Online database that includes indices representative of a tissue population

Abstract

A sample of normal tissue specimens obtained from a subset of a population of subjects with shared characteristics is profiled in order to generate a plurality of structural indices that correspond to statistically significant representations of characteristics of tissue associated with the population. The structural indices include cell density, matrix density, blood vessel density and layer thickness. Alternatively, the sample of normal tissue specimens obtained from the subset of the population of subjects with shared characteristics can also be profiled in order to generate a plurality of cell function and/or mechanical indices that correspond to statistically significant representations of characteristics of tissue associated with the population. Structural, mechanical and/or cell function indices for a plurality of tissue populations are determined and then stored in a database, and subscribers/users are granted access to all or part of the database based on a subscription fee. In addition to using the information in the database for general research purposes, subscribers may use the database information to classify tissue specimens (e.g., human tissue specimens, animal tissue specimens, plant tissue specimens, food tissue specimens, or manufactured tissue specimens) provided by the subscriber. In particular, a subscriber can measure parameters (e.g., structural, mechanical and/or cell function indices) associated with the subscriber's tissue specimens and then compare this information to corresponding parameters for normal tissue in the database in order to classify the subscriber's tissue specimens as either normal or abnormal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A computer implemented method for providing information representative of a plurality of tissue types to a subscriber, comprising the steps of: 
 (A) storing tissue information representative of a plurality of tissue types in a database, wherein for each tissue type the database includes a plurality of structural indices generated from a sample of normal tissue specimens obtained from a subset of a population of subjects with shared characteristics, wherein the structural indices correspond to statistically significant representations of characteristics of tissue associated with the population, and wherein the plurality of structural indices include cell density, matrix density, blood vessel density and layer thickness;    (B) granting subscribers access to the database in exchange for a subscription fee.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 (C) measuring parameters associated with subscriber-supplied tissue specimens, wherein step (C) is performed by a subscriber; and    (D) classifying the subscriber-supplied tissue specimens by comparing measured parameters associated with the subscriber-supplied tissue specimens with the tissue information stored in the database.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the subscriber-supplied tissue specimens correspond to manufactured tissue specimens that do not appear normal in total but contain elements that appear or function normally.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of structural indices generated in step (A) further include relative cell location, relative matrix location, and relative blood vessel location.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein for each tissue type the database further includes a plurality of cell function indices determined from a plurality of cell function assays performed on a sample of normal tissue specimens obtained from a subset of the population of subjects with shared characteristics, wherein the cell function indices correspond to statistically significant representations of characteristics of tissue associated with the population.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cell function indices include location, type and amount of DNA in the normal tissue specimens from the subset.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cell function indices include location, type and amount of mRNA in the normal tissue specimens from the subset.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cell function indices include location, type and amount of cellular proteins in the normal tissue specimens from the subset.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cell function indices include location, type and amount of cellular lipids in the normal tissue specimens from the subset.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cell function indices include location, type and amount of cellular ion distributions in the normal tissue specimens from the subset.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein for each tissue type the database further includes a plurality of mechanical indices generated from a sample of normal tissue specimens obtained from a subset of a population of subjects with shared characteristics, wherein the mechanical indices correspond to statistically significant representations of characteristics of tissue associated with the population.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mechanical indices include a modulus of elasticity associated with the normal tissue specimens.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the mechanical indices include a mechanical strength associated with the normal tissue specimens.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of tissue types include at least one living tissue type.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of tissue types includes at least one human tissue type.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of tissue types includes at least one animal tissue type.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of tissue types includes at least one plant tissue type.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tissue types include at least one non-living tissue type.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tissue types include at least one food tissue type.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of tissue types include at least one abnormal tissue type.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein step (D) comprises: 
 (D) classifying the subscriber-supplied tissue specimens as either normal or abnormal by comparing measured parameters associated with the subscriber-supplied tissue specimens to the tissue information stored in the database.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the subscriber-supplied tissue specimens correspond to manufactured tissue specimens that do not appear normal in total but contain elements that appear or function normally.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tissue types include at least one virtual tissue type.  
     
     
         24 . A computer implemented method for providing information representative of a plurality of tissue types to a subscriber, comprising the steps of: 
 (A) storing tissue information representative of a plurality of tissue types in a database, wherein for each tissue type the database includes a plurality of cell function indices determined from a plurality of cell function assays performed on a sample of normal tissue specimens obtained from a subset of a population of subjects with shared characteristics, wherein the cell function indices correspond to statistically significant representations of characteristics of tissue associated with the population;    (B) granting subscribers access to the database in exchange for a subscription fee.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising: 
 (C) measuring parameters associated with subscriber-supplied tissue specimens, wherein step (C) is performed by a subscriber; and    (D) classifying each of the subscriber-supplied tissue specimens by comparing measured parameters associated with the subscriber-supplied tissue specimens with the tissue information stored in the database.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the subscriber-supplied tissue specimens correspond to manufactured tissue specimens that do not appear normal in total but contain elements that appear or function normally.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cell function indices include location, type and amount of DNA in the normal tissue specimens from the subset.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cell function indices include location, type and amount of mRNA in the normal tissue specimens from the subset.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cell function indices include location, type and amount of cellular proteins in the normal tissue specimens from the subset.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cell function indices include location, type and amount of cellular lipids in the normal tissue specimens from the subset.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the cell function indices include location, type and amount of cellular ion distributions in the normal tissue specimens from the subset.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of tissue types include at least one living tissue type.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of tissue types includes at least one human tissue type.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of tissue types includes at least one animal tissue type.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of tissue types includes at least one plant tissue type.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of tissue types include at least one food tissue type.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of tissue types include at least one abnormal tissue type.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein step (D) comprises: 
 (D) classifying each of the subscriber-supplied tissue specimens as either normal or abnormal by comparing measured parameters associated with the subscriber-supplied tissue specimens to the tissue information stored in the database.    
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the subscriber-supplied tissue specimens correspond to manufactured tissue specimens that do not appear normal in total but contain elements that appear or function normally.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of tissue types include at least one virtual tissue type.