Fecal IgA Antibody Detection for Noninvasive Food Sensitivity Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for identifying immunologic food sensitivities in animals are invasive, costly, and lack accuracy, making it difficult to diagnose and manage food-related health issues, which can lead to unnoticed immunological reactions and potential premature death.

Innovation Solution

A noninvasive veterinary diagnostic testing system that uses fecal samples to identify immunologic food sensitivities by detecting IgA antibodies associated with specific food sensitivities, such as gluten, through a kit that includes a veterinary diagnostic test with antibody binding agents and flags to indicate positive reactions, facilitating the diagnosis of food sensitivities and associated diseases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If elimination diet is used to identify food sensitivity, then food sensitivity can be identified, but the process becomes difficult to follow and expensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood sensitivity identification accuracyVSAvoiddiet management difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/behavioral elimination diet process with an immunological testing system that detects IgA antibodies in fecal samples. Instead of manually managing dietary restrictions and observing behavioral changes, the system uses antibody binding agents to directly detect food sensitivity markers, transforming a complex behavioral protocol into a simple laboratory test.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces IgA antibodies as intermediary markers that mediate between the animal's immune response to food antigens and the diagnostic detection system. These antibodies serve as detectable proxies for food sensitivity, allowing indirect but accurate identification without requiring direct observation of dietary responses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If elimination diet is used to identify food sensitivity, then food sensitivity can be identified, but costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood sensitivity identification accuracyVSAvoidfeeding cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs disposable fecal sample collection devices and single-use diagnostic test strips that can be discarded after one use. These inexpensive, disposable components replace the ongoing cost of specialized elimination diets, providing a one-time testing solution rather than continuous dietary management expenses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If no diagnostic method is available, then animals can continue undetected food sensitivities, but unnecessary elimination diets may cause nutritional deficiencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood sensitivity detection reliabilityVSAvoidnutritional deficiency risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary diagnostic testing using IgA antibody detection before initiating any elimination diet. This advance identification of actual food sensitivities prevents unnecessary dietary restrictions, allowing veterinarians to prescribe targeted diets only when sensitivities are confirmed, thereby avoiding the nutritional deficiencies that result from unnecessary elimination diets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Measurement precision

If invasive diagnostic methods are used, then diagnostic accuracy may improve, but animal stress and procedure complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidsample collection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of collecting samples from inside the animal's body (blood draws, biopsies), the patent inverts the approach by collecting samples from the animal's external environment (feces). This reversal maintains diagnostic accuracy by detecting immune markers while eliminating the stress and complexity of invasive procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

The system allows for accurate and cost-effective identification of food sensitivities in animals, reducing unnecessary dietary changes and improving animal health by providing a straightforward method for pet owners and veterinarians to diagnose and manage food-related health issues.

Implementation Method 1

The veterinary diagnostic test may include antibody binding agent(s) coupled to the substrate. At least one of the antibody binding agents may be adapted to couple to one or more first antibodies associated with a first set of food sensitivities when one or more of the first antibodies is present in a fecal sample

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAntigen-antibody binding:

Data Source

PatentEP3550307B1Diagnostic testing for immunologic food sensitivity in animals

Publication Date: 2021.01.06 FINE KENNETH DAVIN

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AI summary

In various implementations, a noninvasive, veterinary diagnostic test may be utilized to identify one or more immunologic food sensitivities. A fecal sample may be obtained. The veterinary diagnostic test may be performed on the obtained fecal sample. One or more immunologic food sensitivities may be identified based on the veterinary diagnostic test.