Transport Phenomena in the Lymphatic System

描述（由申请人提供）：淋巴系统在健康中发挥许多重要功能，每天收集约6升间质液并将其返回静脉系统。当这种液体被过滤时，不需要的元素，如肿瘤细胞和外来病原体，通常在淋巴结中被破坏。该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，目前尚无治愈方法，它影响着大量接受过淋巴结清扫的癌症患者以及创伤患者。淋巴系统也是大多数致命癌症转移的主要运输途径。理解和建模淋巴的运输仍然是一个挑战。大部分的泵送工作来自淋巴管平滑肌的收缩，通过阀门防止回流。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淋巴循环的多尺度网络模型。这种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.