COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH REMOTE ACTIVATION

• US 20150173646A1
• Filed: 11/24/2014
• Published: 06/25/2015
• 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: Berkman, Jeffrey, Zdeblick, Mark, Johnson, Patricia, Hafezi, Hooman, Withrington, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 9,439,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A device for communication, the device comprising:

a communication unit comprising;

a control module associated with the support structure;

a sealed housing defining a cavity configured to contain the communication unit therein; and

a release material positioned within the cavity, wherein the communication unit is configured to generate a command to cause the release material to expand and open the sealed housing to release the communication unit.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the communication unit includes a mechanism that extends outward from the communication unit to penetrate a wall portion of the sealed housing to allow the communication unit to be separated from the sealed housing.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the communication 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 be separated from the sealed housing

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the control module comprises a partial power source that is configured to activate by exposure to an electrically conductive fluid.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the partial power source produces a voltage potential when exposed to the electrically conductive fluid to supply power to the control module.

23. The device of claim 18, wherein the communication unit is configured to measure at least one characteristic associated with an environment immediately surrounding the communication unit.

24. The device of claim 18, further comprising a release apparatus secured to the support structure and in communication with the communication unit, wherein the release apparatus is configured to receive a release command from the communication unit to cause the release material to expand within the cavity to break apart the sealed housing.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the release material includes an expanding material that expands within the cavity upon receiving the release command.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein the release apparatus includes a rod configured to mechanically extend from the release apparatus within the cavity of the sealed housing when the release command is received.

27. The device of claim 24, further comprising an electroactive matrix within the cavity, wherein the communication unit generates a voltage to cause the electroactive matrix to expand and open the sealed housing to release the communication.

28. A device for communication, the device comprising:

a communication unit comprising;

a control module associated with the support structure;

a sealed housing defining a cavity configured to contain the communication unit therein; and

a release material positioned within the cavity, wherein the communication unit is configured to generate a command to cause the release material to expand and open the sealed housing to release the communication unit; and

an impedance measurement unit configured to measure an impedance of an environment surrounding the device.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the communication unit sends a control signal to the control module in response to the measured impedance to adjust the conductance so as to deactivate the device or to activate the device with a delay.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein the control module is configured to adjust conductance in response to the measured impedance.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the control module is configured to maintain constant power output or maintain power output above a minimum threshold in response to the measured impedance.

32. The device of claim 28, wherein the impedance measurement unit is configured to correlate the measured impedance to at least one indicator selected from the group consisting essentially of:

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

33. The device of claim 28, wherein the impedance measurement unit is configured to measure impedance at multiple frequencies.

34. A device for communication, the device comprising:

a first communication unit comprising;

a control module associated with the support structure;

a sealed housing defining a cavity configured to contain the communication unit therein; and

a release material positioned within the cavity, wherein the first communication unit is configured to generate a command to cause the release material to expand and open the sealed housing to release the first communication unit; and

a second communication unit configured to communicate with the control module, the second communication unit associated with the support structure and configured to receive a signal from an external source or send a signal to an external source.

35. The device of claim 34, wherein the first and second communication units are positioned within the cavity.

36. The device of claim 35, wherein the second communication unit is configured to generate a command to cause the release material to expand and open the sealed housing to release the first and second communication units.

37. The device of claim 34, further comprising an impedance measurement unit configured to measure an impedance of an environment surrounding the device.