Communication System Incorporated in a Container

• US 20120299723A1
• Filed: 11/23/2011
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Hafezi, Hooman, O'Reilly, David, Johnson, Patricia, Hatamkhany, Zahedeh, Robertson, Timothy, Zdeblick, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,198,608 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0214 Capacitive electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/036 by means introduced into body tracts A61B5/032 and A61B5/035 take precedence
• 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: A61J 3/007 Marking tablets or the like apparatus for printing on tablets or the like B41F17/36
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 41/02 Caps or cap-like covers without lines of weakness, tearing strips, tags, or like opening or removal devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2001/3894 Waterproofing of transmission device

Abstract

The system of the present invention includes a container and an electronic component with a partial power source in the form of dissimilar materials. The container includes a liquid. Upon contact with the liquid, 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.

Claims

1. A system for communication comprising:

a container defining an opening and configured to contain a food; and

an indicator to communicate information, wherein the indicator comprises;

a support structure including a control module; and

a partial power source comprising;

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 represent a voltage potential,

wherein the control module controls the conductance between the first material and the second material, and

wherein the indictor is secured to the container near the opening.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a lid to secure the opening of the container

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the indicator includes a wireless transmitter to produce and send a wireless signal and the indicator wireless transmitter is in communication with the control module.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the food is non-conducting.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first material and second material is zinc that reacts with air to produce a voltage potential as the lid is removed and the indicator is activated and configured to produce a signal.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the food is a conducting liquid.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first material and the second represent a voltage potential when in contact with the conducting liquid and as the conducting liquid is dispensed, the indicator is activated due to contact with the conducting liquid.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the indicator produces a current signature that includes information encoded therein using the control module.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising an ingestible indicator in the conducting liquid, wherein the ingestible indicator includes a coating to prevent interaction of the ingestible indicator with the liquid.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the ingestible indictor includes:

a support structure;

a first dissimilar material physically associated with the support structure of the ingestible indictor; and

a second dissimilar material physically associated with the support structure of the ingestible indictor at a location different from the location of the first dissimilar material of the ingestible indictor, such that the first dissimilar material of the ingestible indictor and second dissimilar material of the ingestible indictor are electrically isolated from each other and represent a voltage potential,

wherein the support structure of the ingestible indictor includes a control module for controlling the conductance between the first dissimilar material of the ingestible indictor and the second dissimilar material of the ingestible indictor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the ingestible indictor communicates with a detector associated with a consumer'"'"'s body and wherein the detector receives and decodes information produced by the ingestible indictor.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the coating dissolves when in contact with a physiological fluid.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the indictor communicates with a receiver secured to a consumer'"'"'s skin.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a capacitive sensor secured to the container, wherein the capacitive sensor includes a pair of capacitive plates positioned on the container to allow for detection of the capacitance of the content of the container and wherein the capacitive sensor produces a signal indicating at least one change in capacitance of the container.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the capacitive plates of the capacitive sensor comprise conductive ink.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the capacitive sensor is powered by the partial power source.

17. A system for tracking food consumption by a consumer, the system comprising:

a container defining an opening and including a lid, wherein the container is configured to hold the food;

a sensor secured near the opening of the container and protected by the lid, such that when the lid is removed, the sensor produces information associated with the lid being removed; and

a second sensor secured on the container'"'"'s wall to produce a signal associated with a change in the container'"'"'s content,

wherein the information from the sensor and the information from the second sensor are communicated to a receiver associated with a consumer.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor includes a transmitter to send information using transconduction through the consumer'"'"'s body and wirelessly and wherein the second sensor includes a unit to send information using transconduction through the consumer'"'"'s body.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the sensor and the second sensor are in communication such that activation of the sensor results is a signal being sent to the second sensor.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the food is liquid and wherein a plurality of ingestible sensors are included in the liquid to produce information when the ingestible sensors are ingested and the information is sent to the receiver using transconduction.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the receiver includes a unit that is configured to correlate the information from the sensor, the second sensor, and the ingestible sensors to automate the tracking of food consumption by the consumer.

22. A method for automating the tracking of food consumption by a consumer, the method comprising the step of:

activating a sensor upon opening of a container that includes the food, wherein the sensor produces information about the food'"'"'s type and the time of opening and wherein the information from the sensor is uniquely identifiable with the container;

activating a second sensor upon dispensing of the food, wherein the second sensor produces information about the amount of the food that is dispensed from the container wherein the information from the second sensor is uniquely indefinable with the container;

activating an ingestible sensor upon ingestion of the food by the consumer, wherein the ingestible sensor produces information to indicate the food has been consumed by the consumer wherein the information from the ingestible sensor is uniquely identifiable with the container;

sending at least one information selected from the group of information including the information from the sensor, the information from the second sensor, and the information from the ingestible sensor to a receiver; and

correlating at least two pieces of information selected from the information group including information from the sensor, the information from the second sensor, and the information from the ingestible sensor to automate tracking of the consumer'"'"'s food consumption.