TECHNIQUES FOR MANUFACTURING INGESTIBLE EVENT MARKERS COMPRISING AN INGESTIBLE COMPONENT

• US 20150164746A1
• Filed: 07/22/2013
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Costello, Benedict, Robertson, Timothy, Johnson, Patricia, Duck, Robert, Cozad, Brad, Hafezi, Hooman, Hatamkhany, Zahedeh, Huang, Richard, Nicholas, Rod, Scheinpflug, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 9,271,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/07 Endoradiosondes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/70 Device provided with specific sensor or indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/10 into the form of compressed tablets tablet presses B30B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 11/34 for coating articles, e.g. tablets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/00 Electrical equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/15 with at least one layer being manufactured and immediately laminated before reaching its stable state, e.g. in which a layer is extruded and laminated while in semi-molten state
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/0012 Mechanical treatment, e.g. roughening, deforming, stretching
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/10 Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 69/00 Unpacking of articles or materials, not otherwise provided for

Abstract

Method and systems for manufacturing a tablet comprising an electronic device are disclosed. In one method, a powdered material is provided into a die cavity of a tablet press and an electronic device is dispensed from a tape-and-reel carrier tape operatively coupled to the tablet press into the die cavity. The powdered material and the electronic device are compressing to form a tablet. A system comprises a tablet press comprising a die cavity for receiving a powdered material and an electronic device therein, an upper punch, and a lower punch. The upper and lower punches are operative to form the powdered material and the electronic device into a tablet. A tape-and-reel carrier tape is operatively coupled to the tablet press, where the carrier tape is configured for holding the electronic device. A transfer mechanism is used to transfer the electronic device from the tape carrier to the die cavity.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a tablet comprising an electronic device, the method comprising:

providing a powdered material into a die cavity of a tablet press;

dispensing an electronic device from a tape-and-reel carrier tape operatively coupled to the tablet press, the carrier tape configured for holding the electronic device;

locating the electronic device into the die cavity; and

compressing the powdered material and the electronic device to form a tablet.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising pre-compressing the powdered material prior to locating the electronic device into the die cavity.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing additional powdered material into the die cavity after forming the tablet.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising compressing the additional powdered material to form the tablet.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the tablet press is a rotary tablet press.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the powdered material is a pharmaceutical material.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is an ingestible event marker.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier tape comprises a cover tape and defines a cavity for holding the electronic device between the cavity and the cover tape, wherein dispensing the electronic device from the carrier tape comprises:

removing the cover tape from the carrier tape to expose the electronic device within the cavity;

transferring the cover tape to a pick-and-place transfer mechanism;

picking the electronic device from the cavity with a pick-and-place element of the transfer mechanism;

transferring the pick-and-place element to the tablet press; and

placing the electronic device in the die cavity.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising locating the pick-and-place element above the die cavity.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

transferring the pick-and-place element to a carrier;

locating the pick-and-place element above the carrier;

placing the electronic device in the carrier;

picking the electronic device from the carrier with a second pick-and-place element of a second transfer mechanism; and

locating the second pick-and-place element above the die cavity.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the pick-and-place element is a vacuum tool.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein dispensing the electronic device from the tape carrier comprises:

transferring the carrier tape to a punch press;

punching through the carrier tape comprising the electronic device with an ejector pin portion of the punch press, wherein the ejector pin perforates the carrier tape; and

dispensing the electronic device into the die cavity through the perforations.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

dispensing the electronic device into a carrier; and

transferring the carrier to the tablet press.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the carrier frictionally engages the electronic device and centers the electronic device with the die cavity.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier tape carrier comprises first and second adhesive tapes for holding the electronic device therebetween, wherein dispensing the electronic device from the carrier tape comprises:

removing the first adhesive tape from the carrier tape to expose the electronic device within the cavity;

transferring the cover tape to a punch press;

punching through the carrier tape comprising the electronic device with an ejector pin portion of the punch press, wherein the ejector pin perforates the carrier tape; and

dispensing the electronic device into the die cavity through the perforations.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

dispensing the electronic device into a carrier; and

transferring the carrier to the tablet press.

17. A system for manufacturing a tablet comprising an electronic device, the system comprising:

a tablet press comprising a die cavity for receiving a powdered material and an electronic device therein, an upper punch, and a lower punch, wherein the upper and lower punches are operative to form the powdered material and the electronic device into a tablet;

a tape-and-reel carrier tape operatively coupled to the tablet press, the carrier tape configured for holding the electronic device; and

a transfer mechanism to transfer the electronic device from the tape carrier to the die cavity.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the transfer mechanism comprises a pick-and-place transfer mechanism operatively coupled to the carrier tape and the tablet press.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising a carrier to receive the electronic device and center the electronic device relative to the die cavity, wherein the pick-and-place transfer mechanism locates the electronic device in the carrier.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a second pick-and-place transfer mechanism to pick the electronic device from the carrier, locate the second pick-and-place transfer mechanism above the die cavity.

21. The system claim 17, wherein the pick-and-place transfer mechanism comprises a vacuum tool.

22. The system of claim 17, further comprising a punch press for dispensing the electronic device from the tape carrier operatively coupled to the tablet press.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the punch press comprises a rotating punch wheel.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the carrier tape carrier comprises first and second adhesive tapes for holding the electronic device therebetween.