Bone Marrow Aspirate Fluorescence Screening for Hematopoietic Tumors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing bone marrow aspirate analysis methods lack sufficient accuracy for screening hematopoietic tumors, particularly in distinguishing between normal and abnormal samples.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of a fluorescent dye that stains nucleic acid, combined with flow cytometry, to measure bone marrow aspirate and count particles with fluorescence signal information above a threshold, thereby determining a screening index for hematopoietic tumors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a fluorescent dye that stains nucleic acid is used with flow cytometry to measure bone marrow aspirate, then the screening accuracy for hematopoietic tumors is improved, but the device complexity and measurement complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescreening accuracy for hematopoietic tumorsVSAvoidcomplexity of flow cytometry system
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a fluorescent dye as an intermediary substance that binds to nucleic acids in target cells. This dye acts as a mediator between the flow cytometry detection system and the cellular components, enabling indirect detection of hematopoietic tumor cells through fluorescence signaling rather than direct structural analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional microscopic mechanical examination methods with flow cytometry-based optical detection. Instead of manually examining cell morphology under a microscope, the system uses fluorescent staining combined with flow cytometric measurement to automatically identify and quantify target cells based on their nucleic acid content

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If flow cytometry with fluorescent staining is used to identify cells with high nucleic acid content, then the ability to distinguish hematopoietic tumor cells is improved, but the measurement time and sample preparation time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to distinguish hematopoietic tumor cellsVSAvoidsample preparation time and measurement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary fluorescent staining of the bone marrow aspirate sample before flow cytometry measurement. By pre-incubating the sample with the fluorescent dye that specifically binds to nucleic acids, the target cells are marked in advance, allowing for rapid automated detection and classification during the flow cytometry process without requiring time-consuming manual examination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the detection parameter from visual morphological assessment to quantitative fluorescence signal measurement. By measuring the intensity of fluorescent signals emitted by stained cells, the system can rapidly objective distinguish hematopoietic tumor cells from normal cells based on their higher nucleic acid content, significantly reducing analysis time compared to traditional microscopy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances the screening accuracy for hematopoietic tumors by selectively identifying cells with high nucleic acid content, correlating with microscopic examination results.

Implementation Method 1

measuring a sample containing bone marrow aspirate and a fluorescent dye that can stain nucleic acid, by flow cytometry, and obtaining optical information including fluorescence signal information for a particle in the sample

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluorescence: Fluorescence

Data Source

PatentEP4394351B1Bone marrow aspirate analysis method, sample analyzer, and computer program
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 SYSMEX CORP
  • EP4394351B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4394351B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4394351B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Disclosed is a bone marrow aspirate analysis method that includes: measuring a sample containing bone marrow aspirate and a fluorescent dye that can stain nucleic acid, by flow cytometry, and obtaining optical information including fluorescence signal information for a particle in the sample; counting particles for which the fluorescence signal information indicates a threshold value or more, as target cells; and obtaining a screening index for a hematopoietic tumor based on a number of the target cells.