IN-BODY DEVICE HAVING A MULTI-DIRECTIONAL TRANSMITTER

• US 20100022836A1
• Filed: 03/07/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Robertson, Timothy, Zdeblick, Mark, Colliou, Olivier
• Granted Patent: US 8,932,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/118
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0031 Implanted circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1104 induced by stimuli or drugs; A61B5/1102 takes precedence; investigating medicinal preparations G01N33/15
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/29 Combinations of different interacting antenna units for giving a desired directional characteristic H01Q25/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

Multi-directional transmitters for in-body devices, such as implantable and ingestible devices, are provided. Aspects of the in-body multi-direction transmitters of the invention include signal transmitters configured to transmit an identifying signal in at least two different directions in an x-y plane. Embodiments of the in-body devices are configured to emit a detectable signal upon contact with a target physiological site. Also provided are methods of making and using the devices of the invention.

Claims

1-34. -34. (canceled)

35. An apparatus for identification of an event occurring within a liquid environment, the apparatus comprising:

a sealed support structure;

a control unit secured within the structure for producing an identifiable electrical pattern; and

a plurality of electrodes each capable of emanating the pattern, wherein the electrodes are distributed about the structure and each is electrically coupled to the unit, and

wherein the unit emanates the pattern using at least two directions and detection of the pattern corresponds to contact between the apparatus and the liquid.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the control unit comprises:

a pattern control module; and

a multi-directional transmitter including a plurality of outputs, wherein each output is coupled to one of the plurality of electrodes.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the multi-directional transmitter is configured to operate as a monopole transmitter.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the multi-directional transmitter is configured to operate as a dipole transmitter.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the pattern control module controls the transmitter to output the pattern on each of the plurality of electrodes simultaneously.

40. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the pattern control module controls the transmitter to output the pattern on each of the plurality of electrodes sequentially.

41. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the pattern control module controls the transmitter to output a first portion of the pattern on a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes and a second portion of the pattern on a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes, each transmission occurring simultaneously.

42. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the pattern control module controls the transmitter to output a first portion of the pattern on a first electrode of the plurality of electrodes and a second portion of the pattern on a second electrode of the plurality of electrodes, each transmission occurring sequentially.

43. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the plurality of electrodes represent a high voltage potential and the apparatus comprises a common electrode that represent a low voltage potential wherein current flows from the high voltage electrodes to the low voltage electrode and wherein the apparatus includes a conductance control component for altering the conductance to control the current flow to produce a unique current signature.

44. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein each of the plurality of electrodes is coupled to an insulated conductor.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein each insulated conductor is linear.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein each insulated conductor is non-linear.

47. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the unit is configured to sequentially transmit portions of the pattern and wherein the portions are bits.

48. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprise a first, second and third emanating elements and the unit is configured to produce a the pattern using the following sequence of emanating elements:

the first and second emanating elements;

the second and third emanating elements; and

the third and first emanating elements.

49. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the unit is rendered operational upon the apparatus coming into contact with a target site fluid present at a target site.

50. A system for marking the occurrence of an event, the system comprising:

an electrical pattern production unit, wherein the unit comprises;

a logical control unit for producing an identifiable electrical pattern;

a plurality of output conductors electrically coupled to the logical control unit and each capable of emanating the pattern; and

a sealed structure, wherein the conductors are distributed about the structure and the logical control unit is contained in the structure and wherein the control unit emanates the pattern in at least two directions using at least two of the plurality of output conductors; and

a receiver for detecting the pattern produced by the production unit to record the occurrence of the event.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein said receiver is an in vivo receiver.

52. The system of claim 50, wherein said receiver is an ex vivo receiver.