Better Lab Tests with Engineered Humanized Antibodies
This patent describes a special lab test ingredient, a 'humanized antibody,' designed to make medical and research tests more accurate by preventing false alarms.
Original patent title: “Reagent containing humanized antibody”
This patent describes a special lab test ingredient, a 'humanized antibody,' designed to make medical and research tests more accurate by preventing false alarms. Owned by Denka Co with 18 claims, and it is expected to expire in 2042.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes an immunoassay reagent, which is a key ingredient for laboratory tests. This reagent contains a 'humanized antibody' that targets a specific substance (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). The special feature of this antibody is its ability to 'inhibit a non-specific reaction' (Claim 2), meaning it only binds to its intended target and avoids reacting with other similar substances that could cause false results. The patent also covers a 'kit' that includes this reagent (Claim 7) and an 'immunoassay method' for using it (Claim 8). For example, a diagnostic test for a specific virus would use this humanized antibody to accurately detect only that virus, ignoring other harmless substances in a blood sample.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Immunoassay reagents that use antibodies which are not 'humanized' (e.g., purely animal-derived antibodies).
- Humanized antibodies that do not specifically 'inhibit a non-specific reaction' (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 2).
- Lab tests that do not involve antibodies, such as those that detect DNA or RNA directly.
- Methods for inhibiting non-specific reactions that do not involve the use of a humanized antibody.
- Immunoassay methods where the humanized antibody is not brought into contact with the target substance (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 8).
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 specifically designing or selecting a 'humanized antibody' that is engineered to actively 'inhibit a non-specific reaction.' This targeted ability makes diagnostic and research tests more reliable by reducing false positives or negatives.
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
Diagnostic test kits for infectious diseases
Blood tests for specific disease biomarkers
Research assays for detecting proteins in biological samples
Tests for allergens or environmental toxins
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Accurate diagnostic tests are vital for healthcare and scientific research. By reducing 'non-specific reactions,' this technology aims to prevent misleading results in medical tests, which can lead to better patient care and more reliable scientific discoveries. It helps ensure that when a test says something is present, it truly is, and when it says it's absent, it truly is.
Filed
July 26, 2022
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Denka Co., the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is active in the diagnostics space, and this patent aligns with their work. Major diagnostic companies such as Roche, Abbott, and Siemens Healthineers, along with biotech firms like Thermo Fisher Scientific and Bio-Rad, continuously develop and improve immunoassay reagents and antibodies to enhance test accuracy and reliability.
Market impact
This type of innovation directly improves the reliability of diagnostic tests, which is critical for patient trust and clinical decision-making. By enabling more accurate tests for various diseases, it can reduce misdiagnoses, minimize the need for repeat testing, and accelerate the development of new diagnostic tools across the healthcare and research sectors.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes an immunoassay reagent, which is a key ingredient for laboratory tests. This reagent contains a 'humanized antibody' that targets a specific substance (Claim 1). The special feature of this antibody is its ability to 'inhibit a non-specific reaction' (Claim 2), meaning it only binds to its intended target and avoids reacting with other similar substances that could cause false results. The patent also covers a 'kit' that includes this reagent (Claim 7) and an 'immunoassay method' for using it (Claim 8). For example, a diagnostic test for a specific virus would use this humanized antibody to accurately detect only that virus, ignoring other harmless substances in a blood sample.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in specifically designing or selecting a 'humanized antibody' that is engineered to actively 'inhibit a non-specific reaction.' This targeted ability makes diagnostic and research tests more reliable by reducing false positives or negatives.
What it does not cover
- Immunoassay reagents that use antibodies which are not 'humanized' (e.g., purely animal-derived antibodies).
- Humanized antibodies that do not specifically 'inhibit a non-specific reaction' (Claim 2).
- Lab tests that do not involve antibodies, such as those that detect DNA or RNA directly.
- Methods for inhibiting non-specific reactions that do not involve the use of a humanized antibody.
- Immunoassay methods where the humanized antibody is not brought into contact with the target substance (Claim 8).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Limited data
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
12/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
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
$59K – $187K
Midpoint $117K · 15.9 yr remaining · industry ×3.0
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
18 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
Ogasawara, D., YAMAMOTO, K., ISHIKAWA, H., Izutani, N., & Wakabayashi, Y. Better Lab Tests with Engineered Humanized Antibodies (U.S. Patent No. 20,250,102,496). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/20250102496/reagent-containing-humanized-antibody
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 Better Lab Tests with Engineered Humanized Antibodies cover?
This patent describes a special lab test ingredient, a 'humanized antibody,' designed to make medical and research tests more accurate by preventing false alarms.
Who owns patent US 20250102496?
This patent is owned by Denka Co.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on July 26, 2042, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Accurate diagnostic tests are vital for healthcare and scientific research. By reducing 'non-specific reactions,' this technology aims to prevent misleading results in medical tests, which can lead to better patient care and more reliable scientific discoveries. It helps ensure that when a test says something is present, it truly is, and when it says it's absent, it truly is.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Immunoassay reagents that use antibodies which are not 'humanized' (e.g., purely animal-derived antibodies).
Patent monitoring