System to monitor the ingestion of medicines

• US 20070008113A1
• Filed: 02/09/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CareStream Health Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Spoonhower, John, Covannon, Edward
• Granted Patent: US 7,782,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.120
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/007 Boluses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/06 Devices, other than using radiation, for detecting or locating foreign bodies for removing same A61B17/50 ; determining position of probes within or on the body of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/30 Compliance analysis for taking medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/007 Marking tablets or the like apparatus for printing on tablets or the like B41F17/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/06 into the form of pills, lozenges or dragees
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/07 into the form of capsules or similar small containers for oral use
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0427 with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system

Abstract

A system for monitoring ingestion of medicine (21) comprises forming a digestible radio frequency identification (RFID) tag (10). The RFID tag is attached to the medicine. The RFID tag and medicine are ingested. A signal from the RFID tag is monitored.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring ingestion of medicine comprising:

forming an antenna comprised of metal segments and said medicine;

forming a digestible radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprised of at least one of said antennas;

ingesting said RFID tag;

receiving signals and power from an external transmitter;

transmitting signals from said RFID tag to an external receiver; and

monitoring a signal from said RFID tag.

2. A system as in claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:

forming a conductive coating on particles of said medicine.

3. A system as in claim 1 comprising the additional steps of:

forming a mixture of said medicine and conductive particles.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said medicine binds segments of said antenna together.

5. A system as in claim 4 wherein said segments are pre-stressed.

6. A system for monitoring ingestion of medicine comprising:

coating particles of said medicine with a conductive material;

forming an antenna of said coated medicine forming a digestible radio frequency identification (RFID) tag comprised of at least one antenna;

ingesting said RFID tag;

receiving signals and power from an external transmitter;

transmitting signals from said RFID tag to an external receiver;

monitoring a signal from said RFID tag; and

wherein dissolution of said antenna indicates digestion of said medicine.

7. A digestible radio frequency identification (RFID) tag for monitoring ingestion of medicine comprising:

an antenna comprised of said medicine and conductive segment;

a circuit connected to said antenna;

a resonant cavity connected to said circuit; and

wherein said antenna is dissolved by digestion of said medicine.