# US 11,896,417 B2 · Time-varying kinetic modeling of high temporal-resolution dynamic pet data for multiparametric imaging > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,896,417 B2 - Document ID: US11896417B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/959,829 - Filed: 2019-01-08 - Published: 2020-11-26 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-08 - Assignees: The Regents of the University of California - Applicants: The Regents of the University of California - Inventors: Guobao Wang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896417B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/5217: {extracting a diagnostic or physiological parameter from medical diagnostic data} - A61K 51/083: {the peptide being octreotide or a somatostatin-receptor-binding peptide} - A61B 6/037: {Emission tomography} - A61B 6/481: {involving the use of contrast agents} - A61B 6/504: {for diagnosis of blood vessels, e.g. by angiography} - A61B 6/507: {for determination of haemodynamic parameters, e.g. perfusion CT} - A61K 51/04: Organic compounds - A61K 51/0406: {Amines, polyamines, e.g. spermine, spermidine, amino acids, (bis)guanidines} - A61K 51/0455: {having six-membered rings with one nitrogen as the only ring hetero atom} - A61K 51/0482: {chelates from cyclic ligands, e.g. DOTA} - A61K 51/0491: {Sugars, nucleosides, nucleotides, oligonucleotides, nucleic acids, e.g. DNA, RNA, nucleic acid aptamers} - A61K 51/088: {conjugates with carriers being peptides, polyamino acids or proteins (antibodies A61K51/10)} - G16H 30/40: for processing medical images, e.g. editing - G16H 50/50: for simulation or modelling of medical disorders - A61B 5/02755: {Radioactive tracers} - A61B 2576/00: Medical imaging apparatus involving image processing or analysis (A61B1/00009, A61B6/52 and A61B8/52 take precedence) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract Systems and methods are disclosed for quantifying blood flow using time-varying kinetic modeling of high temporal-resolution dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) data. A single tracer is introduced into the body. A first set of images is acquired, via PET, of at least a portion of the body at a plurality of predetermined time intervals. Based on the first set of images, an intensity of the tracer in the at least the portion of the body is determined as a function of time. The intensity of the tracer as a function of time is modeled using a time-varying kinetic model. Based on the model, the blood flow through the at least the portion of the body is quantified. Additional images may be acquired and used to quantify additional parameter(s), such as glucose metabolism, amyloid load, etc., with the single tracer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for quantifying blood flow through a portion of a body, the method comprising: introducing a single tracer into the body; acquiring, via positron emission tomography (PET), a first set of images of at least a portion of the body, wherein the first set of images is acquired at a first plurality of predetermined time intervals; based on the first set of images, determining an intensity of the tracer in the at least the portion of the body as a function of time; modeling the intensity of the tracer in the at least the portion of the body as a function of time using a time-varying kinetic model; and based on the time-varying kinetic model of the single tracer, quantifying (1) the blood flow through the at least the portion of the body and (2) one or more of a glucose metabolism, an uptake of amino acid transporters, an amyloid load, or an expression of somatostatin receptors in the at least the portion of the body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined time intervals are about 2 seconds or less. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying one or more of a blood-to-tissue delivery rate of the tracer as a function of time, a tissue-to-blood delivery rate of the tracer as a function of time, a rate at which the single tracer is phosphorylated in cells as a function of time, or a rate at which the phosphorylation of the single tracer in the cells is reversed as a function of time. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the single tracer is one of: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose, 18F-fluciclovine, 18F-AV-45, or 68Ga-DOTATATE. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least the portion of the body comprises: a heart, a brain, a kidney, a lung, a liver, a spleen, a breast, a colon, a prostate, or a region containing a tumor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least the portion of the body comprises a region wherein an extraction fraction of the single tracer comprises less than about 0.5. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising, after a second time interval, acquiring, via positron emission tomography (PET), a second set of images of the at least the portion of the body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the second set of images comprises a single image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a first image, of the first set of images, is acquired less than two minutes after the single tracer is administered. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the time-varying kinetic model comprises a set of differential equations comprising time-varying parameters. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the time-varying kinetic model comprises a smooth Heaviside function. ### Claim 12 A system comprising: a processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: acquire, via positron emission tomography (PET), a first set of images of at least a portion of a body after a single tracer is introduced into the body, wherein the first set of images is acquired at a first plurality of predetermined time intervals; based on the first set of images, determine an intensity of the tracer in the at least the portion of the body as a function of time; model the intensity of the tracer in the at least the portion of the body as a function of time using a time-varying kinetic model; and based on the time-varying kinetic model of the single tracer, quantify (1) blood flow through the at least the portion of the body and (2) one or more of a glucose metabolism, an uptake of amino acid transporters, an amyloid load, or an expression of somatostatin receptors in the at least the portion of the body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the predetermined time intervals are about 2 seconds or less. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to: identify one or more of a blood-to-tissue delivery rate of the tracer as a function of time, a tissue-to-blood delivery rate of the tracer as a function of time, a rate at which the single tracer is phosphorylated in cells as a function of time, or a rate at which the phosphorylation of the single tracer in the cells is reversed as a function of time. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the single tracer is one of: 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose, 18F-fluciclovine, 18F-AV-45, or 68Ga-DOTATATE. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the at least the portion of the body comprises a region wherein an extraction fraction of the single tracer comprises less than about 0.5.