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. 2017:2017:5289041.
doi: 10.1155/2017/5289041. Epub 2017 Apr 9.

Electrical Stimulation for Wound-Healing: Simulation on the Effect of Electrode Configurations

Yung-Shin Sun  1
Affiliations

Electrical Stimulation for Wound-Healing: Simulation on the Effect of Electrode Configurations

Yung-Shin Sun. Biomed Res Int. 2017.

Abstract

Endogenous electric field is known to play important roles in the wound-healing process, mainly through its effects on protein synthesis and cell migration. Many clinical studies have demonstrated that electrical stimulation (ES) with steady direct currents is beneficial to accelerating wound-healing, even though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, a three-dimensional finite element wound model was built to optimize the electrode configuration in ES. Four layers of the skin, stratum corneum, epidermis, dermis, and subcutis, with defined thickness and electrical properties were modeled. The main goal was to evaluate the distributions of exogenous electric fields delivered with direct current (DC) stimulation using different electrode configurations such as sizes and positions. Based on the results, some guidelines were obtained in designing the electrode configuration for applications of clinical ES.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) The geometry of the wound and the skin (not to scale). (b) The wound model constructed in COMSOL. (c) The finite element mesh constructed in COMSOL.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Five electrode configurations used in this study.
Figure 3
Figure 3
(a) 3D distribution of the endogenous EF. (b) Direction of the electric current flow. (c) 2D distribution of the endogenous EF. (d) 1D distribution of the endogenous EF.
Figure 4
Figure 4
(a) 3D exogenous EF distribution in Geo 1. (b) Direction of the electric current flow in Geo 1. (c) 2D exogenous EF distribution in Geo 1. (d) 1D exogenous EF distribution in Geo 1.
Figure 5
Figure 5
1D exogenous EF distributions in (a) Geo 2, (b) Geo 3, and (c) Geo 4.
Figure 6
Figure 6
(a) Direction of the electric current flow in Geo 5 (Ambient = PBS). (b) 1D exogenous EF distribution in Geo 5 (Ambient = PBS). (c) 1D exogenous EF distribution in Geo 5 (Ambient = air).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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