Measurement of Animal Tumor
Volume For Oncology Research
Project Description
2018
Animal models are used to investigate tumor treatments on human xenografts. In order to investigate the efficacy of treatment, tumor growth trends can be analyzed by measuring tumor volumes over time. Currently, the industry standard for calculating tumor volume in animal models is the use of a caliper to measure the tumor in two dimensions, and a basic equation translates these measurements to volume. Our client wanted the mouse tumors to be measured precisely regardless of the lab technician, allow the mouse to be measured above the skin without anesthesia, and provide high throughput results at a reasonable cost.
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Measuring tumors with calipers does not account for irregular morphology, resulting in significant human error. It is time-consuming and expensive due to the high number of replicates required to provide reliable data. More involved and costly techniques for measuring tumor volume use advanced medical imaging instruments. These instruments are expensive and hard to access regularly, require the animal subject to be anesthetized, and necessitate extensive image analysis to obtain volume.
Our design uses fluid displacement to determine the true volume of a tumor. A fluid filled measurement probe with a flexible membrane is depressed over the tumor, thus displacing the fluid within the probe. The probe is connected to a sensor housing via a flexible hose. Within the sensor housing, a floating magnet is displaced by a distance proportionate to the volume of the tumor being measured. Using magneto strictive technology, the volume of the tumor can be accurately determined based on the displacement of the magnet along the sensor. This design captures 3D measurements and tumor topography to an extent that cannot be achieved using the conventional caliper method.
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My knowledge of biomaterial used in this device was also strained as the biomaterial had to be manipulated for different thicknesses based on its composition. The goal was also to have a biomaterial that accurately molds to the tumor topography, allowing for exact volume displacement. Impending MTS testing of the biomaterials used will yield results into the materials stress and strain characteristics. The device will be tested in our client’s lab in the future on real mice to determine the accuracy and viability of our design.
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Check out full project at; Tumor Measuring Device
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