Method and system for quantification of tumoral vascularization

System for processing a digital signal comprising:

• means for acquiring an input digital signal F(t) as a function of time t in the form of two-dimensional data (t, F(t)) resulting from the excitation, within a test substrate, of a substance adapted to emit a signal in response to said excitation;
• means for modeling said input signal F(t) in function of a pre-established model;
• a generator of an output digital signal I(t) made up from said modeling;
• wherein said pre-established model is:
• I
• 
• (
• t
• )
• =
• a
• 0
• +
• (
• a
• 1
• -
• a
• 0
• )
• *
• (
• A
• +
• (
• t
• a
• 2
• )
• p
• B
• +
• (
• t
• a
• 2
• )
• q
• 
• )
• where a0, a1, a2, p, q, A et B are coefficients to be estimated,
• and said means for modeling comprising a solver to estimate said coefficients on the basis of said two-dimensional data.

Apparatus for tumoral vascularization detection in a test substrate, said apparatus comprising:

• a system for modeling an acquired signal in response to the excitation of a contrast agent in said substrate;
• means for determining at least one parameter from said modeling performed by said system,
• a comparator adapted to compare said at least one parameter reference parameters,
• said system for modeling the acquired signal comprising:
• means for acquiring an input digital signal F(t) as a function of time t in the form of two-dimensional data (t, F(t)) resulting from the excitation, within a test substrate, of a substance adapted to emit a signal in response to said excitation;
• means for modeling said input signal in function of a pre-established model;
• a generator of an output digital signal I(t) made up from said modeling;
• said pre-established model being of the type of:
• I
• 
• (
• t
• )
• =
• a
• 0
• +
• (
• a
• 1
• -
• a
• 0
• )
• *
• (
• A
• +
• (
• t
• a
• 2
• )
• p
• B
• +
• (
• t
• a
• 2
• )
• q
• )
• where a0, a1, a2, p, q, A et B are coefficients to be estimated,
• and said means for modeling comprising a solver to estimate said coefficients on the basis of said two-dimensional data,
• said at least one parameter being chosen from the group comprising the maximal amplitude PI=Imax−Imin of said output signal I(t), where Imax and Imin are respectively the maximum and minimum values of I(t), the required time for the output signal I(t) to reach its maximal amplitude PI from the beginning of the contrast uptake, the mean transit time corresponding to the time during which the value I(t) of the output signal is higher than the mean value (Imax+Imin)/2.