Instituto Universitario de Matemática Pura y Aplicada, Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain.
Ann Biomed Eng. 2012 May;40(5):1182-91. doi: 10.1007/s10439-011-0492-1. Epub 2011 Dec 22.
Radiofrequency (RF) thermokeratoplasty uses RF currents to alter the curvature of the cornea by means of thermal lesions. An RF applicator which combined a microkeratome suction ring and a circular electrode was designed with the aim of creating circular thermal lesions in a predictable, uniform and safe way. An experimental study was conducted on ex vivo porcine eyes. A theoretical model was also designed. The experimental results showed a lesion depth of 34.2 ± 11.0% of corneal thickness at a constant voltage of 50 V up to roll-off (1000 Ω of impedance). With a voltage of 30 V for 30 s the mean depth was 36.8 ± 8.1%. The progress of electrical impedance throughout heating and lesion dimensions were used to compare the experimental and theoretical results. Both the impedance evolution and lesion dimensions obtained from the theoretical model showed good agreement with the experimental findings. The findings suggest that the new applicator could be a suitable option for creating uniform circular thermal lesions.
射频（RF）热角膜塑形术利用 RF 电流通过热损伤改变角膜曲率。设计了一种将微型角膜刀吸环和圆形电极结合在一起的 RF 应用器，目的是安全、可预测且均匀地产生圆形热损伤。在离体猪眼上进行了实验研究，并设计了理论模型。实验结果表明，在恒定电压为 50V 直至截止（1000Ω 阻抗）时，深度为角膜厚度的 34.2±11.0%。在 30V 电压下 30s，平均深度为 36.8±8.1%。通过比较加热过程中的电阻抗变化和损伤尺寸，对实验和理论结果进行了比较。从理论模型中得到的阻抗变化和损伤尺寸都与实验结果吻合较好。研究结果表明，新型应用器可能是创建均匀圆形热损伤的一种合适选择。
