Urine Analyte Prediction Using Time-Zone Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring toxic metal concentrations in urine after chelating agent administration require long-term urine collection, which is burdensome for subjects and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A prediction method that uses a correlation between measured amounts of analytes in a predetermined time zone and a target time zone to estimate analyte amounts in urine specimens, allowing for shorter collection periods and easier evaluation of analyte excretion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If urine collection is extended over a long time (e.g., 6 hours) to accurately measure toxic metal concentration, then measurement precision is improved, but the burden on the subject and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a correlation model in advance between early-time-point analyte amounts (0-2 hours) and total excretion amounts (0-24 hours). This pre-established mathematical relationship allows direct prediction from short-term measurements, eliminating the need for subjects to perform long-term urine collection while maintaining measurement accuracy through the predictive calculation
2Measurement precision
If urine collection period is extended to 6 hours for accurate measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a predictive correlation model in advance that relates early-time-point measurements to total excretion amounts. This preliminary mathematical framework enables accurate prediction of 24-hour total excretion based on merely 0-2 hour urine collection, reducing the time loss from 6 hours to 2 hours while preserving measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a mathematical copy or model of the long-term excretion process through correlation equations. Instead of directly measuring the full 6-hour or 24-hour excretion, the system uses a simplified early-time measurement that is mathematically transformed into an equivalent representation of total excretion, achieving the same informational goal with reduced time investment
3Measurement precision
If continuous urine collection over long time is required, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and operational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves device complexity by pre-establishing a correlation model that transforms a complex long-term collection requirement into a simple short-term collection protocol. The mathematical relationship between early-time and total excretion amounts is determined in advance, allowing the use of simple collection containers and procedures while achieving accurate measurement results through predictive calculation
Data Source
AI summary
A method predicts an amount of an analyte in a urine specimen collected in a target time zone. The method includes measuring an amount of an analyte in a urine specimen collected in a predetermined time zone after an administration of a chelating agent and b) predicting, from the measured amount of the analyte in the urine specimen collected in the predetermined time zone, the amount of the analyte in the urine specimen collected in the target time zone on the basis of a correlation between amounts of analyte in urine specimens in the predetermined time zone and amounts of analyte in urine specimens in the target time zone. The amounts of the analyte in the urine specimens in the predetermined time and the target time zone are measured before predicting the amount of the analyte in the urine specimen collected in the target time zone.