treatment for Tinnitus: A Double-Blind Sham-Controlled Study
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation of the Occipital Cortex in Medication Overuse Headache: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Study
You can also see our ongoing studies here.
Partner with Sooma on research
If you are planning a study with tDCS or tACS, our team can advise on device configuration, study app setup, and data capture for controlled designs. Sooma DUO is a CE-marked and MDR-approved Class IIa medical device manufactured in Finland under ISO 13485.
Many ethical committees have approved studies with Sooma DUO also after European MDR implementing regulations came into force enforcing control of devices used in research.