In-vivo quantification of fat content in an organ of a living subject using ultrasound
Inventors
Parker, Kevin J. • ORMACHEA, Juvenal
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12376819-B2
Publication Date
2025-08-05
Expiration Date
Abstract
A method is disclosed for determining the percent volume of fat in an organ (advantageously, the liver) of a living subject. Radiation (advantageously shear waves of known frequency and amplitude) is directed into the liver. The speed with which the radiation propagates within the liver, and the attenuation of the amplitude of the radiation caused by the liver, are measured. From these measured quantities, the percent volume of fat in the liver can be determined. The determination can be carried out by calculation, or by using a nomogram.
Core Innovation
The invention describes an ultrasound-based, noninvasive in-vivo method to estimate a percent volume of fat within a liver of a living subject. Ultrasound shear waves or other ultrasound radiation of known frequency and amplitude are generated in the liver, and the speed and amplitude attenuation or other interaction of the propagated waves are measured. From the measured speed and interaction, real and imaginary parts of the tissue modulus are estimated using computer software by applying specified equations.
The estimated real and imaginary parts of the tissue modulus are compared, using computer software, to a viscoelastic composite model of the liver. In the model, the liver is treated as a composite material in which a fat fraction is distributed within the liver, with fat characterized as viscous material embedded throughout an elastic matrix. The comparison is used to estimate and quantify the percent volume of viscous material within the liver from the viscoelastic composite model and the real and imaginary parts of the tissue modulus.
The framework is extended to ultrasound pulses and to cases involving different forms of measured interaction, including attenuation of amplitude and dispersion within the body structure. The invention also includes an optional nomogram for clinical estimation and incorporates a baseline viscoelastic loss term within the viscoelastic-composite modeling framework. Validation is described using phantom and patient analyses that evaluate correlations and group differences across steatosis stages.
Claims Coverage
Two independent claims are present. The main inventive features across both independent claims total five: ultrasound radiation generation with known frequency and amplitude, measurement of propagation speed, measurement of interaction, software-based estimation of real and imaginary tissue modulus using specified equations, and comparison to a viscoelastic composite model to estimate percent volume of viscous material.
Estimating percent volume of fat in a liver using ultrasound shear waves and tissue modulus
Generate ultrasound shear waves of known frequency and amplitude in the liver of a living subject, measure speed and amplitude attenuation of the ultrasound shear waves, estimate real and imaginary parts of tissue modulus from the measured speed and interaction by applying specified equations, compare the real and imaginary parts to a viscoelastic composite model in which a fat fraction is distributed within the liver, and quantify the percent volume of viscous material within the liver.
Estimating percent volume of viscous material within a body structure using ultrasound radiation and tissue modulus
Generate ultrasound radiation of known frequency and amplitude in a body structure of a living subject, measure a radiation speed and an interaction between the ultrasound radiation and the body structure, estimate real and imaginary parts of tissue modulus from the measured radiation speed and interaction by applying specified equations, and compare the real and imaginary parts to a viscoelastic composite model to estimate the percent volume of viscous material.
Across the independent claims, the inventive approach combines ultrasound radiation generation at known frequency and amplitude, measurement of propagation speed and an interaction, software estimation of real and imaginary tissue modulus using specified equations, and comparison to a viscoelastic composite model where a fat fraction is distributed in an elastic matrix to estimate and quantify percent volume.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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