Gene Expression Classifier for Transplant Rejection Detection

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for detecting organ rejection in transplant patients are invasive, costly, and prone to inaccuracies due to sampling errors, necessitating a minimally invasive and objective metric for distinguishing between acute rejection and acute dysfunction without rejection.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the analysis of gene expression products from transplant recipients using a classifier algorithm to differentiate between conditions such as acute rejection, acute dysfunction, and normal transplant function, based on gene expression levels from samples like blood, which can inform treatment decisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If organ biopsy is used to detect organ rejection, then detection capability is provided, but measurement precision deteriorates due to sampling error and observer variability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidmeasurement precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses blood samples as a non-invasive copy or surrogate of the transplanted organ's physiological state. By analyzing gene expression products in blood, the system creates a molecular profile that reflects organ health without requiring direct tissue sampling, thereby eliminating sampling error and observer variability inherent in biopsies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical biopsy procedure with a molecular analysis system. Instead of physically removing tissue samples and having pathologists examine them under microscopes, the system uses gene expression profiling and computational algorithms to objectively detect rejection, eliminating mechanical invasion and subjective interpretation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If multiple biopsies are obtained for serial monitoring, then detection accuracy improves, but patient risk and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidpatient risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses blood samples as a non-invasive copy or surrogate of the transplanted organ's physiological state. By analyzing gene expression products in blood, the system creates a molecular profile that reflects organ health without requiring direct tissue sampling, thereby eliminating sampling error and observer variability inherent in biopsies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical biopsy procedure with a molecular analysis system. Instead of physically removing tissue samples and having pathologists examine them under microscopes, the system uses gene expression profiling and computational algorithms to objectively detect rejection, eliminating mechanical invasion and subjective interpretation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If biopsy is performed to detect rejection, then diagnostic information is obtained, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic informationVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses blood samples as a non-invasive copy or surrogate of the transplanted organ's physiological state. By analyzing gene expression products in blood, the system creates a molecular profile that reflects organ health without requiring direct tissue sampling, thereby eliminating sampling error and observer variability inherent in biopsies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical biopsy procedure with a molecular analysis system. Instead of physically removing tissue samples and having pathologists examine them under microscopes, the system uses gene expression profiling and computational algorithms to objectively detect rejection, eliminating mechanical invasion and subjective interpretation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS10870888B2Methods and systems for analysis of organ transplantation

Publication Date: 2020.12.22 THE SCRIPPS RES INST

AI summary

Disclosed herein are methods of detecting, predicting or monitoring a status or outcome of a transplant in a transplant recipient.