Communication System Incorporated in an Ingestible Product

• US 20120062379A1
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Proteus Biomedical, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: HAFEZI, HOOMAN, Johnson, Patricia, Robertson, Timothy, O'REILLY, DAVID, Hatamkhany, Zahedeh
• Granted Patent: US 8,836,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1473 invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter A61B5/1482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting
• 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 be associated with food and communicate data about ingestion of food material to a receiver.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communication using a user'"'"'s body, the apparatus comprising:

an ingestible ingredient; and

an ingestible device to communicate information, the ingestible device associated with the ingredient, wherein the ingestible device comprises;

a support structure;

a first material physically associated with the support structure; and

a second material physically associated with the support structure at a location different from the location of the first material, such that the first material and second material are electrically isolated from each other and capable of generating a voltage potential when in contact with a conducting fluid,

wherein the support structure includes a control module for controlling the conductance between the first material and the second material; and

wherein the ingestible device is activated when in contact with the conducting fluid and the contact results in a current signature that includes information encoded therein using the control module.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ingestible ingredient is a food material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ingestible ingredient is secured to the ingestible device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ingestible device is communicating with a detector associated with the user'"'"'s body and wherein the detector receives and decodes the information produced by the ingestible device.

5. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a coating material that surrounds the ingestible device.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the coating material breaks apart upon mastication by the user.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the coating material dissolves when in contact with a physiological fluid.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with a receiver secured to the user'"'"'s skin.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a sensor in communication with and electrically connected to the ingestible device, wherein the sensor detects pH levels of the environment surrounding the ingestible device and sends a signal to the control module.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is packaged such that consumption of the food material by the user results in activation of the ingestible device to produce information that indicates that the food material has been consumed.

11. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a housing unit that defines a cavity, wherein the food material is a liquid stored within the cavity of the housing unit;

a coating material that surrounds the ingestible device that is stored within the housing unit such that the coating material isolates the ingestible device from the liquid until the coating are dissolved by the user'"'"'s digestive system.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ingestible device further comprises a non-conductive membrane secured to the support structure and positioned relative to the first and second materials to facilitate extension of an electrical path between the first and second material when in contact with a conducting fluid.

13. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a pharmaceutical product in an ingestible form and associated with at least one of the ingestible device and the food material, such that ingestion also delivers a medication.

14. A communicating food product for consumption by a user, the product comprising:

a housing defining a cavity, wherein the housing can be masticated by the user;

an ingestible device to communicate information through the user'"'"'s body, the ingestible device being located within the cavity, wherein the ingestible device comprises;

a support structure;

a first material physically associated with the support structure; and

a second material physically associated with the support structure at a location different from the location of the first material, such that the first material and second material are electrically isolated from each other and capable of generating a voltage potential when in contact with a conduction fluid,

wherein the support structure includes a control module for controlling the conductance between the first material and the second material; and

wherein the ingestible device is activated when in contact with a conducting fluid and results in a current signature that includes information encoded therein using the control module.

15. The product of claim 14, further comprising:

a coating surrounding the ingestible device; and

a digestible ingredient located within the cavity of the housing,

wherein the coating isolates the digestible ingredient from the ingestible device.

16. The product of claim 15, wherein the housing is flexible to withstand mastication pressures and wherein the housing disintegrates in the user'"'"'s stomach.

17. The product of claim 15, wherein the housing breaks apart upon mastication and releases the ingestible device.

18. The product of claim 15, wherein the digestible ingredient is a liquid.

19. The product of claim 14, further comprising a sensor in communication with and electrically connected to the ingestible device, wherein the sensor detects pH levels of the environment surrounding the ingestible device and sends a control signal to the control module for activation of communication of the ingestible device.

20. A signal producing food product comprising:

a digestible material;

a plurality of communication devices, wherein each communication device comprises;

a first material physically associated with a support structure; and

a second material physically associated with the support structure at a location different from the location of the first material,

wherein the first material and second material are electrically isolated from each other and represent a voltage potential to power the communication device when in contact with a conducting fluid,

wherein the support structure includes a control module for controlling the conductance between the first material and the second material,

wherein at least one communication device is located within a cavity defined by a housing that dissolves in a user'"'"'s stomach and the housing prevents activation of the communication device as the user chews the signal producing food product, and

wherein at least one communication device in the plurality of communication devices is coated and the coating breaks as the user chews the product, thereby activating the communication device in the user'"'"'s mouth.