Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy for Propionic Acid Disc Diagnosis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic methods for differentiating painful and non-painful degenerative discs in the lumbar spine are invasive, painful, subjective, and lack objectivity, leading to high false-positive rates and significant patient morbidity, with a need for a non-invasive, painless, and efficient method to accurately diagnose painful discs.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) system and method that measures propionic acid (PA) and other chemicals within intervertebral discs to differentiate between painful and non-painful discs, using a DDD-MRS pulse sequence, signal processing, and diagnostic algorithms to provide objective and reliable diagnostic information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If provocative discography is used to diagnose painful discs, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but patient morbidity and invasiveness increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical invasive needle injection system with a non-invasive magnetic resonance spectroscopy system. Instead of mechanically inserting needles into discs to inject dye and provoke pain, the MRS system uses magnetic fields and radio waves to detect chemical metabolites (propionic acid, lactic acid, alanine) in the disc tissue, eliminating all mechanical invasion while maintaining diagnostic capability through objective biochemical measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces chemical metabolites as intermediary markers to indirectly assess disc pain and health status. Instead of directly measuring pain through invasive mechanical stimulation, the system measures the concentration of metabolic byproducts (propionic acid from bacterial infection, lactic acid from anaerobic metabolism, alanine from protein breakdown) that serve as proxies for disc pathology and pain mechanisms
2Measurement precision
If provocative discography is used to diagnose painful discs, then diagnostic capability is improved, but subjectivity and lack of standardization increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces subjective mechanical pain assessment with objective biochemical measurement. Instead of relying on patient subjective pain reporting during needle injection, the MRS system provides quantitative measurements of metabolite concentrations (propionic acid, lactic acid, alanine) in mmol/g wet weight, offering standardized, reproducible, objective data that can be compared across patients and time points
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the diagnostic parameter from subjective pain score (0-10 scale) to objective biochemical concentration measurements. By measuring metabolite concentrations in specific units (mmol/g wet weight) and calculating ratios (e.g., propionic acid to creatine phosphate ratio), the system establishes standardized quantitative parameters that eliminate subjectivity and enable reliable diagnostic criteria
3Measurement precision
If provocative discography is used to diagnose painful discs, then pain localization is improved, but procedure complexity and time loss increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the time-consuming multi-step provocative discography procedure with a single non-invasive MRS scanning session. Instead of requiring patient positioning, needle insertion, dye injection, pressure application, and subjective pain scoring across multiple steps, the MRS system performs pain localization through non-invasive magnetic resonance spectroscopy, significantly reducing procedure time and patient time loss
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
The MRS system offers a non-invasive, pain-free, and reliable method to distinguish painful from non-painful discs, enhancing the utility of MRI exams and providing diagnostic information for guiding treatments, with improved accuracy and reduced patient risk.
Implementation Method 1
A magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) system and method that measures propionic acid (PA) and other chemicals within intervertebral discs
Data Source
AI summary
An MR Spectroscopy (MRS) system and approach is provided for measuring spectral information corresponding with propionic acid (PA), either alone or in combination with other measurements corresponding with other chemicals, to diagnose and/or monitor at least one of bacterial infection, such as associated with P. acnes, or conditions related thereto such as nociceptive pain associated with tissue acidity. An interfacing DDD-MRS signal processor receives output signals to produce a post-processed spectrum, with spectral regions corresponding with certain chemicals, including PA, then measured as biomarkers. A diagnostic processor derives a diagnostic value for each disc, and performs certain normalizations, based upon ratios of the spectral regions related to chemicals implicated in degenerative painful tissue pathology, such as PA and hypoxia markers of lactic acid (LA) and alanine (AL), and structural chemicals of proteoglycan (PG) and collagen or carbohydrate (CA).