Disintegrating digestive tract interaction system

• US 20090105531A1
• Filed: 10/17/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Smith, Michael A., Langer, Robert, Boyden, Edward S., Whitmer, Charles, Wood, Lowell L. JR., Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Wood, Victoria Y.H., Leuthardt, Eric C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,038,659 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/101
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the gastrointestinal, the endocrine or the exocrine systems A61B1/00, A61B5/4857, A61B5/486, A61B5/4866, A61B5/4869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for configuring several modules each individually small enough to pass through a digestive tract; and a tether or other means for releasably configuring at least the several modules in a group. Such a tether may (directly or indirectly) couple some of the modules via at least a gap in another module from which the tether may slip free, in some embodiments. Such methods may include modes of administering a medication or otherwise taking an action in response to the one or more phenomena.

Claims

1. A digestive tract interaction system comprising:

several modules each individually small enough to pass through a digestive tract; and

means for releasably configuring at least the several modules in a group.

2. A digestive tract interaction system comprising:

a first module small enough to pass through a digestive tract;

a second module small enough to pass through the digestive tract and at least 10% as large as the first module;

a third module small enough to pass through the digestive tract and at least 10% as large as the second module; and

a tether effectively coupling the first module with the second module via at least a gap in the third module, the tether having at least a middle portion configured to slip free from the third module responsive to the first module decoupling from the second module.

6. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the first module comprises:

one or more dispensers operable for dispensing at least 1 gram of medicinal material.

9. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the second module comprises:

at least one dispenser containing at least a therapeutic agent.

10. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the second module comprises:

one or more valves each operable for controlling a material dispensation.

11. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the third module comprises:

one or more sensors operable for responding to a proximity to an artificial device from within a portion of the digestive tract.

14. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the third module comprises:

one or more sensors for measuring or otherwise detecting a higher-than-nominal concentration of one or more carbohydrates.

15. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the third module comprises:

one or more sensors for measuring or otherwise detecting a higher-than-nominal concentration of an artificial control marker.

17. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2, further comprising:

a catheter containing at least the first, second, and third module.

19. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the third module has a cross-sectional diameter larger than one millimeter

20. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the third module is at least 10% as voluminous as the second module.

22. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the third module comprises:

at least a bore forming the gap.

26. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the tether comprises:

at least an elastic portion of the middle portion.

27. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the tether comprises:

one or more elastic portions overlapping the middle portion and totaling at least half of an entire length of the tether.

30. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the tether comprises:

at least an inelastic portion overlapping the middle portion.

31. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the tether comprises:

at least a soluble portion overlapping the middle portion.

33. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 further comprising:

a fourth module comprising one or more actuators.

36. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the second module is at least 10% as long as the first module.

40. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the second module comprises:

an external surface area of which at least 1% comprises a saddle region.

43. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the second module comprises:

one or more sensors for measuring or otherwise detecting a higher-than-nominal lipid concentration.

45. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the second module comprises:

one or more sensors for measuring or otherwise detecting a higher-than-nominal concentration of one or more carbohydrates.

46. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the second module comprises:

one or more sensors operable for responding to a departure of an artificial device from within a portion of the digestive tract.

47. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the second module comprises:

one or more sensors operable for responding to an environmental attribute indicating a portion of the digestive tract.

48. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the second module comprises:

one or more sensors for measuring or otherwise detecting a higher-than-nominal concentration of an artificial control marker.

58. The digestive tract interaction system of claim 2 in which the second module comprises:

a unitary body at least half as long as the first module and at most twice as voluminous as the second module, the unitary body comprising an external surface area of which at least 1% comprises a saddle region;

a dispenser containing a total of 1-15 grams of medicinal material;

one or more sensors operable for responding to an environmental attribute indicating a portion of the digestive tract;

one or more sensors operable for responding to a proximity to an artificial device from within a portion of the digestive tract;

one or more sensors for measuring or otherwise detecting a higher-than-nominal lipid concentration;

one or more sensors for measuring or otherwise detecting a higher-than-nominal concentration of one or more controlled substances;

one or more sensors for measuring or otherwise detecting a higher-than-nominal concentration of one or more carbohydrates;

one or more sensors for measuring or otherwise detecting a higher-than-nominal concentration of an artificial control marker; and

means for causing the digestive tract interaction system to float in an aqueous fluid.

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