[Purpose] Heat can prevent cartilage degeneration when applied to articular cartilage, but the size of the human knee joint makes it difficult to target cartilage during heat treatment. In this study, we aimed to establish a heat therapy method capable of safely applying heat to deep intra-articular tissues utilizing a resonant cavity applicator and to confirm the extent of cartilage heating in the human knee when using this system. [Participants and Methods] Heating experiments were carried out on the knees of healthy three volunteers using a resonant cavity applicator and a microwave diathermy system. After heat application, temperature distributions inside the knee were measured noninvasively using our measurement method based on ultrasound imaging techniques. [Results] We observed an increase in the temperature around the cartilage tissue in the knees of the volunteers using an ultrasonic thermometer; there was no increase in temperature in the overlying layers. During heating with up to 20 W of power, none of the volunteers experienced adverse reactions. [Conclusion] This study indicates the potential safety and effectiveness of the resonant cavity heat therapy system for knee osteoarthritis in a clinical setting.
Keywords: Cartilage; Heat therapy; Osteoarthritis.
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