Disintegrating digestive tract interaction system
First Claim
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1. A digestive tract interaction system comprising:
- a first module small enough to pass through a digestive tract;
a second module small enough to pass through the digestive tract and at least 10% as large as the first module, the second module including a unitary body at least half as long as the first module, a dispenser containing medicinal material, and one or more sensors configured to detect a concentration of at least one of a lipid, a carbohydrate, or an artificial control marker;
a third module small enough to pass through the digestive tract and at least 10% as large as the second module; and
a tether effectively coupling the first module with the second module via at least a gap in the third module, the tether having at least a middle portion configured to slip free from the third module responsive to the first module decoupling from the second module.
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Abstract
Systems and methods are described for configuring several modules each individually small enough to pass through a digestive tract; and a tether or other means for releasably configuring at least the several modules in a group. Such a tether may (directly or indirectly) couple some of the modules via at least a gap in another module from which the tether may slip free, in some embodiments. Such methods may include modes of administering a medication or otherwise taking an action in response to the one or more phenomena.
35 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A digestive tract interaction system comprising:
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a first module small enough to pass through a digestive tract; a second module small enough to pass through the digestive tract and at least 10% as large as the first module, the second module including a unitary body at least half as long as the first module, a dispenser containing medicinal material, and one or more sensors configured to detect a concentration of at least one of a lipid, a carbohydrate, or an artificial control marker; a third module small enough to pass through the digestive tract and at least 10% as large as the second module; and a tether effectively coupling the first module with the second module via at least a gap in the third module, the tether having at least a middle portion configured to slip free from the third module responsive to the first module decoupling from the second module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A digestive tract interaction system comprising:
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a first module small enough to pass through a digestive tract; a second module small enough to pass through the digestive tract and at least 10% as large as the first module; a third module small enough to pass through the digestive tract and at least 10% as large as the second module, the third module including a unitary body at least half as long as the first module, a dispenser containing medicinal material, and one or more sensors configured to detect a concentration of at least one of a lipid, a carbohydrate, or an artificial control marker; and a tether effectively coupling the first module with the second module via at least a gap in the third module, the tether having at least a middle portion configured to slip free from the third module responsive to the first module decoupling from the second module. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeThe Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
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Original AssigneeThe Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
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InventorsWood, Victoria Y. H., Ishikawa, Muriel Y., Smith, Michael A., Langer, Robert, Wood, Lowell L. Jr., Boyden, Edward S., Whitmer, Charles, Rivet, Dennis J., Hyde, Roderick A., Kare, Jordin T., Leuthardt, Eric C.
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Primary Examiner(s)Lucchesi; Nicholas D
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Assistant Examiner(s)Price; Nathan R
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Application NumberUS11/975,371Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,462 DaysField of Search600/101, 600/128, 600/130, 600139-142, 604/93.01, 604/285, 604/503, 604/516, 604/890.1, 604/891.1US Class Current604/285CPC Class CodesA61B 5/073 Intestinal transmittersA61B 5/42 Detecting, measuring or rec...A61B 5/4839 combined with drug deliveryA61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowi...
