Flexible circuit for a swallowable pill

• US 10,251,580 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2018
• Issued: 04/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rock West Medical Devices, LLC
• Original Assignee: Rock West Medical Devices, LLC
• Inventors: Carron, Neal Jay, Old, Thomas Eugene, Pritchett, Donald Gordon, Baker, John Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Lopez Cruz, Dimary S
• Application Number:
  US15/885,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20180214049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/12 Manufacturing methods specially adapted for producing sensors for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/062 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a flexible circuit for insertion into a pill capsule. The flexible circuit has a first portion having an electrical contact to electrically connect with a battery, a second portion having an electrical contact to electrically connect with the battery, a first arm separating the first portion and second portion, a third portion comprising a first antenna, a second arm separating the first portion and third portion, a fourth portion comprising a second antenna, a third arm separating the first portion and fourth portion, a third arm separating the first portion and fourth portion, and a fifth portion comprising a third antenna. The first portion, second portion, and first arm form a first receptacle to receive a battery. The third portion, fourth portion, and fifth portion form a second receptacle to receive a cube ferrite core.

Claims

1. A flexible circuit configured to be inserted into a pill capsule, the flexible circuit comprising:

a first portion comprising an electrical contact configured to electrically connect with a first terminal of a battery;

a second portion having an electrical contact configured to electrically connect with a second terminal of the battery;

a first arm having a length separating the first portion and the second portion;

a third portion comprising a first antenna;

a second arm having a length separating the first portion and the third portion;

a fourth portion comprising a second antenna;

a third arm having a length separating the first portion and the fourth portion;

a fifth portion comprising a third antenna;

wherein the first portion, the second portion, and first arm are configured to form a first receptacle in a folded configuration;

wherein the first receptacle is configured to receive the battery;

wherein the third portion, the fourth portion, and the fifth portion are configured to form a second receptacle in the folded configuration; and

wherein the second receptacle is configured to receive a cube ferrite core.

2. The flexible circuit of claim 1, wherein the first portion is positioned substantially parallel to the second portion in the folded configuration, wherein the fifth portion is positioned substantially parallel to the first portion and the second portion in the folded configuration.

3. The flexible circuit of claim 1, wherein the third portion is positioned substantially perpendicular to the fourth portion in the folded configuration, wherein the fifth portion is positioned substantially perpendicular to the third portion and the fourth portion in the folded configuration.

4. The flexible circuit of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is configured to transmit a first transmit signal in a first direction, wherein the second antenna is configured to transmit a second transmit signal in a second direction, wherein the third antenna is configured to transmit a third transmit signal in a third direction, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction and the third direction, wherein the second direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction and third direction, and wherein the third direction is substantially perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction.

5. The flexible circuit of claim 1, wherein the first receptacle has a volume proportional to the length of the first arm.

6. The flexible circuit of claim 1, further comprising the battery positioned in the first receptacle.

7. The flexible circuit of claim 1, further comprising the ferrite core positioned in the second receptacle.

8. The flexible circuit of claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit is integrated with a camera unit.

9. The flexible circuit of claim 1, further comprising a photodiode switch configured to detect optical radiation and activate operation of an electrical component in response to the detected optical radiation, wherein the photodiode switch is positioned on.

10. A flexible circuit configured to be inserted in a pill capsule, the flexible circuit body comprising:

a base;

a first arm extending from the base, the first arm configured to fold on a first side of the base;

a second arm extending from the base, the second arm configured to fold on a second side opposite from the first side;

wherein the base, the first arm, and the second arm are configured to form a first recess and a second recess in a folded configuration; and

wherein the first recess is configured to house a battery and the second recess is configured to house a ferrite core.

11. The flexible circuit of claim 10, wherein a length of the first arm is substantially equal to a sum of a length of the battery and a length of the ferrite core.

12. The flexible circuit of claim 10, wherein a first volume of the battery is substantially equal to the first recess and a second volume ferrite core is substantially equal to the second recess, thereby reducing empty space.

13. The flexible circuit of claim 10, wherein an empty volume defined by a difference between a volume formed by the base, the first arm, and the second arm and a volume of the battery and a volume of the ferrite core is less than 20%.

14. The flexible circuit of claim 10, wherein the first arm is positioned substantially parallel to the second arm.

15. The flexible circuit of claim 10, further comprising the battery positioned in the first recess.

16. The flexible circuit of claim 10, further comprising the ferrite core positioned in the second recess.