Patent ID: 8688199

Claim:
A method of aiding in the diagnosis or prediction of degenerative joint disease (DJD) in a joint of a patient, the method comprising: obtaining a test spectrum of Raman scattered radiation from cartilage tissue in the joint; and analyzing the test spectrum, or one or more regions thereof, to assess whether the test spectrum is consistent with the patient having, or subsequently developing, DJD in the joint, wherein the analyzing step comprises: comparing the tests spectrum or the one or more regions thereof to a standard spectrum of Raman scattered radiation or to one or more respective regions thereof, and wherein the analyzing step further comprises comparing a combination of the following from the test spectrum to the corresponding area, position and/or from the standard spectrum: (a) the area and position of the proline band at about 856 cm âˆ’1 ; (b) the area and position of the hydroxyproline band at about 877 cm âˆ’1 ; (c) the area and position of the phenylalanine ring breathing band at about 1,003 cm âˆ’1 ; (d) the area and position of the symmetric SO stretch of the sulphate band at about 1,063 cm âˆ’1 ; (e) the area and position of the band due to amide III at about 1,272 cm âˆ’1 ; (f) the area and position of the band due to H 2 O bend at about 1,637 cm âˆ’1 ; (g) the area and position of the band due to amide I at about 1,665 cm âˆ’1 ; (h) the area and position of the CH stretch band at about 2,940 cm âˆ’1 ; (i) the area and position of the low-wavenumber band of the Oâ€”H stretch complex at about 3,210 cm âˆ’1 ; (j) the area and position of the high-wavenumber band of the Oâ€”H stretch complex at about 3,380 cm âˆ’1 ; (k) the ratio of the area of the band due to H 2 O bend at about 1,637 cm âˆ’1 to the area of the phenylalanine ring breathing band at about 1,003 cm âˆ’1 ; (l) the ratio of the area of the low-wavenumber band of the Oâ€”H stretch complex at about 3,210 cm âˆ’1 to the area of the CH stretch at about 2,940 cm âˆ’1 ; (m) the ratio of the area of the symmetric SO stretch of the sulphate band at about 1,063 cm âˆ’1 to the area of the phenylalanine ring breathing band at about 1,003 cm âˆ’1 ; (n) the ratio of the area of the low-wavenumber band of the Oâ€”H stretch complex at about 3,210 cm âˆ’1 to the area of the high-wavenumber band of the Oâ€”H stretch complex at about 3,380 cm âˆ’1 ; and (o) the ratio of the area of the proline band at about 856 cm âˆ’1 to the area of the hydroxyproline band at about 877 cm âˆ’1 ; and further wherein either (l) and (m); (d), (l) and (m); (l), (m), and (o); (d), (l), (m) and (o); (l), (m) and (n); (d), (l), (m) and (n); or (o), (d), (l), (m) and (n) from the test spectrum are compared to the corresponding area, position and/or ratios from the standard spectrum.