Cell-Free Nucleosome Biomarker Detection for Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for diagnosing multiple sclerosis are invasive, costly, and lack a simple, non-invasive, cost-effective means to identify patients and monitor disease progression, particularly for relapse detection.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of cell-free nucleosomes, specifically histone H3.1, in body fluid samples as biomarkers to diagnose and monitor multiple sclerosis through binding agents, enabling the detection and measurement of nucleosome levels for indicative purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If lumbar puncture is used to diagnose multiple sclerosis, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but patient comfort and ease of operation deteriorate due to invasiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the diagnostic function from invasive procedures (lumbar puncture, MRI) and relocates it to a simple blood test that measures cell-free nucleosome levels. This extraction allows the diagnostic capability to be maintained while removing the harmful invasive aspect, enabling diagnosis through routine blood sampling instead of painful lumbar punctures
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces cell-free nucleosomes as an intermediary biomarker that mediates between the disease state and the diagnostic measurement. Instead of directly observing nerve damage or inflammatory cells, the test measures nucleosome levels in blood, which serve as indirect but reliable indicators of multiple sclerosis, thereby simplifying the diagnostic process while maintaining accuracy
2Measurement precision
If MRI scanning is used to diagnose multiple sclerosis, then diagnostic capability is improved, but cost effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive, complex MRI scanning with a simple, inexpensive blood test that measures cell-free nucleosome levels. This substitution uses a low-cost diagnostic approach (blood analysis) instead of high-cost imaging, making the diagnostic process economically viable for routine use and ongoing monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential diagnostic information from expensive MRI scans and concentrates it into a single measurable parameter (cell-free nucleosome level) that can be obtained through simple blood testing, thereby eliminating the need for costly imaging while preserving diagnostic capability
3Measurement precision
If repeated lumbar puncture is used for disease monitoring, then monitoring accuracy is improved, but patient burden and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the monitoring function from repeated invasive lumbar punctures and relocates it to simple blood sampling. By measuring cell-free nucleosome levels in blood over time, the system maintains monitoring accuracy while eliminating the patient burden of repeated spinal taps, enabling frequent monitoring without discomfort
4Measurement precision
If repeated MRI scanning is used for disease monitoring, then monitoring capability is improved, but cost effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive repeated MRI scans with inexpensive blood tests that measure cell-free nucleosome levels. This substitution enables frequent monitoring at low cost, making ongoing disease management economically sustainable while maintaining the ability to detect disease activity and relapse risk
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
This approach allows for the effective identification and monitoring of multiple sclerosis, providing a non-invasive, cost-effective method to detect the presence and severity of the disease, as well as predicting relapses, using techniques such as immunoassays and biosensors.
Implementation Method 1
contacting a body fluid sample obtained from the subject with a binding agent to detect or measure the level of cell free nucleosomes
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates methods for diagnosing patients with multiple sclerosis by detecting cell free nucleosomes as biomarkers in body fluid samples.