Respiratory-Synchronized Elastography for Precise Liver Stiffness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing elastography techniques for measuring liver or spleen stiffness, such as VCTE-based methods, suffer from variability in stiffness measurements due to factors like central venous pressure and hemodynamics, leading to inconsistent diagnostic results.
Innovation Solution
An elastography method that synchronizes the acquisition of mechanical property measurements with specific moments of the subject's respiratory cycle, using a respiratory signal to determine optimal times for measurement, such as the end of inspiration or expiration, to reduce variability and improve precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple stiffness measurements are collected at different timepoints to obtain a reliable measurement, then the reliability of the stiffness measurement is improved, but the variability in the series of stiffness measurements remains large due to respiratory and hemodynamic factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by synchronizing stiffness measurements to specific phases of the respiratory cycle (e.g., end-expiration or end-inspiration). By collecting measurements at the same periodic point in the respiratory cycle, the method eliminates variability caused by respiratory motion and hemodynamic changes, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining reliability through multiple synchronized measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses respiratory signal detection as feedback to trigger stiffness measurements at appropriate moments. The respiratory sensor provides real-time feedback about the subject's breathing phase, allowing the system to automatically initiate measurements at the optimal moment (e.g., when the respiratory signal indicates end-expiration), thus reducing variability without requiring manual intervention or breath-holding.
2Measurement precision
If the subject holds their breath during measurement, then the variability due to respiratory motion is reduced, but the ease of operation and subject comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by allowing the subject to breathe naturally during the measurement process. The system automatically detects the respiratory phase through the respiratory sensor and triggers measurements at the appropriate moment without requiring the subject to actively control their breathing or hold their breath. This makes the procedure easier and more comfortable while maintaining measurement precision.
3Productivity
If measurements are taken at different moments of the respiratory cycle, then the productivity of the measurement process is improved, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to hemodynamic effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by implementing periodic sampling at a specific phase of the respiratory cycle. Instead of taking measurements randomly or continuously at different respiratory phases, the system synchronizes measurements to occur at the same periodic point (e.g., end-expiration), thereby maintaining productivity through efficient timing while eliminating hemodynamic variability that would otherwise reduce precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An elastography method implemented by an elastography device, the method including obtaining a respiratory signal related to a respiratory activity of a subject; and acquiring a plurality of measurements of a mechanical property of a region of a body of the subject, the region being a part of a liver or a spleen of the subject, wherein each measurement among at least a subset of the plurality of measurements of the mechanical property is acquired at a same moment of a respective respiratory cycle determined from the respiratory signal.