Non-invasive estimation of material parameters
Inventors
Righetti, Raffaella • Islam, Md Tauhidul
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12414758-B2
Publication Date
2025-09-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
The disclosure provides a method, a system, an apparatus, and a computer program product for determining IFP, IFV, and fluid flow inside tumors. In one example, a method for estimating tumor parameters is disclosed. This method includes: (1) receiving image data from a tumor, (2) obtaining strain data of the tumor from the image data, and (3) determining a tumor parameter, such as IFP and IFV, employing the strain data and an analytical model. Additional tumor parameters can be determined employing the strain data and other analytical models. The additional tumor parameters include compression-induced fluid pressure, velocity and flow inside the tumor, parameter ? employing the fluid pressure, the ratio between vascular permeability and interstitial permeability, and the ratio of peak IFP and effective vascular pressure. Each of these parameters can be employed for analyzing, monitoring, treating, testing, etc., tumors or the effects of drugs on the tumors.
Core Innovation
A non-invasive framework estimates Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of materials by using strain data acquired from radio frequency signals generated by an ultrasound device at different times. The material is acquired at a steady state, and strain data is used to reconstruct Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio by minimizing a cost function that includes Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio using the strain data and a processor. The cost function represents a difference between multiple eigenstrain measures along multiple different spatial directions related to a position of the material.
The eigenstrain measures are defined by ε*1 and ε*2, where ε*1 is defined by a product of an inverse of Eshelby's tensor S and the strain data, and where ε*2 is defined by a multiplication of an inverse of an addition of a tensor A and Eshelby's tensor S and the strain data. The tensor A involves matrices representing stiffness properties of the material. Using Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio, the framework generates Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio maps corresponding to pixels of the material for each of the different times using the acquired strain data.
The framework further enables monitoring the material over different times using the Young's modulus maps or the Poisson's ratio maps. It also includes a diagnostic device and a system architecture with an interface to receive radio frequency signals, a processor configured to acquire strain data and reconstruct Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio, a display configured to visually present the Young's modulus maps and the Poisson's ratio maps, and a method of generating Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio maps for each acquisition time.
Claims Coverage
The partial set contains three independent claims covering a non-invasive method, a diagnostic device, and a system, each focused on simultaneously reconstructing Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio from ultrasound radio frequency signals at a steady state using a cost function based on eigenstrain measures defined with Eshelby's tensor S and a stiffness-related tensor A. Across the claims, the independent inventive features consistently include eigenstrain-measure-based cost function reconstruction and generating pixel-wise Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio maps; monitoring is also included in the method portion.
Ultrasound RF-based steady-state eigenstrain cost function to jointly reconstruct Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio
Generating, using an ultrasound device, radio frequency signals from a material at different times; acquiring, from the radio frequency signals, strain data when the material is at a steady state; and simultaneously reconstructing, at the different times, the Young's modulus and the Poisson's ratio of the material by minimizing a cost function including the Young's modulus and the Poisson's ratio using the strain data of the material and a processor, wherein the cost function represents a difference between multiple eigenstrain measures along multiple different spatial directions related to a position of the material.
Eigenstrain measures defined using Eshelby's tensor and stiffness properties in tensor A
Wherein the eigenstrain measures are defined by ε*1 and ε*2, wherein ε*1 is defined by a product of an inverse of Eshelby's tensor S and the strain data and ε*2 is defined by a multiplication of an inverse of an addition of a tensor A and Eshelby's tensor S and the strain data, wherein the tensor A involves matrices representing stiffness properties of the material.
Pixel-wise Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio map generation for each acquisition time
Generating, using the Young's modulus and the Poisson's ratio, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio maps corresponding to pixels of the material for each of the different times using the strain data acquired from the radio frequency signals of the ultrasound device.
Monitoring based on Young's modulus maps or Poisson's ratio maps over different times
Monitoring the material over the different times using the Young's modulus maps or the Poisson's ratio maps.
Diagnostic device architecture for RF-to-eigenstrain-based Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio reconstruction
An interface configured to receive radio frequency signals of a material, wherein the radio frequency signals are obtained at different times using an ultrasound device when the material is at steady state; a processor configured to perform operations that include acquiring, from the radio frequency signals, strain data when the material is at a steady state; simultaneously reconstructing, at the different times, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio of the material by minimizing a cost function including the Young's modulus and the Poisson's ratio using the strain data of the material; and generating, using the Young's modulus and the Poisson's ratio, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio maps corresponding to pixels of the material for each of the different times using the strain data acquired from the radio frequency signals of the ultrasound device.
System with ultrasound RF acquisition, processing, and visual display of Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio maps
An ultrasound system configured to obtain radio frequency signals from a material at different times; a processor configured to perform operations including acquiring, from the radio frequency signals, strain data when the material is at a steady state, and simultaneously reconstructing, at the different times, the Young's modulus and the Poisson's ratio of the material by minimizing a cost function including the Young's modulus and the Poisson's ratio using the strain data of the material, and generating, using the Young's modulus and the Poisson's ratio, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio maps that correspond to pixels of the material for each of the different times using the strain data acquired from the radio frequency signals of the ultrasound system; and a display configured to visually present the Young's modulus maps and the Poisson's ratio maps.
Across the independent claims, the coverage centers on jointly reconstructing Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio from ultrasound radio frequency signals at a steady state by minimizing a cost function based on eigenstrain measures defined using Eshelby's tensor S and a stiffness-related tensor A, and then generating Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio maps for pixels for each acquisition time. In the method portion, the claims further include monitoring the material over different times using the Young's modulus maps or the Poisson's ratio maps.
Stated Advantages
Non-invasive estimation.
Safe.
Low cost.
No non-radiation.
Portability.
Computational efficiency.
Documented Applications
Diagnosis/prognosis.
Monitoring.
Assessing drug/treatment effects, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Tumor treatment monitoring using Young's modulus maps or Poisson's ratio maps.
Monitoring treatments including vascular normalization and stress normalization.
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