Multivariate Breath Analysis for Non-Invasive Disease Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing illnesses in living entities, such as humans and animals, are limited by their reliance on specific 'markers' and lack sensitivity, making it difficult to distinguish between minor variations in compounds and requiring invasive procedures, while also being unable to simultaneously screen for multiple diseases.
Innovation Solution
The use of multivariate analytical test methods, combined with pattern recognition software, to analyze complex volatile materials from living entities, creating reference sets for known conditions and comparing them to individual test results to determine the likelihood of specific illnesses, thereby providing a non-invasive and efficient diagnostic tool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If simple analytical techniques and specific markers are used to detect illnesses, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and reliability are insufficient to distinguish between minor variations in compounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex volatile organic compound profile into multiple individual compounds that can be separately detected and quantified. Instead of using a single marker or simple technique, the system divides the analysis into detecting numerous individual VOCs, each providing specific information about different physiological conditions, thereby achieving high measurement precision without requiring a single overly complex analytical technique
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal diagnostic system using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry that can detect and analyze multiple different volatile organic compounds simultaneously. This multi-functional approach allows a single analytical platform to identify various illnesses including cancer, heart disease, and metabolic disorders by detecting different VOC patterns, eliminating the need for multiple specialized tests
2Measurement precision
If concentration methods are applied to markers to improve detection reliability, then the measurement precision is improved, but the loss of time increases due to additional processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary concentration of volatile organic compounds from breath samples using cold trapping or absorption media before analysis. By pre-concentrating the VOCs in the breath sample, the system ensures sufficient analyte quantity for reliable detection without requiring lengthy concentration steps during the actual measurement, thus improving detection reliability while minimizing time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical concentration systems with simpler thermal or adsorption-based concentration methods. Using cold traps or absorption media allows for efficient VOC concentration without complex mechanical pumps or extended processing times, achieving high detection reliability with minimal time investment
3Device complexity
If traditional diagnostic methods are used, then the device complexity is low, but the productivity is reduced due to inability to screen for multiple diseases simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal diagnostic platform using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry that can simultaneously detect and analyze numerous different volatile organic compounds. This single system provides multi-functional capability to screen for multiple diseases including various cancers, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, and neurological conditions in one test, dramatically increasing productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the diagnostic process into detecting individual VOC biomarkers that correspond to different disease categories. By identifying specific VOC patterns for different disease types (e.g., acetone for diabetes, specific compounds for cancer types), the system can screen for multiple diseases simultaneously through a single comprehensive analysis, enhancing productivity while maintaining manageable system complexity
4Measurement precision
If invasive procedures are performed for diagnosis, then the measurement precision may be improved, but the object-generated harmful factors increase due to patient discomfort and risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces invasive mechanical procedures (needle biopsies, surgical interventions) with non-invasive breath analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. By detecting volatile organic compounds exhaled by patients, the system achieves high diagnostic accuracy for detecting cancer, heart disease, and metabolic disorders without causing physical trauma, pain, or infection risk associated with invasive procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses breath-exhaled volatile organic compounds as intermediary biomarkers that reflect internal physiological conditions without requiring direct sampling of internal tissues or fluids. These VOCs serve as mediators that carry information about disease states from internal organs to the external environment, allowing indirect but accurate diagnosis through non-invasive breath analysis
Data Source
AI summary
One or more living entities are evaluated for health conditions by taking samples, especially samples of volatile compounds, derived from, e.g., the breath, urine, feces, saliva, skin exudates, etc., from the living entities, optionally with concentration of the samples; analyzing the samples using a multivariate analytical test; comparing the patterns present in the results of said test or tests, either; a. on an individual entity at a previous time to the patterns present in the results of said test or tests on the individual entity at the present time, or b/ comparing the patterns present in the results of the test on the said living entities to the patterns present in the results of tests on populations of similar entities having a normal health condition and/or to the patterns in the results of tests on populations of similar entities having a given disease or abnormal health condition, the results from the entities having normal health and each of the populations of entities having a given disease or abnormal condition being treated as reference sets for their respective specific disease or abnormal condition as compared to the reference set for entities having normal health.