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Intelligent Syringe for Porous Tissue Characterization Using Advanced Darcy Flow Pressure Transient Analysis

Article Information

Wilson C. Chin1*, Jamie A. Chin2 and Xiaoying Zhuang1

1Research and Development, Stratamagnetic Software, LLC, Houston, Texas, USA

2University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

*Corresponding author: Wilson C. Chin, Ph.D., M.I.T., Research and Development, Stratamagnetic Software, LLC, Houston, Texas, USA.

Received:  20 September 2024; Accepted: 25 September 2023; Published: 16 October 2024

Citation: Wilson C. Chin, Jamie A. Chin and Xiaoying Zhuang. Intelligent Syringe for Porous Tissue Characterization Using Advanced Darcy Flow Pressure Transient Analysis. International Journal of Applied Biology and Pharmaceutical Technology. 15 (2024): 24-39.

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Abstract

An instrumented “intelligent syringe” for tissue properties prediction is described. The syringe records pressure transients created while injecting or withdrawing fluid from tissue at given flow rates. Dynamic data is interpreted using computer-based porous media math models to predict permeability, anisotropy, compressibility, background pressure and porosity. The new method provides direct measurements of flow properties important to drug delivery, clinical diagnosis, disease control, synthetic organ design and research endeavors. The approach conveniently, rapidly and inexpensively supplements conventional methods like X-ray, Catscan, MRI and ultrasound, which offer qualitative results through gray scale images requiring physician dependent and subjective analysis. The “iSyringe” supports portable target monitoring on daily or weekly bases; it provides local quantitative information useful in understanding global qualitative results obtained from traditional methods. The theoretical foundations of the method are derived, validated mathematically, and applied to published human and animal data, highlighting potential clinical and research applications.

Keywords

Catscan, compressibility, medical imaging, MRI, permeability, syringe, tissue properties, tumor growth, ultrasound, X-ray.

Catscan articles, compressibility articles, medical imaging articles, MRI articles, permeability articles, syringe articles, tissue properties articles, tumor growth articles, ultrasound articles, X-ray articles.

Article Details

1. Introduction

Conventional imaging methods like X-ray, Catscan, MRI and ultrasound, which have revolutionized medical diagnosis, provide only qualitative information useful in identifying local anomalies. Such methods can be inconvenient, time-consuming and expensive, and cannot be routinely used in doctors’ offices. Conclusions depend on physician expertise and experience, not to mention patient sex, health, age and ethnicity. They are highly subjective. Very often, additional quantitative information over smaller spatial scales is needed for detailed evaluation. Resulting treatment strategies may require active monitoring of tissue properties on a periodic basis.

We introduce the “intelligent syringe,” or “iSyringe,” a new imaging device that is inexpensive, convenient, offering detailed information extracted from syringe data based on exact analytical solutions to Darcy flow formulations. Digitized pressure transient traces are recorded at locations within the syringe body or needle, and possibly along the external needle surface. These are interrogated using special “inverse solutions” to provide estimates for local permeability, anisotropy, compressibility, background pressure and porosity. Data collection times are 15-30 seconds, an interval within the range of typical injections or withdrawals. Optimal time window durations needed to acquire multiple “time, pressure” values accurately are controlled by adjusting a mechanism within the syringe system. Aside from instrumentation and automated analysis, the predictive process is transparent to the patient and requires minimal supervision and operational expertise.

2. Methods for Presssure Interpretation

Theoretical Considerations

Blood and injectate tissue flows represent low Reynolds number phenomena satisfying mathematical Darcy formulations. Permeability measures the resistance a tissue sample offers to fluid motion; the lower the permeability, the higher the resistance, and vice-versa. Low values may impede circulation while higher values may indicate swelling. Simple one-dimensional lab tests are often used to determine permeability for animal tissues using the formula “Q = Ak/µ ΔP/L,” where Q is volume flow rate, A is flow area, k is permeability, µ is Newtonian viscosity, ΔP is pressure drop and L is thickness. Despite the apparent simplicity, this approach requires actual and inconvenient liquid transport through tissue. This contrasts with indirect pressure transfer associated with compressibility changes within the medium, for example, sound waves propagating through solids or coupled transport and diffusion in porous tissue.

Not only are “Q = Ak/µ ΔP/L” procedures costly and time-consuming – since they cannot be performed on live specimens, they are not useful in diagnostic evaluation and are relegated to post-mortem exams. We consider transient pressure diffusion processes in porous media. In particular, we formulate and solve “forward” and “inverse” problems for Darcy flow in transversely isotropic porous tissue. A minimally invasive alternative to the laboratory procedure described is developed. Dynamic syringe pressure data collected during withdrawal and injection contain significant tissue properties information. These attributes, obtained by interrogating measured “pressure versus time” curves using special algorithms, may shed quantitative insights into local physical anomalies. We first summarize exact analytical solutions to “forward models,” and then present complementary “inverse solutions” for tissue properties. Mathematical validations are offered, and applications to human and swine data are given demonstrating potential clinical uses.

Transient Isotropic Darcy Flow – Forward Solutions for Liquids

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If F(t) consists of piece-wise constant rates, solutions are expressible analytically. Continuous syringe withdrawals (or “drawdown” with pressure decreasing) or injections (or “buildup” with pressure increasing) satisfy single rate solutions. When these are terminated after finite time, formulas are constructed by superposing pressure solutions with reversed rate signs and corresponding time shifts. Such solutions are used to study the drawdowns and buildups in Figure 1.

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Figure 1. Transient pressure versus time curves at tissue contact. Black circles denote data

acquisition points within drawdown or buildup cycles shown (three needed per cycle).

Transient Transversely Isotropic Darcy Flow – Forward Solutions for Liquids

We have considered isotropic media where “r” is the spherical radius. The formulation implies spherically symmetric pressures because preferred directions do not appear. For transversely isotropic applications underlying many tissue flows, the equations different. Two permeabilities are identical in a horizontal plane equal to kh. A third value describes a vertical permeability kv perpendicular to this reference plane. The more general partial differential equation and velocity flux models are

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Again kh is the horizontal permeability in the x and y directions, while kv is the vertical permeability along the z coordinate. These local Cartesian axes refer to target volume and not ground fixed coordinates. The kh and kv quantities in Figure 2 define a dip angle d that vanishes when syringe and vertical axes coincide.

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Figure 2. Local coordinates for transversely isotropic media, needle axis oriented at d inclination relative to vertical permeability axis. Syringe body, plunger, control unit, infusion pump or auto-injector not shown. Continuous constant flow rate with and without stoppage studied in this paper.

Equation 2a represents mass conservation in transversely isotropic media. Syringe, needle and tissue interactions are described by Equation 2d where a closed integral over a control surface S surrounding the nozzle is shown. The integrand q·n denotes perpendicular components of the Darcy velocity q acting on S.

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We emphasize that FT-00 is exact and free of artificial viscosity and diffusion effects associated with numerical finite difference or element solutions. We later use FT-00 to create exact “synthetic data” corresponding to prescribed input properties. To evaluate our approximate “inverse methods,” arbitrary pairs of (time, pressure) points selected from synthetic pressure versus time curves are selected. These are used in inverse models to predict those tissue parameters assumed in creating the synthetic data. Both transient and steady inverse methods are summarized next.

Transient Transversely Isotropic Single Rate Inverse Solution for Liquids

Our exact pressure solutions can be used to derive inverse methods for tissue properties. Consider the early time solutions in Equations 1b or 3a. If discrete sets of early data were used to evaluate P(Rw,t) and time t, and the results plotted with pressure on the vertical axis and time on the horizontal, the vertical intercept of the straight line gives the background pressure P0. The slope of the straight line measured is – Q0 /(VC). Since Q0 and V are known, the value of C follows. In blood sampling, C represents a blood compressibility identical to c. For injection applications, C would characterize the injectate or a volume average of it and any supplemental fluid in the flowline. This C also considers tubing flexibility when injectors are used. While P0 is predicted as stated, it is error prone since initial tissue contacts may be erratic. A more precise method for P0 is offered later.

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The permeability method, requiring three time and pressure data pairs, utilizes data from the first seconds of measured syringe transients. If the time from needle contact to pressure equilibrium is fifteen seconds, data from 0, 7 and 15 sec would ensure linear independence of the equations used. When steady conditions are so rapidly achieved that separated data points are difficult to obtain, the time window Dt for data acquisition must be widened. Analysis shows that Dt increases with the product VC, and importantly, that predicted permeabilities are independent of VC. A long liquid filled tube (to increase V) separating syringe body from pump will expand Dt. Alternatively, the syringe body can host supplemental gas of high compressibility C, separated by a movable flexible membrane from the injectate. This simple modification enhances syringe portability. When VC altering fixes are used, predicted compressibilities are no longer that for the tissue, but predictions for kh2/3kv1/3/m, kh/m, kv/m and P0importantly remain unaffected. While we have described inverse solutions for single rate applications, that is, for pressures arising from continuous withdrawal or injection, dual rate approaches can be similarly treated using an analogous H function modified by superposition methods previously described. Single and dual rate models are solved by software Modules PTA-APP-01B and FT-PTA-DDBU.

Inverse Solutions for kh and kv from Steady Pressure Drop Data for Liquids

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In drug delivery and artificial organ design applications, kh and kv values may be individually required. They can be obtained from cubic Equations 4a-4b. These do not contain compressibility effects since they disappear at large times. To determine C or c, complementary single-sensor, early-time transient inverse procedures are required. Software Module FT-01 solves Equations 4a,b,c.

Syringe Hardware Modifications

Different single syringe designs are available as shown in Figure 3. Essentially, a needle contacts tissue at 5, located near internal pressure sensor 1. Measured pressures pexact (rw,t) are extremely close to those at 2 and 3, also immersed in the syringe fluid. These contrast with external transducers 4A and 4B in direct tissue contact measuring pexact (r > rw, t). For designs with internal sensors only, transient inverse methods will yield c or C, kh2/3kv1/3, P0 and ϕ. When an additional external transducer is used, steady-state tests will give kh and kv individually, but not compressibility, pressure and porosity.

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Figure 3. Single-needle syringes, with flush mounted “internal pressure transducers” 1, 2 and 3, and “external transducers” 4A and 4B. Items 6, 16 and 10 represent plunger, speed control and computer. Movable flexible membrane 13 separates injectate 8 and supplemental fluid 12 (pressures are continuous across membrane). Cross-hatching denotes tissue media.

In applications where pressures equilibrate so rapidly that accurate multi-point (time, pressure) data acquisition is not possible, time window widths can be amplified by increasing the value of VC. This is accomplished by introducing a long flexible liquid filled tube 18 between syringe fluid and auto-injector or infusion pump. If portability is essential, one may instead introduce a movable flexible membrane within the syringe, separating the near fluid 8 and a compressible gas 12. The use of non-toxic filtered room air drawn through a one-way check valve provides a simple solution. Flush mounted pressure transducers and embedded wiring are assumed, whose electrical signals are digitized and processed in computer control unit 10.

Single needle diagnosis may be limiting when properties over a broader region are required. Multi-needle syringe arrays can be used. The top left of Figure 4 shows easily inserted parallel needles with adjustable depth. The right diagram shows multiple needles operating at different inclinations and depths. Markings at syringe tops allow needle source and observation positions within tissues to be determined from direct calculation for use in forward and inverse simulators. Sketch D shows how source points A and B might define a “virtual needle” of known inclination. Note that numerous combinations of pressure data taken from multiple needles provide properties for detailed heterogeneity and anisotropy mapping. Finally, the bottom left of Figure 4 shows an internal “red hook” or biopsy sampler that removes tissue samples upon syringe withdrawal. Such sampling can be used together with pressure transient analysis.

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Figure 4. Multi-needle syringes, parallel needle arrangement (top left); adjustable retractable lengths and angles with contoured flexible base (right). Beveled tip with “biopsy sampler” (bottom left).

3. Results for Several Challenging Imaging Problems

Subcutaneous Injection and Permeability in Humans

Needle-free injection methods using high speed fluid jets, together with strong pressure interactions within “intelligent” syringe housings, have been studied in recent years. However, our use of “intelligent syringes” and general Darcy pressure transient analyses for tissue properties is completely new. Literature searches uncovered two pharmaceutical investigations where transient profiles were measured, providing important data to evaluate our ideas. Both focused on pain threshold dependence on injectate volume, viscosity and flow rate. These were interested more in steady “plateau pressures” (as in Figure 1) than the unsteady pressures underlying our research. Math validations showing consistency between forward and inverse models are reported later. Here we discuss clinical applications demonstrating the versatility of i Syringe analysis.

“Clinical evaluation of large volume subcutaneous injection tissue effects, pain, and acceptability in healthy adults,” provides detailed pressure transients duplicated in Figure 5-I [2]. Traces A, B and C deal with 5 ml injections for 1.1, 8 and 20 cp viscosities, while Trace D presents results for 10 ml and 20 cp. The paper notes that “each curve is the mean value of all included injections.” These smoothed results therefore cover “thirty-two adult male and female subjects ranging from 18-65 years of age, where a total of 192 injections were administered.” Thus, our conclusions below apply to an “averaged human” and not to any individual. Also, the higher viscosity fluid was non-Newtonian, with stress data obtained at two unspecified shear rates. This differs from the Newtonian model in our Darcy equations. Finally, the authors did not comment on compressibility and anisotropy, while frictional flowline effects were unaccounted for. Our predictions should be understood in light of these limitations.

Exercise 1. Here we will consider Trace D in Display I. We study the left side buildup using inverse Module PTA-APP-01B. The data used are #1 (t = 0 sec, P = 0 psi), #2 (t = 2.5 min = 150 sec, P = 53 psi) and #3 (t = 8 min = 480 sec, P = 60 psi). The needle radius was not given – we assumed a 0.01 cm radius. The flow rate for Traces A, B, C and D is – 0.02 cc/s. Calculation yield a keff of 39.36 md/cp. Predicted compressibility is large at 0.00029/psi and includes long flexible tubing effects. Alternatively, we can use drawdown data with model FT-PTA-DDBU. Points selected visually are #1 (t = 8 min = 480 sec, P = 60 psi), #2 (t = 10 min = 600 sec, P = 18 psi) and #3 (t = 18 min = 1,080 sec, P = 7 psi). Results in Figure 5, Display II bottom right give a mobility of 44.45 md/cp, comparing favorably with 39.36 md/cp. The 7 psi pressure may be inaccurate, but not surprising given the experimental inconsistencies cited.

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Figure 5. Display I from Woodley et al. (2022), red denoting abdomen and black the thigh [2]. Data circles and A, B, C and D labels are ours. Blue arrows denote time when pumping stopped. Authors noted “initial rise, plateau region and decline after injection ceases” as discussed in our Figure 1.

Compressibility and flowline volume influence is interesting, with Woodley’s experimental setup suggesting strong fluid cushioning effects. As details are not available, we assumed in PTA-APP-01B a value of 80 cc as in related work [3] considered separately. Substitution in Compressibility (1/psi): 0.2330E-01 x (cc/FloLineVol) leads to a 0.00029/psi compressibility (versus 0.00061/psi in the related investigation). In both studies, flowlines were constructed from long flexible tubes which enhanced “VC” compressibility. Large values of VC widen time measurement windows, rendering pressure signals visible and easily measurable. As a check, we used FT-00 to create an implied pressure waveform. When times from Figure 5, Display I are expressed in seconds, and a compressibility of 0.00029/psi is used, together with permeability taken as (predicted mobility, 40 md/cp) ´ (input viscosity, 20 cp) or 800 md, the line obtained in Figure 5, Display III agrees with Trace D. Thus the results of Modules PTA-APP-01B, FT-PTA-DDBU and FT-00 are consistent.

Exercise 2. Here we will demonstrate the use of inverse methods in trend analysis by studying pressure decline in Traces A, B, C (buildup traces were excluded due to an unrealistic plateau at the top of Trace A). Thus, we apply Module FT-PTA-DDBU. For A, we use #1 (t = 4 min = 240 sec, P = 10 psi), #2 (t = 4.5 min = 270 sec, P = 2 psi) and #3 (t = 7 min = 420 sec, P = 0 psi). For B, we use #1 (t = 4 min = 240 sec, P = 33 psi), #2 (t = 5 min = 300 sec, P = 10 psi) and #3 (t = 10 min = 600 sec, P = 2 psi). And for C, we use #1 (t = 4 min = 240 sec, P = 58 psi), #2 (t = 5 min = 300 sec, P = 24 psi) and #3 (t = 14 min = 840 sec, P = 0 psi). We assumed a Needle Gauge 27 syringe with an inner radius of 0.01 cm since needle size data was not available, and further, that all 5 ml flow rate tests were performed with the same syringe.

Figure 5-IV ’s predicted spherical mobilities for A, B and C, namely 236, 76 and 44 md/cp for viscosities 1.1, 8 and 20 cp, are interesting. They differ enough that our visual selection of pressure input data should not introduce sizable error. Similarly, viscosity values are well separated. From “Permeability = Mobility ´ Viscosity,” we have, going from A to C, the permeabilities (236)(1.1) or 260, (76)(8) or 608 and (44)(20) or 880 md, respectively. For the data analyzed, the permeabilities are increasing as pressure increases.

The predictive methods disclosed in this paper were derived from geosciences algorithms popular in oil and gas exploration developed by the first author. These have been used for almost three decades and are treated in several books from John Wiley & Sons and Elsevier Scientific Publishing (see “Discussion and Closing Remarks”).

In geological engineering, decreases in rock and soil permeability are found as pressure increases. These arise from mechanical compaction and imply increased flow resistance as interstitial spaces reduce in size. Often, however, as in “hydraulic fracturing,” very high stress loadings introduce high permeability microfractures that allow increased oil production and the opposite occurs. In biomedical applications, complicated permeability changes are affected by capillary, cellular and other microscopic phenomena. Our methods, which only measure increases or reductions, do not explain them.

Investigators have speculated that high pressure damage at injection zones may lead to inflammation and permeability increases as flow increases from capillaries to surrounding tissues. Permeability issues of significance to iSyringe applications are discussed in recent studies [4,5,6,7]. For example, the latter explores “elevated capillary permeability,” “increases in hydraulic conductivity” and “increased tissue permeability” using finite element solutions to lower limb swelling. Recent works on cancer and tumor growth importantly show how sustained permeability increases encourage rapid growth by increasing nutrients and oxygen delivery. In our literature searches, we have not uncovered direct permeability data for human tissues – results inferred from interpreted pressure responses, such as ours, offer clues to this important property.

Yorkshire Swine Fluid Mobility and Needle Size Effects

“Understanding Subcutaneous Tissue Pressure for Engineering Injection Devices for Large-Volume Protein Delivery” provides waveforms useful to extracting properties from dynamic pressure data [3]. It summarizes results for “self-administration of monoclonal antibodies using prefilled syringes, autoinjectors, and on-body injector devices,” investigating subcutaneous pressures and injection site reactions as functions of injection volume, flow rate and viscosity and formulation. Since back pressure is an indicator for changes in mechanical tissue properties leading to pain, buildup and decay times as well as pain thresholds were monitored. Swine porcine models were selected to simulate human subcutaneous injections given similarities in tissue thickness. A pressure sensor in the fluid path recorded subcutaneous pressures in the abdomen of Yorkshire swine.

The setup used, emphasizing long tubular connections totaling forty inches, is duplicated in Figure 6. Pressure drops in the main line were subtracted from total pressures, using data obtained from air measurements (we address total compressibility later). Here we are interested only in pressure transients. Since pexact (rw,t) is smooth, outliers A and C were discarded in favor of Trace B. This describes realistic subcutaneous reactions, with a 20 sec buildup time providing sufficient time for measurement.

Orifice sizes were not specified so we take this opportunity to consider those mobilities predicted if Trace B data had been collected with needles of different radii. Pressure data #1 (t = 0 sec, P = 0 psi), #2 (t = 6 sec, P = 5.8 psi) and #3 (t = 19 sec, P = 7 psi) were used in inverse Module PTA-APP-01B with a flow rate of – 0.1 cc/s. For Runs I, II and III, we assume inner needle radii of 0.01 cm, 0.05 cm and 0.10 cm to calculate mobility. We find that I predicts an 1,681 md/cp, while II yields a smaller 336.2 md/cp, with III leading to a further reduction with 168.1 md/cp. For example, 1,000 md/cp may represent the permeability of ordinary sand to water, while values less than 0.1 md/cp describe much denser rocks.

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Figure 6. Yorkshire swine test fixture (Doughty et al. (2016) or [3], our annotations).

Forward and Inverse Model Validations

How do we assess the quality of predicted tissue properties? Experimental approaches are not entirely reliable, since test samples cannot be accurately characterized. In our approach, exact pressure versus time solutions corresponding to a well accepted forward Darcy formulation provide synthetic “patient” test data with which to evaluate approximate inverse models. If predicted permeabilities, compressibilities and pressures agree with values used in creating our synthetic data, one would conclude that both forward and inverse models are consistent and accurate. Here we present method validations focusing on applications and input numbers encountered in practice.

Example 1. Results for Isotropic Media Using Drawdown Method.

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Figure 7. FT-00 and PTA-APP-01B isotropic drawdown calculations.

The input menu in Figure 7 assumes an isotropic permeability of 1 md, a viscosity of 1 cp, for a mobility of 1 md/cp. A compressibility of 0.000003/psi (approximately that of water) is used with a tissue porosity of 0.15. The syringe dip angle is vertical at zero degrees. The needle radius is taken as 0.05 cm. We assume a 1 cm separation distance for an optional second observation transducer in direct tissue contact. The flow rate as taken as 0.01 cc/sec for five seconds while the syringe flowline volume is 5 cc. The high 1,000 psi background hydrostatic pressure, not dynamically significant, was chosen so displayed pressures are positive. Calculated and plotted pressures appear in Figure 7.

We perform an inverse calculation using the early-time method in PTA-APP-01B. We have selected pressure data at 0.0, 0.3 and 0.6 sec. Computer output is shown in Courier font.

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These results are very satisfactory. The background pressure is recovered as 1,000 psi while a mobility of 1.018 md/cp is predicted with less than 2% error. The compressibility output “0.1505E-04 x (cc/FloLineVol),” using the 5 cc substitution, yields a value of 0.00001505/5 1/psi or 0.00000301/psi (compared to an input of 0.000003/psi). Next we calculate porosity from Module POROSITY. With an isotropic permeability of 1 md, a viscosity of 1 cp, a flow rate of 0.01 cc/sec, a needle radius of 0.05 cm, a compressibility of 0.000003/psi and a background pressure of 1,000 psi, the porosity values for time-pressure data at 2, 3, 4 and 4.9 sec are

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compared with an exact FT-00 input of 0.15. In general, porosity results are less reliable than those for permeability, compressibility and pressure, since the parameter inputs used are themselves approximate predictions. In practice, porosity numbers should be used judiciously.

Example 2. Results for Transversely Isotropic Media for Pure Drawdown or Buildup.

Many body tissues exhibit transversely isotropic behavior. In this first run, at the top of Figure 8, we revisit Example 1 but assume kh = 1 md and kv = 5 md. We perform the drawdown shown and carry the simulation to steady-state. Again forward Module FT-00 provides exact synthetic pressure data for steady inverse method FT-01, also exact. Calculated transient pressures appear in Figure 8 and in the listing following it.

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Figure 8. FT-00 and FT-01 transversely isotropic calculations.

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We now perform inverse calculations using steady flow Module FT-01, also exact. Errors only arise when the pressure drops used have not fully equilibrated. From t = 4.9 sec results, the pressure drop at the source probe is 1000 - 863.7 or 136.3 psi while that at the observation probe is 1000 - 988.3 or 11.7 psi. The algorithm solves cubic equations and three roots are obtained,

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Note that Roots 1 and 3 possess negative kh values and Root 3 solutions are physically unreasonable. On the other hand, Root 2 successfully predicts kh = 0.997 md and kv = 5.04 md, which are close to the FT-00 inputs of kh = 1 md and kv = 5 md.

In a second simulation for this Example 2, consider the nontrivial case with reversed kh = 5 md and kv = 1 md inputs relative to the first, as shown at the bottom of Figure 8. Computed forward FT-00 results are given there and also immediately below.

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The inverse calculation is initiated at the bottom of Figure 8. For the required steady pressure inputs, we use values at t = 4.9 sec, for which pressure drops are found as 1000 – 920.3 or 79.7 psi and 1000 – 997.6 or 2.4 psi at source and observation probes. Calculated results are displayed below. As before, Roots 1 and 3 are associated with physically invalid solutions. On the other hand, the result in Root 2 is very good, with kh = 4.86 md and kv = 1.06 md as compared to FT-00 inputs of kh = 5 md and kv = 1 md.

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Example 3. Results for Transversely Isotropic Media Using Drawdown-Buildup Method.

Now consider transversely isotropic media with a drawdown-buildup sequence. Synthetic data is created using FT-00 for input into the inverse drawdown-buildup FT-PTA-DDBU model, which predicts background pressure and kh2/3 kv1/3. We will show that predictions are consistent with the inputs used to create the synthetic data in the forward model. While “transversely isotropic” appears in the title, the method also applies to purely isotropic media.

Calculated source pressure versus time together with assumptions appear in Figure 9. The initial syringe drawdown terminates at t = 3 sec, at which point pressure increases. The inverse menu for FT-PTA-DDBU shows arbitrarily selected pressures from t = 3, 4 and 5 sec which have not yet equilibrated in time. At the bottom-right of the inverse code menu, the predicted steady background pressure at large times is 1,001 psi, which is close to the 1,000 psi assumed. In addition, the spherical mobility is predicted as 0.3 md/cp, which very close to that assumed in the forward simulation, that is, (0.5) 2/3 (0.1) 1/3 or 0.2924 md/cp. Thus, the exact FT-00 model and approximate FT-PTA-DDBU superposition inverse method for drawdown-buildup sequences are numerically consistent.

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Figure 9. Transversely isotropic drawdown-buildup results.

Effects of Compressibility

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Figure 10. FT-00 pressure plots for “Yorkshire swine problem”

using C = 0.00061/psi (upper) and C = 0.000003/psi (lower).

Pressure histories are created in Figure 10 for our “1,681 md Yorkshire swine problem” using FT-00. The upper curve assumes the FT-01 predicted compressibility of 0.00061/psi while the lower diagram assumes a much smaller water 0.000003/psi consistent with the injectate in the experiments. All input parameters are otherwise identical. The top curve reproduces the experimentally observed pressure curve in Figure 6. Note how both pressure traces yield the same 7 psi steady pressure drop despite large compressibility differences. This depends only on the mobility in the medium. Importantly, the upper curve smoothly equilibrates in 20 sec; the lower curve achieves steady state in one second, seen in the steep, barely visible line near t = 0.

Thus, higher VC values broaden the time window available for data acquisition, allowing greater accuracy while leaving predicted permeability or mobility unaffected. If steady states are achieved too rapidly, simply install a long liqiud filled flexible tube between needle and syringe pump. Alternatively, introduce a movable flexible membrane 13 as shown in Figure 3, separating the injectate 8 and a supplemental compressible gas 12 such as air. Long liquid filled tubing works well, but the use of compressible gases is suggested for syringe portability.

Subtle Flowline Geometry and Frictional Considerations

Subtle effects related to flowline geometry and friction on permeability prediction are offered based on FT-00 and PTA-APP-01B calculations. Using kh = 30 and kv = 20 md, we have keff = (30)**0.6667 (20)**0.3333 = 26.21 md. To emphasize key ideas, we use extreme values for certain parameters. In Run 1, we assume a typical V = 10 cc and a 0.02 cc/s injection rate. Transient pressures equilibrate within 0.5 sec to 90 psi. Calculated pressure values at 0.0, 0.2 and 0.4 sec are used in PTA-APP-01B. The predicted keff is 26.56 md/cp, implying a 26.56 md permeability for the 1 cp fluid, a small 1% error. This validates forward and inverse methods, but in practice, the 0.5 sec time window is too small to ensure measurement accuracy given initially erratic needle movements. In Run 2, we consider the effects of large flowline volumes and friction.

For Run 2, we consider extended syringe and flowline volume effects. Longer line extensions are a necessity in laboratory work with pressure sensors placed at the distant end away from the needle [2,3]. One might suppose that sensors closest to the orifice would provide greater accuracy in properties prediction. After all, transducers located faraway experience wall friction pressure drops arising from fluid movement. The added volume would also increase cushioning effects due to compressibility. How do these effects influence permeability prediction?

We first run FT-00 for a long 10,000 cc flowline compared to 10 cc. The pressure equilibrates to the same 90 psi, not surprising since VC and fmc terms disappear at large times. But what is interesting is the broader time window available for measurement. The dynamically significant time interval extends to about 300 sec from 0.5 sec, providing greater flexibility for measurement accuracy. Are predicted permeabilities affected? PTA-APP-01B results again show a keff of 26.56 md as in Run 1. This result is welcome. We conclude that the added compressibility associated with longer flowlines is desirable because larger time windows available for data acquisition are encouraged.

We have not discussed the effects of constant rate fluid movement in the flowline. Assume a viscosity such that the end transducer measures an additional 1,000 psi. This large value is added to the prior pressure inputs and the PTA-APP-01B run is repeated. Results lead to the same keff. In summary, a long tube with a transducer located at the distant end (1) does not reduce permeability accuracy, (2) does not affect pressure inputs interpreted by the inverse algorithm, and (3) improves accuracy and resolution by widening the time measurement window. All three are welcome and positive.

Our algorithms and workflow were structured to produce the following results. First, the general boundary value problem applies only at the needle orifice and tissue beyond. The flow rate specification does not depend on how that rate is produced – it simply states the rate at the needle and circumvents any need for mechanical details. Thus, physical interpretations for FT-00 are simple. At the start of injection, the fluid pushes hard and pressures must increase; when injections stop, pressures must decline. Now suppose we add a long fluid column to the syringe body. If the injection rate is constant and does not accelerate, significant dynamic effects are not introduced. However, power is added and required to push the column, leading to a constant pressure differential needed to overcome wall friction. But this constant does not affect the syringe boundary condition, one which depends on the ¶P/¶t term. The separate tissue and syringe math formulations used bypass mechanical details and related simulation complexities while leaving the physics accurately described. In addition, constant rate pumping simplifies the electrical control of auto-injection and infusion pumps.

Corrections where tubular pressure drops are subtracted from total pressure measured [3] are important in determining absolute pain thresholds. But as explained, whether or not the subtraction is performed does not affect predictions for permeability. The effect produced by longer flowlines does increase compressibility, which widens the time measurement window, a desirable effect – but without affecting the permeability. This widening was an unintended consequence of the two laboratory setups. For their authors’ purposes, large time windows were not needed since only rapidly achievable steady plateau values for patient pain assessment were needed. However, in our work, which extracts information from dynamically changing pressure curves, larger time windows are important as they broaden the selection of pressure data input points available for inverse calculations. Again, it is not necessary to subtract flowline pressures from total pressures for inverse problems. There is no penalty in lengthening the flow line for window amplification purposes. In fact, depending on anticipated injectate compressibilities, optimal windows can be tuned using FT-00 and PTA-APP-01B for optimal tube lengths.

We emphasize that increases in the product VC will widen time measurement windows, but it is not necessary to use long liquid filled tubes. In fact, a slightly longer syringe containing compressible gas, separated from the injectate by a movable flexible membrane, would accomplish the same result with greater syringe portability. This follows because gases are a hundred-fold more compressible than liquids. A convenient, non-toxic, readily available gas is room air. A one-way check valve and filter can be installed in-line so that, like a simple bicycle pump, clean room air enters from the outside to enhance system compressibility.

In pain threshold studies where the interest is in steady plateau pressures values themselves, flowline pressure subtraction is essential. However, this does not require separate “in air” tests used in recent investigations [3]. Required tubular pressure drops can be obtained from conventional pipe flow formulas for Newtonian, Power Law, Bingham Plastic and Herschel-Bulkley rheologies. Such equations apply to laminar (and not turbulent) flows, but steady conditions are almost always met in syringe applications. Finally, we describe final Run 3 results, where V is reduced to a reasonable 100 cc, with equilibration time decreasing to 6 sec. From this transient history, we select pressures at 0, 2 and 4 sec, again adding a 1,000 psi fictitious pressure drop, for inverse PTA-APP-01B analysis. As expected, we predict a 26.55 md effective permeability. The transient Darcy pressure due to tissue response simply adds to a dynamically insignificant background pressure, just as acoustic sound is unaffected by the presence of a variable wind.

4. Discussion and Closing Remarks

Methods predicting permeability, anisotropy, compressibility, porosity and background pressure from syringe pressure transients were developed. The inverse results, requiring three (time, pressure) points along buildup or drawdown curves, were validated using self-consistent forward-inverse procedures. Individual kh and kv values can also be found knowing kh2/3kv1/3 from buildup or drawdown tests, plus time delay “needle point to external probe” measurements, versus the timewise lengthier but simpler steady approach described here. More details, clinical applications, and forward and inverse models appear in Biofluids Modeling, a recent 2023 book from John Wiley & Sons [8]. The present paper builds upon a ResearchSquare preprint published earlier in [9]. Altogether, the methods are useful in providing rapid, quantitative, minimally invasive and accurate local descriptions for tissue characterization. They can be used in understanding physical anomalies, in convenient periodic monitoring and, for example, in acupuncture research focused on the role of activation and deactivation of biological switches in living human and animal tissue.

Windows software modules FT-00, FT-01, FT-PTA-01B, FT-PTA-DDBU and POROSITY are available on request from the authors. Six research monographs developing the present methodology for geoscience applications are available from John Wiley & Sons and Elsevier Scientific Publishing. These books are also available from www.amazon.com using author search parameters “Wilson Chin” and “Wilson C. Chin.” In this paper, our methodologies were illustrated using human and Yorkshire swine pressure transient data in [2,3], respectively. We emphasize that we did not perform any human or live animal experiments so that related regulatory procedures are not applicable. It is worth noting that the pressure versus time curves studied are similar in shape to those normally encountered in geoscience porous media flow applications. This confirms our view that syringe induced effects in tissue represent analogous porous media flow phenomena in rocks.

Data Availability

All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article. Software derivations, discussions and availability are discussed under “Methods for Pressure Interpretation” in Section 2.

Acknowledgements

An un-reviewed pre-print version of the present paper was published earlier online, entitled “Intelligent Syringe for Porous Tissue Characterization Using Advanced Darcy Flow Pressure Transient Analysis,” by W.C. Chin, J.A. Chin and X. Zhuang. Publication details are listed under “References” in Item [9].

Funding Information and Conflicts of Interest

Research and development was entirely supported by Stratamagnetic Software, LLC internal funding. The twenty-year-old private enterprise, wholly owned by the authors, has recently applied for “Intelligent Syringe” intellectual property protection. No other conflicts of interest are noted.

Author Contributions

The first author earned his Ph.D. at M.I.T. and M.Sc. at Caltech in fluid mechanics, physics and applied math. W.C.C. developed the theory, validations and method, and wrote the manuscript. J.A.C. performed simulations for syringe tubular extension versus supplemental gas substitution for time window amplification. Finally X.Y. evaluated possible transducer layouts for permeability and anisotropy prediction.

References

  1. Abramowitz M and Stegun IA. Handbook of Mathematical Functions. (1970).
  2. Woodley WD, Morel DR, Sutter DE, Pettis RJ and Bolick NG. Clinical evaluation of large volume subcutaneous injection tissue effects, pain, and acceptability in healthy adults. Clinical and Translational Science. 15 (2022): 92-104.
  3. Doughty DV, Clawson CZ, Lambert W and Anand Subramony J. Understanding Subcutaneous Tissue Pressure for Engineering Injection Devices for Large-Volume Protein Delivery. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 105 (2016): 2105-2113.
  4. Duran-Reynals F. Tissue Permeability and the Spreading Factors in Infection. Bacteriol Rev 6 (1942): 197-252 (1942).
  5. Yuan SY and Rigor RR. Regulation of Endothelial Barrier Function, Chapter 3 – Methods for Measuring Permeability. Morgan & Claypool Life Sciences (2010).
  6. Claesson-Welsh L, Dejana E and McDonald D. Permeability of the endothelial barrier: identifying and reconciling controversies. Trends Mol Med 27 (2021): 314–331.
  7. Baish JW, Padera TP and Munn LL. The effects of gravity and compression on interstitial fluid transport in the lower limb. Nature, Scientific Reports. Article 4890 (2022).
  8. Chin WC and Chin JA, Biofluids Modeling – Methods, Perspectives and Solutions. John Wiley & Sons, (2023).
  9. Chin WC, Chin JA and Zhuang X. “Intelligent Syringe for Porous Tissue Characterization Using Advanced Darcy Flow Pressure Transient Analysis,” with preprint appearing on Research Square website under Internet link, https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3029461/v1_covered_7a041629-67e4-4b37-8db0-adeaf5303a82.pdf?c=1694088447, July 18, 2023.

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