Article
Suprachoroial retinal stimulation using temporally interfering electric fields: a simulation study
Search Medline for
Authors
-
Yasuo Terasawa
- Artificial Vision Institute, Nidek Co., Ltd, Gamagori/J; Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology/J
-
H. Tashiro
- Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology; Department of Health Sciences, Kyushu University/J
-
J. Ohta
- Materials Science, Nara Institute of Science and Technology/J
| Published: | December 10, 2019 |
|---|
Outline
Text
Objective: Recently electrical stimulation using temporally interfering electric fields was proposed as a method to stimulate neural tissues distant from stimulation electrodes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of temporally interfering electric fields as a method to selectively stimulate retinal neurons distant from electrodes suprachoroidally.
Materials and methods: Two-dimensional eye model consisting of sclera, choroid, retina, vitreous body and surrounding tissue was developed. Two-channel electrode array was placed in the sclera. Sinusoidal current waves were applied to the two electrodes. The frequencies of sinusoidal waves were 2 kHz for ch1 and 2.05 kHz for ch2 respectively. Evoked current distribution inside the eye was calculated and visualized by numerical analysis software (COMSOL Multiphysics).
Results: For the Y components of current vector (the Y direction is perpendicular to the retina), a region with high amplitude of current envelope was observed both in the choroid and in the retina between two electrodes. For the X components (the X direction is parallel to the retina), high-amplitude area was observed in the sclera between two electrodes.
Discussion: Simulation results suggested that electrical stimulation of retinal neurons distant from the electrodes was feasible by temporally interfering electric fields.
