Retinal temperature determination based on photopic porcine electroretinogram

Ossi Kaikkonen, Teemu Tapio Turunen, Anna Meller, Johanna Ahlgren, Ari Koskelainen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

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Abstract

Objective: Subthreshold retinal laser therapy (SLT) is a treatment modality where the temperature of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is briefly elevated to trigger the therapeutic benefits of sublethal heat shock. However, the temperature elevation induced by a laser exposure varies between patients due to individual differences in RPE pigmentation and choroidal perfusion. This study describes an electroretinography (ERG)-based method for controlling the temperature elevation during SLT. Methods: The temperature dependence of the photopic ERG response kinetics were investigated both ex vivo with isolated pig retinas and in vivo with anesthetized pigs by altering the temperature of the subject and recording ERG in different temperatures. A model was created for ERG-based temperature estimation and the feasibility of the model for controlling SLT was assessed through computational simulations. Results: The kinetics of the photopic in vivo flash ERG signaling accelerated between 3.6 and 4.7%/°C, depending on the strength of the stimulus. The temperature dependence was 5.0%/°C in the entire investigated range of 33 to 44°C in ex vivo ERG. The simulations showed that the method is suitable for determining the steady-state temperature elevation in SLT treatments with a sufficiently long laser exposure and large spot size, e.g., during > 30 s laser exposures with > 3 mm stimulus spot diameter. Conclusions: The described ERG-based temperature estimation model could be used to control SLT treatments such as transpupillary thermotherapy. Significance: The introduced ERG-based method for controlling SLT could improve the repeatability, safety, and efficacy of the treatment of various retinal disorders.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)991-1002
JournalIEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering
Volume69
Issue number2
Early online date2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2022
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • Animals
  • Electrodes
  • electrophysiology
  • electroretinography
  • Kinetic theory
  • Medical treatment
  • porcine retina
  • Retina
  • retinal laser therapy
  • temperature
  • Temperature dependence
  • Temperature sensors

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  • Aalto-TUTL-Maculaser

    Koskelainen, A., Amirkavei, M., Turunen, T., Kaikkonen, O. & Tirronen, J.

    01/06/201830/06/2020

    Project: Business Finland: New business from research ideas (TUTLI)

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