In-body device with virtual dipole signal amplification

• US 8,961,412 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Inventors: Hafezi, Hooman, Costello, Benedict James, Robertson, Timothy L., Casillas Holen, Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Archer, Marie
• Application Number:
  US12/238,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,343 Days
• Field of Search: 977700-963, 361271-330, 361500-541, 361/437, 600300-301, 128920-925
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/02 Details of sensors specially adapted for in-vivo measurements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/162 Capsule shaped sensor housings, e.g. for swallowing or implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/182 Electrical shielding, e.g. using a Faraday cage
• 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 5/0028 Body tissue as transmission medium, i.e. transmission systems where the medium is the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/028 by thermo-dilution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/273 Adaptation for carrying or wearing by persons or animals
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/16 with feed intermediate between the extremities of the antenna, e.g. centre-fed dipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/902 Biological signal amplifier

Abstract

Virtual dipole signal amplification for in-body devices, such as implantable and ingestible devices, is provided. Aspects of the in-body deployable antennas of the invention include antennas configured to go from a first configuration to a second configuration following placement in a living body, e.g., via ingestion or implantation. Embodiments of the in-body devices are configured to emit a detectable signal upon contact with a target physiological site. Also provided are methods of making and using the devices of the invention.

Claims

1. An ingestible event marker comprising:

an identifier configured to emit a signal when it contacts a target site, wherein the identifier comprises;

a first signal transmission element; and

a second signal transmission element arranged in an opposing spaced relationship to the first signal transmission element, the first and second opposing signal transmission elements are configured to produce an actual dipole having a predefined dipole length; and

an electrically insulative signal amplification element disposed between the first and second signal transmission elements configured to produce a virtual dipole having a length defined by the signal amplification element, wherein the virtual dipole length is larger than the actual dipole length.

2. The ingestible event marker according to claim 1, wherein the identifier is activated upon contact with a target site fluid present at a target site.

3. The ingestible event marker according to claim 2, wherein the virtual dipole length is two or more times larger than the first dipole length.

4. The ingestible event marker according to claim 3, wherein the first and second signal transmission elements comprise first and second electrodes positioned on opposing sides of a solid support, wherein the solid support is positioned between the first and second signal transmission elements.

5. The ingestible event marker according to claim 4, wherein the solid support comprises an integrated circuit.

6. The ingestible event marker according to claim 4, wherein the first and second opposing electrodes are planar electrodes.

7. The ingestible event marker according to claim 1, wherein the signal amplification element is a planar structure having an outer edge that extends beyond the edge of the first and second signal transmission elements.

8. The ingestible event marker according to claim 1, wherein the signal amplification element is a two-dimensional signal amplification element.

9. The ingestible event marker according to claim 1, further comprising a signal generation element coupled to the first and second signal transmission elements and an active agent stably associated with the signal generation element.

10. The ingestible event marker according to claim 1, further comprising a third signal transmission element positioned in an opposing spaced relationship to at least one of the first and second signal transmission elements and wherein the ingestible event marker comprises a second actual dipole and a third actual dipole.

11. The ingestible event marker according to claim 1, wherein the actual dipole is defined between the first and second opposing signal transmission elements.

12. The ingestible event marker according to claim 1, wherein the virtual dipole is defined by conducting an electrical current between the first signal transmission element and the second signal transmission element about the electrically insulative signal amplification element.

13. A system comprising:

(a) an ingestible event marker comprising an identifier including a signal generation element configured to emit a signal when it contacts a target site, wherein the identifier comprises;

a first signal transmission element; and

a second signal transmission element arranged in an opposing spaced relationship to the first signal transmission element, the first and second opposing signal transmission elements configured to produce an actual dipole having a predefined dipole length; and

an electrically insulative signal amplification element disposed between the first and second signal transmission elements configured to produce a virtual dipole having a length defined by the signal amplification element, wherein the virtual dipole length is larger than the actual dipole length; and

(b) a receiver configured to detect a signal produced by the signal generation element.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the receiver is an in vivo receiver.

15. The system according claim 13, wherein the receiver is an external receiver.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the actual dipole is defined between the first and second opposing signal transmission elements.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein the virtual dipole is defined by conducting an electrical current between the first signal transmission element and the second signal transmission element about the electrically insulative signal amplification element.