Thermal finite element analysis of localized hypothermia treatment of the human eye. (January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gongal, D.; Thakur, S.; Panse, A.; Shankarrao, P.; Stark, J.A.; Hetling, J.R.; Ozgen, B.; Foster, C.D.
• Is Part Of: Medical engineering & physics. Volume 111(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-01
• Subjects: Therapeutic hypothermia -- Finite element method -- Thermal analysis -- Ocular trauma; Biomedical engineering -- Periodicals; Biomedical Engineering -- Periodicals; Physics -- Periodicals; Génie biomédical -- Périodiques; Biomedical engineering; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2022.103928
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-4533

Abstract

Highlights: A thermal finite element model is developed to explore the efficacy of induced hypothermia in the treatment of eye injuries. An extended geometry, including the tissues around the eye, is developed from images of the eye. The finite element model includes conduction, convection of the fluid, radiation, and metabolic heat generation of the tissues. The model demonstrates that therapeutic hypothermia could be beneficial in the case of eye injury. Abstract: Localized hypothermia treatment can reduce the risk of vision loss due to ocular trauma. Hypothermia reduces inflammation and metabolic rate, and improves blood flow to prevent nerve and tissue damage. This paper presents a finite element thermal analysis to determine the efficacy of local hypothermia treatment administered using a scleral eye contact ring that acts as a heat sink. A realistic model of the human eye orbit, including fat and muscle, is created using MRI scans. A simplified CAD-based model is also created based on the first model. A transient analysis is performed by lowering the contact surface between the device and the eye to 4 ∘ C. The study shows that the device lowers the temperature of the optic nerve head to a therapeutic range of 32–34 ∘ C in less than 10 min of treatment, hence supporting the efficacy of such a device.