Using Blood Markers to Diagnose Stroke and Tell Its Type
This patent describes a two-step method for diagnosing a stroke and then determining if it's an ischemic stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) by measuring specific protein levels in a patient's blood.
Original patent title: “Biomarker-based methods for aiding the diagnosis of stroke”
This patent describes a two-step method for diagnosing a stroke and then determining if it's an ischemic stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) by measuring specific protein levels in a patient's blood. Granted to Randox Laboratories in 2021 with 2 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2037.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent outlines a method for diagnosing a stroke by first measuring the concentration of at least two specific biomarkers in a blood sample. These biomarkers must include at least one from a group like ICAM-1, L-selectin, P-selectin, or VCAM-1, combined with another from a broader list including IL-6, sTNFR1, D-dimer, and CRP. The measured levels are then compared to normal control values. If a stroke is diagnosed, a second method is used to tell if it's an ischemic stroke or a 'mini-stroke' (TIA). This second step involves measuring VCAM-1 and at least one other biomarker from h-FABP, IL-6, or CRP, and comparing those levels to control values from TIA patients. For example, a doctor could take a blood sample, test for elevated ICAM-1 and D-dimer to initially diagnose a stroke, and then, if positive, test for VCAM-1 and h-FABP to differentiate it from a TIA.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover diagnosing stroke using only a single biomarker; at least two are required by claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1.
- Does not cover methods that do not include at least one biomarker from the specific group of ICAM-1, L-selectin, P-selectin, or VCAM-1 in the initial diagnosis.
- Does not cover methods that differentiate stroke types without measuring VCAM-1 in the second step.
- Does not cover diagnosing stroke using imaging techniques like MRI or CT scans, as it focuses on *in vitro* (blood sample) biomarker analysis.
- Does not cover diagnosing other neurological conditions that might present with similar symptoms but are not strokes or TIAs.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in the specific two-step diagnostic process: first, using a defined combination of biomarkers to identify a stroke, and then, if a stroke is detected, using a different, specific set of biomarkers to differentiate between an ischemic stroke and a transient ischemic attack (TIA) by comparing to TIA-specific control values.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Emergency room diagnostic panels for suspected stroke patients
Point-of-care testing devices for rapid stroke assessment
Clinical laboratory tests for stroke differential diagnosis
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Accurately and quickly diagnosing a stroke is critical because timely treatment can significantly reduce brain damage and improve patient outcomes. This patent offers a blood-based approach, which could potentially provide faster results than some imaging methods, especially in emergency settings. Distinguishing between an ischemic stroke and a TIA is also important for guiding subsequent treatment and prevention strategies.
Filed
March 13, 2017
Granted
February 9, 2021
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Randox Laboratories Ltd., the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a major player in the diagnostics industry, focusing on clinical chemistry, immunoassay, and molecular diagnostics. Companies like Siemens Healthineers, Abbott Laboratories, and Roche Diagnostics also develop and market diagnostic assays for various conditions, including cardiovascular and neurological diseases, and would be active in similar biomarker research.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the ongoing development of rapid diagnostic tools for stroke, a field with significant unmet needs. If widely adopted, such biomarker-based methods could streamline emergency department workflows, potentially reducing the time to diagnosis and treatment. It could also influence the design of future diagnostic panels for neurological emergencies, pushing for more specific and sensitive blood tests to complement existing imaging techniques.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent outlines a method for diagnosing a stroke by first measuring the concentration of at least two specific biomarkers in a blood sample. These biomarkers must include at least one from a group like ICAM-1, L-selectin, P-selectin, or VCAM-1, combined with another from a broader list including IL-6, sTNFR1, D-dimer, and CRP. The measured levels are then compared to normal control values. If a stroke is diagnosed, a second method is used to tell if it's an ischemic stroke or a 'mini-stroke' (TIA). This second step involves measuring VCAM-1 and at least one other biomarker from h-FABP, IL-6, or CRP, and comparing those levels to control values from TIA patients. For example, a doctor could take a blood sample, test for elevated ICAM-1 and D-dimer to initially diagnose a stroke, and then, if positive, test for VCAM-1 and h-FABP to differentiate it from a TIA.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in the specific two-step diagnostic process: first, using a defined combination of biomarkers to identify a stroke, and then, if a stroke is detected, using a different, specific set of biomarkers to differentiate between an ischemic stroke and a transient ischemic attack (TIA) by comparing to TIA-specific control values.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover diagnosing stroke using only a single biomarker; at least two are required by claim 1.
- Does not cover methods that do not include at least one biomarker from the specific group of ICAM-1, L-selectin, P-selectin, or VCAM-1 in the initial diagnosis.
- Does not cover methods that differentiate stroke types without measuring VCAM-1 in the second step.
- Does not cover diagnosing stroke using imaging techniques like MRI or CT scans, as it focuses on *in vitro* (blood sample) biomarker analysis.
- Does not cover diagnosing other neurological conditions that might present with similar symptoms but are not strokes or TIAs.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
1/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
10/20
Granted 5–10 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$18K – $58K
Midpoint $36K · 10.7 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
2 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
LaMont, J., Fitzgerald, P., & McConnell, I. (2021). Using Blood Markers to Diagnose Stroke and Tell Its Type (U.S. Patent No. 10,914,745). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/10914745/biomarker-based-methods-for-aiding-the-diagnosis-of-stroke
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Using Blood Markers to Diagnose Stroke and Tell Its Type cover?
This patent describes a two-step method for diagnosing a stroke and then determining if it's an ischemic stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) by measuring specific protein levels in a patient's blood.
Who owns patent US 10914745?
Randox Laboratories owns this patent, granted in 2021.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on March 13, 2037, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Accurately and quickly diagnosing a stroke is critical because timely treatment can significantly reduce brain damage and improve patient outcomes. This patent offers a blood-based approach, which could potentially provide faster results than some imaging methods, especially in emergency settings. Distinguishing between an ischemic stroke and a TIA is also important for guiding subsequent treatment and prevention strategies.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover diagnosing stroke using only a single biomarker; at least two are required by claim 1.
Patent monitoring