Abstract:
Acupuncture is one of the most extensively used complementary and alternative medicine therapies worldwide. In this study, we explore the use of near-infrared light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to provide acupuncture-like physical stimulus to the skin tissue, but in a completely non-invasive way. A computational modeling framework has been developed to investigate the light-tissue interaction within a three-dimensional multi-layer model of skin tissue. Finite element-based analysis has been conducted, to obtain the spatiotemporal temperature distribution within the skin tissue, by solving Pennes\' bioheat transfer equation, coupled with the Beer-Lambert law. The irradiation profile of the LED has been experimentally characterized and imposed in the numerical model. The experimental validation of the developed model has been conducted through comparing the numerical model predictions with those obtained experimentally on the agar phantom. The effects of the LED power, treatment duration, LED distance from the skin surface, and usage of multiple LEDs on the temperature distribution attained within the skin tissue have been systematically investigated, highlighting the safe operating power of the selected LEDs. The presented information about the spatiotemporal temperature distribution, and critical factors affecting it, would assist in better optimizing the desired thermal dosage, thereby enabling a safe and effective LED-based photothermal therapy.
摘要:
针灸是世界上使用最广泛的补充和替代医学疗法之一。在这项研究中,我们探索使用近红外发光二极管(LED)为皮肤组织提供类似针灸的物理刺激,但以完全非侵入性的方式。已经开发了计算建模框架来研究皮肤组织的三维多层模型中的光-组织相互作用。进行了基于有限元的分析,为了获得皮肤组织内的时空温度分布,通过求解Pennes\'生物传热方程,再加上Beer-Lambert定律.LED的辐照轮廓已通过实验表征并施加在数值模型中。通过将数值模型预测与在琼脂模型上实验获得的预测进行比较,对开发的模型进行了实验验证。LED电源的影响,治疗持续时间,LED距离皮肤表面,和使用多个LED对皮肤组织内获得的温度分布进行了系统的研究,突出显示所选LED的安全操作电源。关于时空温度分布的信息,以及影响它的关键因素,将有助于更好地优化所需的热剂量,从而实现安全有效的基于LED的光热治疗。