Patent ID: 11946889
Assignee: nan
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 9:
10. A method for detecting the onset of relapse in a patient diagnosed as having a disease or condition comprising:
(a) loading an unprocessed fraction of a biological sample obtained from the patient into a vessel of a differential scanning calorimeter, wherein the differential scanning calorimeter comprises a test channel comprising a wall forming a receiving end that slopes at a predetermined angle, and wherein the vessel of the differential scanning calorimeter has a sloping outer wall and is configured to slide into the test channel and mate with the receiving end of the test channel;
(b) sliding the vessel of the differential scanning calorimeter into the test channel such that an entirety of the sloping outer wall of the vessel contacts the wall of the receiving end of the test channel, wherein the contact between the entirety of the sloping outer wall of the vessel and the wall of the receiving end of the test channel is configured to promote direct heat transfer between the vessel and the test channel;
(c) heating continuously the biological sample in the vessel throughout a scan;
(d) generating a signature DSC thermogram from the unprocessed fraction of the biological sample after the scan; and
(e) detecting the onset of relapse in the patient when at least one alteration is present in the signature DSC thermogram of the unprocessed fraction of the biological sample relative to a DSC thermogram generated from a normal control sample, wherein the at least one alteration is similar or identical to that observed in a DSC thermogram generated from a positive control sample having the disease or condition.