Serum Marker Panel for IPF Diagnosis and Progression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for diagnosing Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) are inadequate, relying on invasive procedures and lack molecular information, and existing biomarkers are non-specific or not effectively translated into clinical practice.

Innovation Solution

A panel of serum or plasma markers including MMP7, MMP1, MMP8, IGFBP1, TNFRSF1A, AGER, SFTPD, MEG3, ID-1, IL-4, ICOS, and CCR7 is identified for diagnosing and evaluating the progression of IPF, providing high sensitivity and specificity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If surgical lung biopsy or HRCT scans are used for IPF diagnosis, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but patient invasiveness and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidpatient invasiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces invasive mechanical diagnostic procedures (surgical lung biopsy, HRCT scans) with a non-invasive biochemical testing system that measures protein marker concentrations in serum or plasma samples, thereby maintaining diagnostic accuracy while eliminating procedural invasiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces serum or plasma protein markers as intermediary substances that reflect the molecular changes occurring in IPF lung tissue, allowing indirect but accurate diagnosis without directly accessing or invading the lung tissue through biopsy or imaging

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If single or few protein markers are assayed, then test complexity is reduced, but diagnostic precision and reliability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetest complexityVSAvoiddiagnostic precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple protein marker assays (including MMP-7, MMP-1, MMP-8, IGFBP-1, and TNFRSF-1A) into a single integrated diagnostic evaluation, where the collective pattern of marker concentrations provides superior diagnostic precision compared to any single marker alone, while the markers are assayed simultaneously to control overall test complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If existing biomarkers like MMP-8 or MMP-7 are used individually, then ease of testing is improved, but specificity to IPF deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of testingVSAvoiddisease specificity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent assigns different diagnostic weights and interpretive significance to different protein markers within the panel, where specific markers (MMP-7, MMP-1, MMP-8) provide information about particular aspects of IPF pathophysiology, and their combined interpretation pattern provides IPF-specific diagnostic reliability that individual markers cannot achieve alone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8846341B2Marker panels for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis diagnosis and evaluation

Publication Date: 2014.09.30 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA SEC DEPT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

AI summary

The present invention relates to the discovery that of a panel of serum or plasma markers may be used to diagnose Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (“IPF”) and distinguish this condition from other lung ailments. It further relates to the identification of markers associated with IPF disease progression.