Infusion Planning System for Hepatic Tissue Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating liver diseases, such as liver cancer, often result in systemic and regional side-effects due to the high vascularization of the liver, causing chemotherapeutic agents to distribute beyond the target area and leading to inefficient retention and effectiveness of treatments.
Innovation Solution
A non-surgical method for planning a direct infusion into hepatic tissue using patient-specific anatomical and physiological data to optimize the delivery of therapeutic agents, involving the selection of suitable catheters, infusion agents, and parameters to minimize distribution to non-targeted tissues, and simulate the distribution and effectiveness of the treatment based on individual patient anatomy and physiology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If chemotherapeutic agents are injected into the hepatic artery for treating liver cancer, then the therapeutic effect on the tumor is improved, but the chemotherapeutic agents will enter other parts of the body causing systemic side-effects
Solution Approach 1:
The liver is divided into different perfusion zones (well-perfused, intermediate, and poorly-perfused regions) based on vascular flow characteristics. By segmenting the treatment approach according to these zones, the system can target tumor tissue while avoiding healthy liver tissue and other body parts, thereby improving therapeutic effect while reducing systemic side-effects of chemotherapy
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary planning and simulation of the infusion procedure using patient-specific anatomical and physiological data before actual treatment. This includes simulating the distribution of chemotherapeutic agents through the hepatic vasculature to predict and optimize their delivery to the tumor while minimizing systemic exposure, thus improving therapeutic effect while preventing systemic side-effects
2Reliability
If chemotherapeutic agents are administered directly into the liver, then the therapeutic effect on the target tissue is improved, but the substances outflow from the liver to other parts of the body
Solution Approach 1:
The system identifies and characterizes different local regions of the liver based on their perfusion properties (well-perfused, intermediate, and poorly-perfused zones). By tailoring the infusion strategy to the specific local characteristics of the target tumor region, the system maximizes drug retention and therapeutic effect at the target site while minimizing outflow to other body parts
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses patient-specific physiological data and perfusion imaging to create a predictive model of chemotherapeutic agent distribution. This feedback loop allows for optimization of infusion parameters (flow rate, pressure, timing) to enhance drug retention in the target tissue and reduce unwanted distribution to other body parts, thereby improving therapeutic effect while minimizing substance loss
3Duration of action of moving object
If perfusion in the hepatic tissue is reduced to extend retention period of administered substance, then the therapeutic effect is improved, but the blood supply to the liver is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of hepatic perfusion characteristics using imaging and physiological data before treatment. Based on this pre-characterization, it optimizes infusion timing and parameters to deliver chemotherapeutic agents during phases when tumor perfusion is favorable for retention, thereby extending drug retention period without compromising overall liver blood supply
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts infusion parameters (flow rate, pressure, duration) based on real-time or pre-acquired perfusion data. By changing these parameters to match the patient's specific hepatic physiology, the system maximizes drug retention in the target tissue while maintaining adequate blood supply to the liver, thus improving therapeutic effect without compromising organ function
Data Source
AI summary
A method for planning an infusion into hepatic tissue into a patient includes: obtaining anatomical and/or physiological patient data of the patient's liver or a region of the liver; determining at least one patient parameter from the patient data; planning the infusion using the anatomical patient data, physiological patient data, and/or at least one patient parameter, wherein planning includes determining how an administered substance is distributed in the tissue and/or how the administered substance influences physiological properties of the tissue; and determining a distribution and/or effectiveness of a therapeutic agent administered with the substance or after the substance.