MEDICAMENT DELIVERY SYSTEM AND PROCESS

• US 20090306632A1
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Published: 12/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biora Therapeutics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Shimizu, Jeff, Trovato, Karen I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,597,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/890.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50

Abstract

A system and method for delivering a substance to a selected site in the alimentary canal of a human or animal is provided. The system has an ingestible capsule comprising: a compartment for storing the substance; a receiver suitable for receiving a signal through animal tissue; a processor for storing a programmed set of instructions; an electronic power source; and at least one transmitter, disposed on a medically relevant site on the body of the human or animal, for sending a signal to the receiver, wherein the receiver further comprises a proximity based detection means for measuring proximity of the receiver to the at least one transmitter, and wherein the processor instructs the releasing means to release the substance upon recognition of a pre-programmed pattern of transmitters.

Claims

1. A system for delivering a substance to a selected site in the alimentary canal of a human or animal, comprising:

an ingestible capsule comprising;

an compartment for storing the substance;

a releasing means for releasing the substance from the compartment;

a receiver suitable for receiving a signal through animal tissue;

a processor for storing a programmed set of instructions; and

an electronic power source; and

at least one transmitter, disposed on a medically relevant site on the body of the human or animal, for sending a signal to the receiver,

wherein the receiver further comprises a proximity based detection means for measuring proximity of the receiver to the at least one transmitter, and

wherein the processor instructs the releasing means to release the substance upon recognition of a pre-programmed pattern of transmitters.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected site for delivering the substance is the lower gastrointestinal tract of a human or animal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the selected site for delivering the substance is the colon of a human or animal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one transmitter is housed in a wearable apparatus.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one transmitter is housed in a plaster that is attachable to the body of the human or animal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the proximity based detection means is a signal strength meter.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the capsule further comprises a dosage pump.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the capsule further has a transceiver that is programmed to transmit data collected by the capsule.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the wearable device further has a transceiver that is programmed to issue commands to the capsule for taking a specified action based upon the collected data.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the capsule further comprises a pH sensing means for locating the capsule.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the capsule further comprises a sensor for colonic bacteria or enzymes for locating the capsule.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the capsule further comprises diagnostic, analytical, treatment or imaging means.

13. A system for delivering a substance to a selected site in the alimentary canal of a human or animal, comprising:

an ingestible capsule comprising;

an storage compartment for storing the substance;

a releasing means for releasing the substance from the storage compartment;

a receiver for receiving a wireless signal through animal tissue;

a transmitter suitable for transmitting a signal through animal tissue; and

an electronic power source; and

a wearable apparatus that is attachable to the body of the human or animal, the wearable apparatus having a transmitter for sending a signal to the capsule, and a receiver for receiving information from the transmitter of the capsule.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the capsule further has a transceiver for sending information from the capsule and the wearable device further has a transceiver that is programmed to issue commands to the capsule for taking remedial action based upon the collected data.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the capsule further comprises a pH sensing means for locating the capsule and/or a sensor for colonic bacteria or enzymes for locating the capsule.

16. A process for delivery of a substance to a selected site in the alimentary canal of a human or animal, comprising:

a step of determining the selected site of the alimentary canal to be targeted by clinical means;

a step of providing an ingestible capsule comprising;

a compartment for storing the substance;

a releasing means for releasing the substance from the storage compartment;

a receiver suitable for receiving a signal through animal tissue, the receiver further comprising a proximity based detection means for measuring the proximity of the receiver to a signaling transmitter;

a processor for storing a programmed set of instructions; and

an electronic power source;

a step of programming the capsule with instructions for release of the substance, the instructions comprising at least the recognition of a pattern of signaling transmitters, the pattern being designed to identify the selected site; and

a step of providing a wearable apparatus that is attachable to the body of the human or animal, the wearable apparatus having at least one transmitter for sending a signal to the receiver;

wherein the receiver proximity based detection means identifies the location of the ingested capsule within the alimentary canal of the human or animal by measuring the signal strength of the at least one transmitter, and

wherein the processor instructs the releasing means to release the substance upon recognition of a pre-programmed pattern of transmitters.

17. The process of claim 16, wherein the selected site for delivering the substance is the lower gastrointestinal tract of a human or animal.

18. The process of claim 16, wherein the selected site for delivering the substance is the colon of a human or animal.

19. The process of claim 16, wherein the at least one transmitter is housed in a wearable device that is housed in a plaster that is attachable to the body of the human or animal.

20. The process of claim 16, wherein the at least one wearable transmitter is housed in a belt to be worn around the torso of the human or animal.