{
  "patent_number": "US 9605068",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How to Detect Heart Disease in Cats Using Blood Tests",
  "original_title": "Determining feline proBNP",
  "summary": "A diagnostic method that uses specific antibodies to measure a protein in cat blood, helping veterinarians identify heart disease.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a laboratory test to measure the concentration of a protein called NT-proBNP in a cat's blood. The process uses two specific types of antibodies, each designed to lock onto a unique part of the NT-proBNP protein sequence. By binding these antibodies to the protein in a blood sample, the test can quantify how much of the protein is present. If the concentration is higher than what is found in a healthy cat, it serves as a biomarker to indicate the presence of heart disease.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover diagnostic methods for species other than cats (e.g., humans or dogs).",
    "Does not cover the use of monoclonal antibodies; it is limited to the specific polyclonal antibodies described.",
    "Does not cover testing methods that use different amino acid sequences for the antibodies.",
    "Does not cover the treatment of heart disease, only the diagnostic measurement."
  ],
  "filed": "2009-02-27",
  "granted": "2017-03-28",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Antibody Lab GmbH",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/antibody-lab-gmbh",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Gerhard Hawa",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/gerhard-hawa"
    },
    {
      "name": "Wolfgang Woloszczuk",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/wolfgang-woloszczuk"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 7,
  "tags": [
    "biotech",
    "mechanical"
  ],
  "abstract": "The invention relates to a method of determining feline or canine proBNP or fragments thereof for the diagnosis of heart disease, comprising the steps of providing a feline or canine sample, contacting the sample with at least one species-specific antibody for binding to at least one epitope of the respective species proBNP, determining the concentration of at least one fragment of proBNP, and diagnosing the animal with heart disease if the concentration is elevated compared to healthy subjects.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9605068/dupixent-dupilumab",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/9605068/dupixent-dupilumab/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US9605068",
  "relatedPatents": []
}