Virtual Patient Models for Osteoporosis Therapy Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for studying osteoporosis treatment and progression are costly and time-consuming, necessitating the development of cost-effective predictive models for bone remodeling and the effects of physiological conditions and therapeutic protocols.

Innovation Solution

In-silico modeling of bone remodeling using virtual patients with dynamic mathematical relations to simulate the progression of osteoporosis, allowing for the optimization of therapies by adjusting parameters based on physiological data and simulating the effects of medications and physiological conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If clinical trials are conducted to obtain information on osteoporosis treatment and progression, then reliable data on treatment effects can be obtained, but the process becomes expensive and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of treatment dataVSAvoidtime required for clinical trials

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates virtual patients as digital copies that replicate the physiological characteristics and bone remodeling processes of real patients. These virtual avatars are generated from actual patient data including demographics, bone mineral density, and biochemical markers, allowing researchers to simulate treatment outcomes without conducting physical clinical trials on human subjects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical system of clinical trials with an in-silico computational model. The bone remodeling process is simulated through mathematical equations that model the interactions between osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and various biochemical factors, substituting physical experimentation with computational simulation to predict treatment effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If clinical trials are conducted to study osteoporosis progression and treatment effects, then accurate physiological data can be obtained, but the cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of physiological dataVSAvoidcost of research

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes measurable physiological parameters such as bone mineral density (BMD), biochemical markers (PINP, BSAP, CTX), and demographic data to parameterize the virtual patient models. By changing and manipulating these parameters in the computational model, researchers can predict treatment outcomes with high accuracy while avoiding the substantial costs of physical trials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If detailed mathematical models with multiple dynamic variables are used to simulate bone remodeling, then the predictive accuracy improves, but the model complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepredictive accuracy of bone remodelingVSAvoidcomplexity of mathematical model

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bone remodeling process into distinct cellular components (osteoblasts, osteoclasts, osteocytes) and biochemical factors (estrogen, sclerostin, RANKL, OPG). Each segment is modeled with its own differential equations describing production, degradation, and interaction dynamics, allowing the complex system to be broken down into manageable, biologically meaningful modules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary variables such as biochemical markers (PINP for bone formation, CTX for bone resorption) that mediate between the complex cellular processes and observable clinical outcomes. These intermediaries simplify the connection between the detailed mathematical model and measurable physiological parameters, making the model both accurate and clinically relevant.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20210357548A1Virtual osteoporosis clinic

Publication Date: 2021.11.18 FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE HOLDINGS INC

AI summary

In one aspect, a method for optimizing a therapy for osteoporosis is disclosed, which comprises (a) generating in silico a plurality of virtual patients, wherein each of the virtual patients comprises a mathematical construct for modeling progression of osteoporosis via simulation of bone remodeling, said mathematical construct comprising a plurality of dynamic mathematical relations defining time-dependent evolution of at least one of a cell density variable or concentration variable associated with any of pre-osteoblasts, osteoblasts, preosteoclasts, osteoclasts, osteocytes, a bone resorption signal, sclerostin, estrogen, bone density and bone mineral content and employs a processor to determine time-variation of at least one of bone mineral density and bone mineral fraction based on at least a portion of said time-dependent variables, (b) applying a simulated therapy to said plurality of virtual patients, and (c) using said virtual patients to determine an effect of said simulated therapy on progression of osteoporosis.