Liver Graft Image Evaluation for Rapid Steatosis Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assessing hepatic steatosis in liver transplantation are invasive, time-consuming, and require specialized equipment, leading to delays and unreliable visual assessments, while there is a lack of immediate diagnostic tools for steatosis levels in obesity treatment.
Innovation Solution
A device and method using a smartphone or endoscope with image processing capabilities to evaluate liver health by capturing images, applying learning algorithms to determine steatosis levels through color histogram analysis and sharpness estimation, maintaining surgical sterility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If liver grafts are preserved using conventional static cold storage, then storage time is extended, but graft quality deteriorates due to ischemic injury and metabolic waste accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static cold storage into dynamic perfusion storage. The bioreactor system continuously perfuses liver grafts with preservation solution, enabling real-time removal of metabolic waste and delivery of nutrients. This dynamic approach maintains graft viability for extended periods (up to 24-48 hours) while preserving graft quality, resolving the contradiction between storage duration and graft quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The bioreactor system implements continuous perfusion of preservation solution through the liver grafts, rather than static storage. The pump continuously circulates solution through the graft vasculature, maintaining constant oxygenation, nutrient supply, and waste removal. This continuous useful action prevents the accumulation of ischemic injury markers and maintains graft function throughout the storage period.
2Device complexity
If conventional static storage is used, then device complexity is low, but measurement precision of graft quality is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The bioreactor system incorporates real-time monitoring of graft function parameters including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, potassium levels, and other biomarkers in the perfusate. These measurements provide feedback on graft quality and viability, enabling precise assessment of graft status. The system can adjust perfusion parameters based on measured values to optimize graft preservation throughout storage.
Data Source
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AI summary
This method for qualitatively evaluating human livers comprises: - a step (301) of computing normalized histograms of colour channels from a portion of a photograph of a liver; - a step (304) of loading coefficients obtained at the end of a training phase; - a step (305) of extracting from the histograms values corresponding to variables retained at the end of the training phase; - a step (306) of computing a linear combination of the extracted values weighted with the loaded coefficients; and - a step (308, 309) of displaying information representative of the result of the computation of the linear combination.