Transport Phenomena in the Lymphatic System

描述(申请人提供)：淋巴系统在健康中发挥着许多重要的功能，每天收集大约6升间质液体，并将其返回静脉系统。当这种液体被过滤时，肿瘤细胞和外来病原体等不良元素通常会在淋巴结内被破坏。这个系统也是免疫系统主要运输机制的一部分。淋巴水肿是一种使人衰弱的疾病，目前还没有已知的治疗方法，它影响着大量接受过淋巴清扫的癌症患者，以及创伤受害者。淋巴系统也是最致命的癌症转移的主要运输途径。对淋巴运输的理解和建模仍然是一个挑战。大部分泵送工作来自淋巴管平滑肌的收缩，瓣膜可以防止回流。我们正在开发一个基于物理定律、材料描述和活跃细胞过程模型的多尺度淋巴循环网络模型。这个迭代模型开发过程的目标是更好地了解正常淋巴功能以及多种疾病。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The lymphatic system performs many crucial functions in health, gathering approximately 6 liters/day of interstitial fluid and returning it tothe venous system. As this fluid is filtered, undesirable elements such as tumor cells and foreign pathogens are normally destroyed in lymph nodes. This system is also part of the primary transport mechanism for the immune system. Lymphedema, a debilitating disease, for which there is no known cure, affects a large number of cancer patients who have undergone lymph node dissection, as well as trauma victims. The lymphatic system is also the major transport route for metastases of the most deadly cancers. Understanding and modeling the transport of lymph remains a challenge. Much of the pumping work comes from the contraction of lymphatic vessel smooth muscle, with valves preventing backflow. We are developing a multi-scale network model of the lymphatic circulation based on a combination of physical laws, material descriptions, and models of active cellular processes. Goals of this iterative model development process are to gain a better understanding of normal lymphatic function as well as multiple diseases.