Ingestible therapy activator system and method

• US 8,036,748 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Proteus Biomedical, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zdeblick, Mark, Colliou, Olivier, Jensen, Marc, Strand, Angela
• Primary Examiner(s): Stigell; Theodore
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARPENTER, WILLIAM R
• Application Number:
  US12/665,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20100312228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 604/890.1, 604131-135, 604/93.01, 604/95, 604/54, 604/57, 607/9, 607/17, 607/22, 607/27, 607/30
• US Class Current: 607/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/06 into the form of pills, lozenges or dragees
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/07 into the form of capsules or similar small containers for oral use
• 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: A61M 5/1723 using feedback of body parameters, e.g. blood-sugar, pressure measurement of body parameters A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile

Abstract

An ingestible therapy activator system and method are provided. In one aspect, the ingestible therapy activator includes an ingestible device having an effector module to send an effector instruction and a responder module associated with a therapeutic device. The responder module may receive and process the effector instruction, resulting in a response by the therapeutic device. Examples of responses by therapeutic device include activating a therapy, deactivating a therapy, modulating a therapy, and discontinuing a therapy.

Claims

1. A system for providing instructions to a therapeutic device, the system comprising:

an ingestible unit comprising;

a housing; and

an effector module secured within the housing for providing an effector instruction,

wherein the housing dissolves upon contact with the surrounding fluid of a desired target site to release the effector module and the effector module comprises a support structure including two dissimilar materials deposited thereon wherein the dissimilar materials represent a voltage potential difference and provide power for the ingestible unit upon contact with the fluid;

a responder module in communication with the therapeutic device for receiving and processing the effector instruction, wherein the effector instruction alters at least an operation of the therapeutic device; and

a hermetically sealed conductance control module electrically coupled to each of the dissimilar materials for controlling the conductance between the dissimilar materials to generate a unique current signature that presents the effector instruction, wherein the current signature is produced through controlled ionic emission.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the ingestible unit further comprises an oral medication.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the ingestible unit further comprises a second effector module secured within the housing to provide a second effector instruction.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the effector instruction further comprises data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the responder module further comprises a transmitter to transmit at least one of data and signals.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising the therapeutic device.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the therapeutic device is a cardiac device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the cardiac device is a lead device.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the therapeutic device is a selected from a group consisting essentially of an electrode device, a migraine device, a urinary device, and a gastrointestinal device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the responder module comprises at least one of a hardware component and a software component.