Article
Suprachoroial retinal stimulation using temporally interfering electric fields: a simulation study
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Published: | December 10, 2019 |
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Outline
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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.