Communication System with Remote Activation

• US 20120007734A1
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Proteus Biomedical, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zdeblick, Mark, Hafezi, Hooman, Withrington, Jonathan, Berkman, Jeffrey, Johnson, Patricia
• Granted Patent: US 8,912,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/18 Shielding or protection of sensors from environmental influences, e.g. protection from mechanical damage
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0538 invasively, e.g. using a catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7285 for synchronising or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal A61B6/5205, A61B6/541, A61B8/5207, A61B8/543 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/007 Marking tablets or the like apparatus for printing on tablets or the like B41F17/36
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals

Abstract

The system of the present invention includes a conductive element, an electronic component, and a partial power source in the form of dissimilar materials. Upon contact with a conducting fluid, a voltage potential is created and the power source is completed, which activates the system. The electronic component controls the conductance between the dissimilar materials to produce a unique current signature. The system can also measure the conditions of the environment surrounding the system.

Claims

1. A device for communication, the device comprising:

a communication unit comprising;

a support structure;

a partial power source comprising;

a first material deposited onto the support structure; and

a second material deposited onto the support structure and electrically isolated from the first material, wherein the first material and the second material are selected to have a voltage potential difference when in contact with a conducting fluid to provide power to activate the device;

a control module associated with the support structure and electrically connected to the first material and the second material for controlling the conductance between the first material and the second material such that a change in conductance between the first material and the second material alters the device'"'"'s current signature and thereby encodes information in the current signature; and

a unit in communication with the control module and associated with the support structure to at least either receive a signal from an external source or send a signal to the external source.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sealed housing defining a cavity, wherein the communication unit is positioned within the cavity.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a release material within the cavity, wherein the unit generates a release command to cause the release material to expand and open the sealed housing.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the unit includes a mechanism that extends outward from the unit to penetrate a wall portion of the sealed housing and allow the communication unit to be separated from the sealed housing.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the unit includes a rod that is mechanically activated to tear a wall portion of the sealed housing and cause the sealed housing to open and allow the communication unit to come into contact with the conducting fluid.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the unit measures at least one characteristic associated with an environment immediately surrounding the communication unit.

7. The device of claim 6 further comprising a release apparatus secured to the support structure and in communication with the unit, wherein the release apparatus receives the release command from the unit and in response to the signal causes the device to be exposed to the conducting fluid.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the cavity includes a material that is in communication with the release apparatus and the release apparatus causes the material to expand within the cavity such that the sealed housing breaks apart.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the release apparatus includes an expanding material that expands within the cavity to cause the sealed housing to break apart.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the release apparatus includes a rod that is mechanically extended from the release apparatus within the cavity of the sealed housing to cause the sealed housing to break apart.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein after the device comes into contact with the conducting fluid, a signal received at the unit is sent to the control module and the control module reduces the power generated by the device by altering the conductance between the first material and the second material.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the unit sends information associated with the environment of the device to an external source.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the unit comprises an impedance measurement unit coupled to the first material at one output and coupled to the second material at another output to measure the impedance of the surrounding environment and to control the device.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the unit sends an impedance signal to the control module and the control module alters the conductance between the first material and the second material upon receipt of the impedance signal.

15. The device of claim of 14 wherein the impedance measuring unit sends the impedance signal to the control module to indicate to the control module that the impedance of the surrounding environment is below the designated value and the device can be activated.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the unit receives a deactivate signal from an external source and communicates that information to the control module such that the control module alters the conductance between the first material and the second material in order to prevent generation of a current flow between the first material and second material and thereby deactivate the device.

17. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sealed housing defining a cavity, wherein the communication unit is positioned within the cavity and further comprising an electroactive matrix within the cavity, wherein the unit generates voltage to cause the electroactive matrix to expand and open the sealed housing.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein after the device comes into contact with the conducting fluid, a signal received at the unit is sent to the control module and the control module adjusts conductance in response to impedance to at least one of maintain a constant power output and maintain power above a minimum threshold.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein after the device comes into contact with the conducting fluid, the impedance measurement is correlated to at least one indicator selected from a group consisting essentially of the following:

hydration state, presence of a drug, gastro-intestinal motility/waves, gastric transit time, presence of specific tissue type, and location of specific tissue type.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein the impedance measurement unit measures impedance at multiple frequencies.