US4778768A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of monitoring the progressive destruction of articular cartilage in a joint
Assignee: Pfizer Health AB
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Filing: 1984-07-10
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Granted: 1988-10-18
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Expires: 2004-07-10
Abstract
Abstract Method of determining changes occurring in articular cartilage. The method involves (a) quantifying proteoglycan monomer and/or antigenic fragments thereof in a synovial fluid sample and (b) correlating the values thus obtained with progressive destructions in the articular cartilage appertaining to that sample fluid.
Inventors
- 👤 Dick K. Heinegård
- 👤 Gert Lindblad
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/48; G01N33/50; G01N33/68; G01N33/6887; G01N2800/00; G01N2800/10; G01N2800/105; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S435/00; Y10S435/961
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
An immunological method for monitoring the progressive early phase destruction of articular cartilage in a joint which comprises the steps of (a) obtaining a first synovial fluid sample from a joint, (b) on at least one later occasion obtaining a least one other synovial fluid sample from said joint, (c) reacting said fluid samples with an antibody specific to proteoglycan monomers recognized to contain three peptide regions or specific to antigenic fragments thereof existing in the synovial fluid samples withdrawn in accordance with steps (a) and (b), (d) quantifying said monomers or fragments thereof, and (e) comparing the quantities found in accordance with step (d), whereby the degree of progressive early phase destruction of the articular cartilage in said joint at said later occasion may be ascertained by observing the magnitude of the increased proteoglycan values relative to the proteolgycan value found for said first fluid sample.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
An immunological method for monitoring the progressive early phase destruction of articular cartilage in a joint which comprises the steps of (a) obtaining a first synovial fluid sample from a joint, (b) on at least one later occasion obtaining a least one other synovial fluid sample from said joint, (c) reacting said fluid samples with an antibody specific to proteoglycan monomers recognized to contain three peptide regions or specific to antigenic fragments thereof existing in the synovial fluid samples withdrawn in accordance with steps (a) and (b), (d) quantifying said monomers or fragments thereof, and (e) comparing the quantities found in accordance with step (d), whereby the degree of progressive early phase destruction of the articular cartilage in said joint at said later occasion may be ascertained by observing the magnitude of the increased proteoglycan values relative to the proteolgycan value found for said first fluid sample.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the immunological assay is performed with an antibody preparation directed specifically against at least one of the three peptide regions of the proteoglycan monomer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein antibody-binding sites in said proteoglycan monomer or in said antigenic fragments thereof have been unmasked by depolymerizing the chondroitin sulfate side chains of the proteoglycan in order to facilitate a proteoglycan-antiproteoglycan reaction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the immunological assay method is a heterogenuous method.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein proteoglycan monomer or antigenic fragments thereof are bound to an insoluble support and are allowed to compete with the sample proteoglycan for antiproteoglycan, whereupon the antiproteoglycan thus insolubilized is quantified with the aid of labeled antibodies directed against the antiproteoglycan.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
An immunological method for estimating the progressive early phase destruction of the articular cartilage in a joint which comprises the steps of (a) obtaining a synovial fluid sample from a first healthy joint, (b) obtaining at least one synovial fluid sample from a second joint, (c) reacting said fluid samples with an antibody specific to proteoglycan monomers recognized to contain three peptide regions or specific to antigenic fragments thereof existing in the synovial fluid samples withdrawn in accordance with steps (a) and (b), (d) quantifying said monomers or fragments thereof, and (e) comparing the quantities found in accordance with step (d), whereby progressive early phase destruction of the articular cartilage in said second joint is indicated by a proteoglycan value in the sample of step (b) that is higher than the proteoglycan value obtained from the sample from said healthy joint.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
141 words
An immunological method for estimating the progressive early phase destruction of the articular cartilage in a joint which comprises the steps of (a) obtaining a synovial fluid sample from a first healthy joint, (b) obtaining at least one synovial fluid sample from a second joint, (c) reacting said fluid samples with an antibody specific to proteoglycan monomers recognized to contain three peptide regions or specific to antigenic fragments thereof existing in the synovial fluid samples withdrawn in accordance with steps (a) and (b), (d) quantifying said monomers or fragments thereof, and (e) comparing the quantities found in accordance with step (d), whereby progressive early phase destruction of the articular cartilage in said second joint is indicated by a proteoglycan value in the sample of step (b) that is higher than the proteoglycan value obtained from the sample from said healthy joint.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the immunological assay is performed with an antibody preparation directed specifically against at least one of the three peptide regions of the proteoglycan monomer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein antibody-binding sites in said proteoglycan monomer or in said antigenic fragments thereof have been unmasked by depolymerizing the chondroitin sulfate side chains of the proteoglycan in order to facilitate a proteoglycan-antiproteoglycan reaction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the immunological assay method is a heterogenous method.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 9 wherein proteoglycan monomer or antigenic fragments thereof are bound to an insoluble support and are allowed to compete with the sample proteoglycan for antiproteoglycan, whereupon the antiproteoglycan thus insolubilized is quantified with the aid of labled antibodies directed against the antiproteoglycan.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4153417A
Cited
US4499186A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-18 | 1992-04-18 | 1992-10-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-18 | 1996-04-18 | 1996-10-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-18 | 2000-04-18 | 2000-10-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |