IP Library Granted Patent US 12,564,354
Granted Patent B2
US 12,564,354 · App. 18/264,568 · Granted Mar 3, 2026

Cartilage degeneration analysis device, device for diagnosing or aiding diagnosis which contains same, method for determining degree of degeneration of cartilage, and method for evaluating drug efficacy of test substance

Inventor: Keiji Itaka (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE TOKYO
A61B5/4514A61B5/0075A61B5/4848
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,564,354
App. No.
18/264,568
Granted
Mar 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

There is provided an analyzer which detects an initial stage of cartilage degeneration due to a disease such as osteoarthritis. One aspect of the present invention relates to a cartilage degeneration analyzer having a processor which includes an index calculator configured to calculate on the basis of a Raman spectrum obtained by Raman spectrometry in which excitation light is irradiated to cartilage of a subject, a value representing at least one index from a group consisting of Index (a): secondary structure of collagen, Index (b): hydration level of collagen, Index (c): composition and total amount of glycosaminoglycan, and Index (d): level of glycosylation of protein and total amount of glycosaminoglycan.

Claims (31)

1 . A cartilage degeneration analyzer comprising:

a processor which includes an index calculator configured to calculate, based on a Raman spectrum obtained by Raman spectrometry in which excitation light is irradiated to cartilage of a subject, a value representing at least one index from a group consisting of

Index (a):

hydration level of collagen,

Index (b): composition and total amount of glycosaminoglycan, wherein the composition of glycosaminoglycan is a quantitative ratio of chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid, and

Index (c): level of glycosylation of protein and total amount of glycosaminoglycan.

2 . The analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the processor further includes a judging section which is configured to determine a degree of cartilage degeneration based on the value calculated by the index calculator.

3 . The analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein Index (a) is calculated based on a Raman spectrum in a region of wavenumbers from 1170 cm −1 to 1500 cm −1 .

4 . The analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein Index (b) and Index (c) are calculated based on a Raman spectrum in a region of wavenumbers from 1000 cm −1 to 1200 cm −1 .

5 . The analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the value representing Index (a) is a ratio ((I 1312 +I 1340 /I 1270 ) of a sum of an integrated intensity (I 1312 ) of a peak of a range from 1307 cm −1 to 1317 cm −1 and an integrated intensity (I 1340 ) of a peak of a range from 1335 cm −1 to 1345 cm −1 , and an integrated intensity (I 1270 ) of a peak of a range from 1265 cm −1 to 1275 cm −1 .

6 . The analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein in Index (b),

the value representing the composition of glycosaminoglycan is a ratio (I 1065 /I 1123 ) of an integrated intensity (I 1065 ) of a peak of a range from 1060 cm −1 to 1070 cm −1 and an integrated intensity (I 1123 ) of a peak of a range from 1118 cm −1 to 1128 cm −1 , and

the value representing the total amount of glycosaminoglycan is a sum total of integrated intensities intensity of the peaks of the range of wavenumbers from 1000 cm −1 to 1200 cm −1 .

7 . The analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein in Index (c),

the value representing the level of glycosylation of protein is a ratio (I 1165 /I 850 ) of an integrated intensity (I 1165 ) of a peak of a range from 1160 cm −1 to 1170 cm −1 and an integrated intensity (I 850 ) of a peak of a range from 845 cm −1 to 855 cm −1 , and

the value representing the total amount of glycosaminoglycan is a sum total of integrated intensities intensity of the peaks of the range of wavenumbers from 1000 cm −1 to 1200 cm −1 .

8 . The analyzer according to claim 1 , wherein the analyzer is used for diagnosis of osteoarthritis.

9 . A method for determining a degree of cartilage degeneration comprising:

calculating, based on a Raman spectrum obtained by Raman spectrometry in which excitation light is irradiated to cartilage of a subject, a value representing at least one index from a group consisting of

Index (a):

hydration level of collagen,

Index (b): composition and total amount of glycosaminoglycan, wherein the composition of glycosaminoglycan is a quantitative ratio of chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid, and

Index (c): level of glycosylation of protein and total amount of glycosaminoglycan; and

determining the degree of cartilage degeneration based on the value calculated.

10 . A method for evaluating a drug action of a test substance, comprising:

calculating, based on a Raman spectrum from cartilage obtained by irradiating a part of cartilage of a subject administered with the test substance with excitation light, a value representing at least one index from a group consisting of

Index (a):

hydration level of collagen,

Index (b): composition and total amount of glycosaminoglycan, wherein the composition of glycosaminoglycan is a quantitative ratio of chondroitin sulfate and hyaluronic acid, and

Index (c): level of glycosylation of protein and total amount of glycosaminoglycan; and

evaluating the drug action of the test substance based on the value calculated.

Assignments (4)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 73640 FRAME 245. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECTS ASSIGNOR LISTED TO INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE TOKYO. Recorded Feb 3, 2026
From: INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE TOKYO
To: THE UNIVERSITY OF OSAKA
Reel/Frame 074610/0370 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2026
From: OHTAKE, NAOTO
To: THE UNIVERSITY OF OSAKA
Reel/Frame 073640/0245 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 28, 2025
From: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOKYO MEDICAL AND DENTAL UNIVERSITY
To: INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE TOKYO
Reel/Frame 073366/0101 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2023
From: ITAKA, KEIJI
To: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION TOKYO MEDICAL AND DENTAL UNIVERSITY
Reel/Frame 064543/0690 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-018138 · Feb 8, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240041392A1 · Feb 8, 2024
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