Health monitoring system

• US 6,440,069 B1
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: Brigham and Women's Hospital Incorporated
• Inventors: Singer, Daniel B., Raymond, Stephen A., Gordon, Geoffrey E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US09/940,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20020032384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/302, 600/513
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0257 using atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0295 adapted for recording user messages or annotations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/33 specially adapted for cooperation with other devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/366 Detecting abnormal QRS complex, e.g. widening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 : Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 : Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 : Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

A health monitoring system that monitors the health of a patient includes an ingestible capsule containing a medication to be consumed by a subject. A signal generator located within the capsule outputs an electrical signal having a predetermined characteristic indicative of said medication, said capsule and said medication being liberated by dissolution of the capsule in the stomach acid of a subject. A signal detector, preferably having an input in electrical contact with a portion of the subject'"'"'s skin, is used to detects the electrical signal. This allows the ingestion of the medication to be tracked.

Claims

1. An in vivo monitoring system comprising:

an ingestible capsule containing a material to be consumed by a subject;

a signal generator located within the capsule which outputs a signal having a predetermined signal characteristic, said material being liberated by dissolution of the capsule in the body of the subject; and

a signal detector at least a portion of which is external to the subject'"'"'s body, and which detects the signal transmitted from the signal generator.

2. A monitoring system according to claim 1 further comprising a memory storage device in communication with the signal detector and in which a representation of the detected signal is stored.

3. A monitoring system according to claim 1 further comprising an energy storage device in the capsule such that, upon dissolution of the capsule, a transfer of power occurs from the energy storage device to the signal generator.

4. A monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein said signal generator comprises a plurality of electrodes which, when free of the capsule, extend away from one another in a dipole configuration.

5. A monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein said material is a medication.

6. A monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein the dissolution of the capsule occurs in a stomach of the subject.

7. A monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein the signal detector is in contact with a portion of skin of the subject.

8. A monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein the signal is transmitted through tissue of the subject.

9. A monitoring system according to claim 8 wherein the signal is an electrical signal.

11. A medication consumption monitoring system according to claim 1 further comprising a memory storage device in communication with the signal detector and in which a representation of said medication is stored.

12. A medication consumption monitoring system according to claim 1 further comprising an energy storage element device such that, upon dissolution of the capsule, a transfer of power occurs from the energy storage device to the signal generator.

13. A medication consumption monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein said signal generator comprises a plurality of electrodes which, when free of the capsule, extend away from one another in a dipole configuration.

10. A medication consumption monitoring system comprising:

an ingestible capsule containing a medication to be consumed by a subject;

a signal generator located within the capsule which outputs an electrical signal having a predetermined characteristic indicative of said medication, said capsule and said medication being liberated by dissolution of the capsule in the stomach acid of a subject; and

a signal detector having an input in electrical contact with a portion of the subject'"'"'s skin and which detects the electrical signal transmitted through tissue of the subject by the signal generator.

14. A method of monitoring, in vivo, a material consumed by a subject, the method comprising:

initiating the ingestion of an ingestible capsule by the subject that contains the material to be consumed, the capsule additionally containing a signal generator that outputs a signal having a predetermined signal characteristic, said material and signal generator being liberated by dissolution of the capsule in the body of the subject; and

detecting the signal transmitted by the signal generator with a signal detector, at least a portion of which is external to the subject'"'"'s body.

15. A method according to claim 14 further comprising storing a representation of the detected signal in a memory storage device that is in communication with the signal detector.

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein the signal generator is powered by an energy storage device located in the capsule that transfers power to the signal generator upon dissolution of the capsule.

17. A method according to claim 14 wherein said signal generator comprises a plurality of electrodes which, when free of the capsule, extend away from one another in a dipole configuration.

18. A method according to claim 14 wherein said material is a medication.

19. A method according to claim 14 wherein the dissolution of the capsule occurs in a stomach of the subject.

20. A method according to claim 14 wherein the signal detector is in contact with a portion of skin of the subject.

21. A method according to claim 14 wherein the signal is transmitted through tissue of the subject.

22. A method according to claim 14 wherein the signal is an electrical signal.

23. A method of monitoring, in vivo, a medication consumed by a subject, the method comprising:

initiating the ingestion of an ingestible capsule by the subject that contains the medication to be consumed, the capsule additionally containing a signal generator that outputs an electrical signal having a predetermined signal characteristic indicative of the medication, said medication and signal generator being liberated by dissolution of the capsule in the body of the subject; and

detecting the signal transmitted by the signal generator with a signal detector in contact with a portion of the subject'"'"'s skin, the detector detecting the electrical signal transmitted through tissue of the subject by the signal generator.

24. A method according to claim 23 further comprising storing a representation of the medication in a memory storage device in communication with the signal detector.

25. A method according to claim 23 wherein power is provided to the signal generator from an energy storage element in the capsule that transfers the power upon dissolution of the capsule.

26. A method according to claim 23 wherein said signal generator comprises a plurality of electrodes which, when free of the capsule, extend away from one another in a dipole configuration.