Menstrual Fluid Biomarker Analysis for Non-Invasive Disease Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current healthcare methods lack effective and non-invasive means for accurately diagnosing and monitoring female-specific diseases, particularly due to the complexity of female biology and the limited understanding of female health needs, leading to inadequate diagnostic solutions and high healthcare costs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the analysis of menstrual fluid to measure disease-related biomarkers, such as glycation of hemoglobin subunit alpha, using LC-MS/MS peptide sequencing for early detection and monitoring of diseases like diabetes and cancer, allowing for personalized medicine and precision treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional invasive diagnostic methods are used for female-specific diseases, then diagnostic accuracy may be improved, but patient comfort and accessibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses menstrual fluid as an intermediary medium to obtain biomarkers for disease diagnosis. Instead of directly accessing blood or tissue through invasive procedures, the method collects biomarkers from menstrual fluid, which serves as a natural, non-invasive intermediary that provides sufficient diagnostic information while maintaining patient comfort and accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The diagnostic method leverages the female body's natural physiological process (menstruation) to provide diagnostic samples. The menstrual cycle itself serves the dual purpose of reproductive function and diagnostic sampling, eliminating the need for separate invasive procedures and allowing women to collect samples during their regular menstrual periods
2Reliability
If comprehensive female health studies are conducted to understand female biology, then diagnostic solutions for female-specific diseases improve, but research time and resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary identification and validation of specific biomarkers (glycated hemoglobin alpha for diabetes, PIP5K1a for cancer) in menstrual fluid before clinical application. This preliminary research phase establishes a foundation of validated biomarkers and diagnostic protocols that can be rapidly deployed across clinical settings, reducing the need for extensive future research while maintaining diagnostic reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the diagnostic parameter from traditional blood-based biomarkers to menstrual fluid-based biomarkers. This parameter change enables the use of naturally occurring samples that reflect female-specific physiology, providing more reliable diagnostic information for female-specific diseases while requiring less extensive research into male-proxy models
3Reliability
If continuous biomarker monitoring is implemented for early disease detection, then disease detection capability improves, but healthcare costs and system demand increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring of biomarkers in menstrual fluid at regular intervals throughout the menstrual cycle or over time. This periodic sampling approach enables continuous disease detection capability by tracking biomarker trends, while the use of non-invasive menstrual samples reduces the burden on healthcare systems compared to frequent invasive blood draws
Solution Approach 2:
Women can collect their own menstrual fluid samples at home during their regular menstrual periods, eliminating the need for frequent clinic visits and reducing healthcare system demand. The natural menstrual cycle provides self-service sampling opportunities that enable continuous monitoring without increasing healthcare infrastructure requirements
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
Enables reliable, cost-effective, and non-invasive diagnosis and monitoring of female-specific diseases, reducing unnecessary medical interventions and improving healthcare decisions through continuous tracking of biomarker trends.
Implementation Method 1
A method involving the analysis of menstrual fluid to measure disease-related biomarkers, such as glycation of hemoglobin subunit alpha, using LC-MS/MS peptide sequencing for early detection and monitoring of diseases like diabetes and cancer
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to, in part, methods of improved healthcare in female subjects that, for example, rely on menstrual fluid sampling for applying selection biomarkers.