Single-Cell Immune Mass Sensing for Precise Response Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to effectively assess immune system function and status, which is crucial for diagnosing and treating diseases, as they do not provide sensitive and precise measurements of immune cell responses to stimuli and therapeutic interventions.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing a suspended microchannel resonator (SMR) instrument to measure mass properties of immune cells, combined with additional orthogonal measurements, and employing machine learning to analyze clinical data patterns for immune system function and dysfunction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional methods are used to assess immune system function, then the assessment process is simple, but the measurement precision and sensitivity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the immune cell population into individual single-cell measurements rather than bulk measurements. Each cell's mass, volume, and other properties are measured independently, enabling precise tracking of individual cell responses to stimuli and therapies, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical measurement systems with acoustic resonance-based measurement (suspended microchannel resonator). This substitution enables highly sensitive mass measurements of single immune cells by detecting changes in resonant frequency, achieving superior measurement precision while maintaining manageable device complexity through non-mechanical detection methods.
2Loss of information
If bulk measurements of immune cells are performed, then the device complexity is low, but the ability to detect individual cell responses and heterogeneity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation by measuring each immune cell individually rather than as a bulk population. This segmentation preserves all information about individual cell properties, heterogeneity, and responses, eliminating information loss while the integrated microfluidic device keeps complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the immune cell population through detailed digital recording of each cell's mass, volume, and response characteristics. This digital copying preserves complete information about individual cells without requiring physical duplication, resolving the contradiction between information preservation and device complexity.
3Reliability
If traditional immune assessment methods are used, then the cost and time resources are low, but the ability to provide actionable diagnostic and therapeutic information is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous measurement of immune cell properties throughout the analysis process. Cells are measured for mass, volume, and response to stimuli in a continuous flow without interruption, providing reliable data on immune function while minimizing total analysis time, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary measurements of baseline immune cell properties before exposing cells to stimuli or therapies. This preliminary action establishes reference values that enable rapid subsequent assessments, improving reliability of therapeutic response evaluation while reducing total time required for comprehensive immune assessment.
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
Provides highly sensitive and precise assessment of immune system function and status, enabling accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and monitoring of therapeutic responses, including drug efficacy and vaccine effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a suspended microchannel resonator (SMR) measurement instrument... precisely measure biophysical or phenotypic properties, such as mass and mass changes, of a single immune cell flowing therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides methods for assessing immune system function and status based on cellular analysis. Methods of the present invention involve obtaining mass properties of immune cells collected in a tissue or body fluid sample from a subject. Such mass properties may include the mass of one or more immune cells and/or changes in mass of such immune cells over a period of time. Such data is then used for determining a status of the subject's immune response, and subsequent diagnosis and treatment of an infection or immunological disease or dysfunction.