Simulation of temperatures in the body
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods struggle to accurately simulate and model internal temperatures and heat flows in the human or animal body, particularly in controlled environments, due to the complexity of bioheat generation and transfer processes, and the need for subject-specific simulations that account for inter-subject variability and safety constraints.
Innovation Solution
A computationally efficient bioheat model is developed, utilizing an equivalent thermal circuit with anatomical segments and compartments, allowing for subject-specific simulations and predictions of internal temperatures, which can be solved using spreadsheet solvers, and integrated with real-time temperature sensors for controlling heating and cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If detailed fine-grained modeling of each bioheat effect at the microscopic level is performed throughout the human body, then measurement precision and simulation accuracy of internal temperatures would be improved, but device complexity and computational requirements would become extremely difficult or infeasible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the human body into multiple anatomical segments (head, trunk, upper extremities, lower extremities) and further segments each segment into tissue compartments (bone, muscle, fat, skin). This hierarchical segmentation allows the complex bioheat problem to be broken down into manageable sub-problems that can be solved using standard computational methods while maintaining sufficient accuracy for clinical applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different thermal properties and heat generation characteristics to different tissue types within each compartment. Each tissue compartment is assigned specific thermal conductivity, heat capacity, and metabolic heat generation values appropriate to that tissue type, allowing the model to capture local variations in thermal behavior without requiring microscopic detail throughout the entire body.
2Measurement precision
If fine-grained modeling at the microscopic level is performed throughout the human body, then simulation accuracy of internal temperatures would be improved, but the computational resources and time required would increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the body into anatomical regions and tissue compartments, the patent creates a model structure that can be solved using efficient numerical methods. Each compartment is treated as a control volume with averaged properties, allowing parallel computation and reducing the overall computational burden compared to a fully microscopic approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a level of detail that is sufficient for the intended application (whole-body hyperthermia treatment planning) without exceeding what is necessary. The compartmental model provides adequate accuracy for clinical decision-making while avoiding the excessive computational requirements of more detailed microscopic models.
3Reliability
If the body is heated to elevated temperatures for whole-body hyperthermia treatment, then therapeutic effect on cancerous cells would be improved, but the risk of local overheating and organ damage would increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different thermal properties and heat generation characteristics to different organ compartments based on their physiological characteristics. The liver, for example, is assigned high metabolic heat generation and low thermal tolerance, while other organs receive appropriate parameters. This allows the model to predict which organs are at risk of overheating under specific treatment conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates thermoregulation mechanisms that provide feedback control in the simulation. The model predicts how the body's natural thermoregulatory responses will counteract external heating, allowing treatment planners to adjust heating parameters to achieve therapeutic temperatures in tumors while maintaining safe temperatures in vital organs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The model enables accurate, efficient, and safe planning of whole-body hyperthermia treatments by ensuring safety and efficacy, while requiring minimal computing resources, and can be applied in various controlled environments.
Implementation Method 1
internal heat transfer by conduction, e.g. through tissues
Implementation Method 2
internal heat transfer by convection of bodily fluids, e.g. due to blood perfusion
Implementation Method 3
heat generation due to metabolic processes
Implementation Method 4
The bioheat model comprises a plurality of equations representative of an equivalent thermal circuit for modeling heat flows in the body
Implementation Method 5
external heating and/or cooling by convection
Implementation Method 6
external heating and/or cooling by convection, radiation and/or conduction
Implementation Method 7
external heating and/or cooling by convection, radiation and/or conduction
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention pertains to a method (100) for simulating temperatures in the body when in a controllable environment. The method comprises receiving (101) a property of the body obtained by measurements, calculating (102) a body- specific parameter of a bioheat model based on the property, obtaining (103) at least one environment-specific parameter, and calculating (104) the temperatures in the body by solving the model taking the body-specific and environment-specific parameters into account. The equivalent thermal circuit (50) of the model comprises a blood compartment (51) and a plurality of anatomical segments (52, 53,54, 55), each comprising a plurality of compartments (56,57, 58). The interior compartments of a trunk segment (54) comprises organ compartments (561,562) representative of different internal organs, which are connected in parallel in the equivalent thermal circuit. The invention also relates to a device, system and computer-program product.