Phenotypic Age Prediction Tool for Companion Animals

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a lack of knowledge about accelerated or decelerated phenotypic age, patterns in the rate of aging over time, lifespan, healthspan, life expectancy, health expectancy, and longevity of individual pets, which hinders personalized and targeted care for companion animals.

Innovation Solution

A phenotypic age prediction tool for companion animals is developed, utilizing a multi-component aging index that incorporates digital biomarkers, traditional biomarkers, and subjective assessment methods. This system includes wearable devices to measure physical activity, environmental sensors to assess location and behaviors, and clinical characteristics to predict phenotypic age and its acceleration or deceleration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If chronological age is used to define senior pet lifestages, then guidelines for examinations and care can be established, but the definition does not accurately reflect individual pet aging rates and health status

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaging assessment accuracyVSAvoidindividual pet variability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the single parameter of chronological age into a multi-parameter assessment model that includes phenotypic age, aging rate, and health status. This allows the system to adapt to individual pet variability while maintaining standardized guidelines for care and examinations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/linear progression of chronological age with a biological/physiological aging assessment system that measures actual phenotypic aging through multiple biomarkers and clinical parameters, providing a more accurate reflection of individual pet health status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If multiple biomarkers and assessment methods are integrated into the aging index, then phenotypic age prediction accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephenotypic age prediction accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex aging assessment system into distinct modules: digital biomarkers (wearable devices), traditional biomarkers (blood tests), clinical characteristics, and subjective assessments. Each module contributes specific parameters to the overall phenotypic age calculation, making the complex system manageable and implementable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple assessment approaches (digital, traditional, clinical, subjective) into a unified phenotypic age index. This integration allows the system to achieve high prediction accuracy by combining the strengths of different assessment methods while presenting a cohesive, manageable output.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Duration of action of moving object

If early intervention is implemented to decelerate phenotypic aging, then pet lifespan and healthspan are extended, but the ability to detect and act on aging patterns in time is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepet lifespanVSAvoiddetection and intervention timing

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables preliminary detection of aging patterns through continuous monitoring of biomarkers and clinical parameters. By identifying phenotypic age acceleration or deceleration before significant health deterioration occurs, the system allows for early intervention to extend lifespan and healthspan while maintaining adequate detection and response timing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250054637A1Machine Learning-Based Phenotypic Age and Phenotypic Age Acceleration/Deceleration Prediction Tool for Pets

Publication Date: 2025.02.13 HILLS PET NUTRITION INC

AI summary

The disclosure provides a system for generating a multi-component aging index for an individual companion animal comprising digital biomarkers, biological biomarkers and subjective assessment methods to predict phenotypic age and phenotypic age acceleration/deceleration (phenotypic age above or below chronological age) in dogs and cats. The disclosure also provides a method for decelerating phenotypic aging of a companion animal in need thereof. The method comprises determining an index according to an aspect of the disclosure and providing personalized health, diet and nutrition measures to the companion animal according to the index for that companion animal. The method can also be considered to be a method of ameliorating accelerated aging in the animal. In some embodiments, the personalized health measure comprises a diet that decelerates phenotypic aging and/or ameliorates accelerated phenotypic aging.