Computational Assessment of Electrical Stimulation Effects on Cell Temperature*

Electrical stimulation (ES) therapy has been shown to promote the healing of chronic epidermal wounds and suppress degeneration of articular cartilage. However, there are still unanswered questions regarding the optimization and limitations of this treatment. One of the main challenges of ES therapy is the potential for ohmic heat generation, which can lead to cell degradation and even cell death. This study presents a simulation-based analysis of the ohmic heating effects created by electrical stimulation in the body to identify essential parameters for treatment. A representative model of human tissue and articular cartilage was input into a Computational Fluid Dynamics model to assess a variety of voltages while monitoring temperature and time. This study aims to ascertain the point at which cells sustain irreversible damage due to temperature exposure. Computational models were developed to compare the impact of blood flow in the intermediate layers of the skin and to examine the thermal dissipation characteristics in joints, enabling the application of higher electric fields without reaching hazardous temperatures. Research and clinical studies have demonstrated that ES can significantly increase the rate at which a wound heals. Understanding the thresholds for when thermal damage occurs will enable clinicians to optimize this process.