Non-invasive device for detecting liver damage

Abstract

A device calculates a score reflecting a state of liver damage, the calculating device being designed to calculate a score using the following physical parameters: a parameter corresponding to inflammation and/or fibrosis; and a parameter corresponding to steatosis.

1 .- 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . A system for calculating a score in a patient, said score being a quantitative or semi-quantitative evaluation of liver damage of alcoholic or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis type, said system comprising:
 a) one or more measurement devices including one or more ultrasound transducers and configured to carry out measurements of a first physical parameter corresponding to liver fibrosis, or liver inflammation, or both, and a second physical parameter corresponding to liver steatosis;   b) a calculating device configured to receive values of said first and second physical parameters measured by the one or more measurement devices and a value of one or more biological parameters, the one or more biological parameters including at least one transaminase (ASAT or ALAT), said calculating device including one or more processors configured to execute a sequence of instructions for determining a score parameter, based on the values of the first and second physical parameters and the one or more biological parameters, representative of liver damage in said patient,   c) a display device including a screen, the display device configured to display the score parameter determined by the calculating device, the score parameter being displayed on said screen in the form of a numerical value, a binary indicator, a probability or a risk, said score parameter providing an estimate of NASH.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the first physical parameter is liver stiffness or liver elasticity and the second physical parameter is ultrasonic attenuation or tissue viscosity. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more measurement devices include an elastography apparatus, or an ultrasound scanner or both. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more measurement devices include an elastography apparatus that is configured to carry out measurements of said first physical parameter and said second physical parameter. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the sequence of instructions determine the score parameter according to a logistic regression, a decision tree, a Bayes classifier, or a random forest regression. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the calculating device is integrated in a device that includes the one or more measurement devices and the display device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the calculating device is remote from the one or more measurement devices. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the calculating device is adapted to communicate with the one or more measurement devices via Ethernet or Wi-Fi link to receive said values of said first and second physical parameters. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the display device is part of a computer that is remote from both the calculating device and the one or more measurement devices. 
     
     
         13 . A method for calculating a score in a patient, said score being a quantitative or semi-quantitative evaluation of liver damage of alcoholic or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis type, the method comprising:
 a) carrying out measurements of a first physical parameter corresponding to liver fibrosis, or liver inflammation, or both, and a second physical parameter corresponding to liver steatosis with one or more measurement devices that include one or more ultrasound transducers;   b) calculating, with a calculating device, a score parameter representative of liver damage in said patient, the score parameter being based on values of the first and second physical parameters and one or more biological parameters, the calculating device configured to receive values of said first and second physical parameters measured by the one or more measurement devices and a value of the one or more biological parameters, the one or more biological parameters including at least one transaminase (ASAT or ALAT), said calculating device including one or more microprocessors configured to execute a sequence of instructions for determining the score parameter, and   c) displaying on a screen of a display device the score parameter in the form of a numerical value, a binary indicator, a probability or a risk, said score parameter providing an estimate of NASH.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first physical parameter is liver stiffness or liver elasticity and the second physical parameter is ultrasonic attenuation or tissue viscosity. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more measurement devices include an elastography apparatus, or an ultrasound scanner or both. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more measurement devices include an elastography apparatus that is configured to carry out measurements of said first physical parameter and said second physical parameter. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the sequence of instructions determine the score parameter according to a logistic regression, a decision tree, a Bayes classifier, or a random forest regression. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the calculating device is integrated in a device that includes the one or more measurement devices and the display device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the calculating device is remote from the one or more measurement devices. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the calculating device is adapted to communicate with the one or more measurement devices via Ethernet or Wi-Fi link to receive said values of said first and second physical parameters. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the display device is part of a computer that is remote from both the calculating device and the one or more measurement devices.