Radiofrequency cartilage reshaping: efficacy, biophysical measurements, and tissue viability.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the feasibility of reshaping cartilage using radiofrequency (RF) heating, and to examine the effects of this process on tissue biophysical properties (optical and thermal) and cellular viability.


METHODS
Mechanically deformed porcine septal cartilage was reshaped using 2 RF-generating devices. We performed dynamic measurements of tissue thermal and optical properties while heating cartilage with one of these devices. Cellular viability was assessed immediately and 7 days after treatment.


RESULTS
A characteristic change in the diffuse transmittance of light through the cartilage occurred during heating. Change in transmittance has been shown to accompany the onset of stress relaxation in cartilage. Peak radiometric surface temperature during heating was 88.6 degrees C. Specimens retained their user-specified curved shape for the observed period of 14 days. Chondrocyte viability in RF-heated tissue was 19% and 14% of that in untreated control specimens at days 0 and 7 after treatment, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Radiofrequency heating has been shown to effectively reshape cartilage while maintaining cellular viability, illustrating a novel application for a widely used technology.
Keefe
Michael W
MW
Beckman Laser Institute, University of California-Irvine, 1002 Health Sciences Rd E, Irvine, CA 92612, USA.
Rasouli
Alexandre
A
Telenkov
Sergey A
SA
Karamzadeh
Amir M
AM
Milner
Thomas E
TE
Crumley
Roger L
RL
Wong
Brian J F
BJ
D000818:Animals; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D023421:Models, Animal; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000639:trends; D013552:Swine; D016896:Treatment Outcome