Non-invasive assessment of interstitial fluid pressure (IFP), interstitial fluid velocity (IFV) and fluid flow inside tumors
Inventors
Righetti, Raffaella • Islam, Md Tauhidul
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12539104-B2
Publication Date
2026-02-03
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 α 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
The invention provides a non-invasive approach for estimating tumor parameters by using an ultrasound device that generates radio frequency (RF) signals from a compressed tumor at different times. The tumor is at steady state when the RF signals are obtained, and strain data is acquired from the RF signals for each time. The strain data includes one or more of axial, lateral, elevational, or volumetric strain data, which are used to estimate tumor fluid transport parameters.
The method and system determine tumor fluid transport parameters by solving one or more equations that employ the strain data and a processor. The fluid transport parameters include interstitial fluid pressure (IFP), and the equations include a first equation that represents the IFP as a difference between volumetric stress inside the tumor and a product of an effective compression modulus K_e and the volumetric strain inside the tumor. The effective compression modulus K_e is determined using the axial and the lateral strain of the strain data.
After IFP is determined for each of the different times, the invention monitors growth or metastasis of the tumor over the different times using the IFP and the strain data acquired from the RF signals of the ultrasound device. A diagnostic device and a system are described, where RF signals are received or obtained at different times using an ultrasound system at steady state, strain data is acquired, fluid transport parameters are determined by solving equations, and a display visually presents the one or more tumor fluid transport parameters.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover three inventive features across the device and system claims: steady-state ultrasound RF acquisition from a compressed tumor at different times with strain data generation; equation-based determination of interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) using an effective compression modulus K_e determined from axial and lateral strain; and monitoring tumor growth or metastasis using the determined IFP and strain data. The device and system claims further specify interface, processor, and display implementation.
Steady-state ultrasound RF acquisition and multi-time strain data generation
Generating, using an ultrasound device, radio frequency (RF) signals from a compressed tumor at different times; acquiring, from the RF signals, strain data of the tumor for each of the different times when the tumor is at steady state, wherein the strain data includes one or more of axial, lateral, elevational, or volumetric strain data.
Equation-based determination of IFP using effective compression modulus derived from axial and lateral strain
Determining, for each of the different times, one or more tumor fluid transport parameters of the tumor by solving one or more equations employing the strain data and a processor, wherein the one or more fluid transport tumor parameters includes interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) and the one or more equations include a first equation that represents the IFP as a difference between volumetric stress inside the tumor and a product of the effective compression modulus K_e and the volumetric strain inside the tumor, wherein the effective compression modulus K_e is determined using the axial and the lateral strain of the strain data.
Monitoring tumor growth or metastasis over different times using determined IFP and strain data
Monitoring growth or metastasis of the tumor over the different times using the IFP determined for each of the different times and the strain data acquired from the RF signals of the ultrasound device.
Diagnostic device interface and processor for RF reception, strain acquisition, equation-solving, and monitoring
A diagnostic device for monitoring tumors, comprising: an interface configured to receive radio frequency (RF) signals of a tumor, wherein the RF signals are obtained at different times using an ultrasound system when the tumor is at steady state; and a processor configured to perform operations that include acquiring strain data from the RF signals for each different time and determining tumor fluid transport parameters including interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) by solving one or more equations employing the strain data, wherein the IFP is represented by a first equation as a difference between volumetric stress inside the tumor and a product of the effective compression modulus K_e and the volumetric strain, with K_e determined using the axial and the lateral strain; and monitoring growth or metastasis of the tumor over the different times using the IFP determined for each of the different times and the strain data.
System with ultrasound RF acquisition at different times, strain acquisition at steady state, equation-solving, and display
A system, comprising: an ultrasound system configured to obtain radio frequency (RF) signals from a compressed tumor at different times; a processor configured to acquire strain data of the tumor for each different time when the tumor is at steady state and determine one or more tumor fluid transport parameters by solving one or more equations employing the strain data, wherein the fluid transport parameters include interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) and the equations include a first equation representing the IFP as a difference between volumetric stress inside the tumor and a product of the effective compression modulus K_e and the volumetric strain inside the tumor, with K_e determined using the axial and the lateral strain; and a display configured to visually present the one or more tumor fluid transport parameters.
The independent claims recite ultrasound-based strain acquisition at steady state, equation-based estimation of interstitial fluid pressure using volumetric stress, volumetric strain, and effective compression modulus K_e derived from axial and lateral strain, together with monitoring of tumor growth or metastasis and device or system implementation through interface, processor, and display.
Stated Advantages
Allows monitoring growth or metastasis of the tumor over different times using the determined interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) and strain data.
Documented Applications
Monitoring growth or metastasis of a tumor over different times using interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) determined from strain data acquired from ultrasound RF signals.
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