Biomarkers in Exhaled Breath for Diagnosing a Major Depressive Disorder

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This patent describes a non-invasive method for diagnosing, monitoring, and tracking the treatment response of major depressive disorder (MDD) by analyzing specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath. The invention identifies certain compounds (e.g., methylguanidine, lactic acid, butyric acid, tetrahydro-tiaphene, putrescine, acetamide, isoprene, toluene, and acetonitrile) whose concentrations are altered in people with MDD compared to healthy individuals. It also claims a device and kit for this breath analysis, making regular testing and monitoring of depression possible without invasive procedures.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Non-invasive clinical diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) in patients suspected of depression.
• Routine monitoring of disease progression or remission in diagnosed MDD patients.
• Assessment of patient response to antidepressant medication or other depression therapies by serial breath tests.
• Population screening in mental health settings or primary care for early detection of MDD.
• Remote, at-home monitoring and telemedicine for MDD management using portable or handheld devices.
• Clinical research applications for studying biomarkers in psychiatric disorders.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Non-invasive: Does not require blood draws or imaging, making it easy and comfortable for patients.
• Rapid and real-time: Enables quick diagnosis and ongoing monitoring of MDD at the point of care.
• Enables early intervention: Facilitates early diagnosis and monitoring, potentially improving treatment outcomes.
• Personalized medicine support: Helps tailor therapy based on objective biomarker response, avoiding ineffective treatments.
• Portable and accessible: Allows for handheld, portable devices and possible at-home monitoring.
• High accuracy: Demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity when compared to current clinical assessment methods.
• Reduced healthcare costs: Less reliant on expensive or time-consuming imaging and laboratory procedures.
• Objective biomarker: Provides a measurable, biological indicator for depression, addressing the need for lab-based confirmation.

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of diagnosing a major depressive disorder (MDD) in a patient. Further, the present invention relates to a method of determining the course of a MDD in a patient. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of determining whether a patient responds to a therapeutic treatment of a MDD. In addition, the present invention relates to a device which can be used in these methods. Moreover, the present invention relates to a kit comprising the device.