MASTICABLE INGESTIBLE PRODUCT AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM THEREFOR

• US 20180184698A1
• Filed: 08/16/2017
• Published: 07/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Otsuka Holdings Company Limited)
• Granted Patent: US 10,398,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/00 Modifying nutritive qualities of foods; Dietetic products; Preparation or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 33/10 using additives addition of substantially indigestible substances A23L33/21
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 35/00 Food or foodstuffs not provided for in groups A23L5/00 – A23L33/00; Preparation or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 20/10 Coating with edible coatings, e.g. with oils or fats
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 20/19 Coating with non-edible coatings
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0717 the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation

Abstract

An apparatus includes a food product, at least one ingestible device associated with the food product to communicate information and at least one coating material surrounding the at least one ingestible device is disclosed. The ingestible device is associated with an ingestible medication to be ingested in conjunction with the food product. The coating is configured to release the at least one ingestible device upon the occurrence of an event.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a food product;

at least one ingestible device associated with the food product to communicate information, the ingestible device associated with an ingestible medication to be ingested in conjunction with the food product; and

at least one coating material surrounding the at least one ingestible device;

wherein the coating is configured to release the at least one ingestible device upon the occurrence of an event.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the event comprises combining the food product and the at least one ingestible device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one ingestible device is stored within the food product and the event comprises mastication of the food product, wherein the coating is configured to release the ingestible device during mastication of the food product.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a container to contain the food product and the at least one ingestible device separately within the container.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the food product is vacuum packed and the at least one ingestible device is releasably attached to the container and is releasable into the food product upon opening of the container to release the vacuum.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the food product is pressure packed and the at least one ingestible device is releasably attached to the container and is releasable into the food product upon opening of the container to release the pressure.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the coating material is configured to release the at least one ingestible device into the food product.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the coating material is configured to release the at least one ingestible device during mastication.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first coating enveloping the at least one ingestible device; and

a second coating provided over the first coating.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first coating is configured to protect the ingestible device from moisture and the second coating is the food product.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, where in the coating is configured to dissolve at a predetermined pH level.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coating is configured to dissolve by an electrical current.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a container to contain the food product and the at least one ingestible device;

wherein the container further comprises a battery and RFID circuit embedded in the container and the at least one ingestible device further comprises a detection circuit.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the battery is configured to activate the RFID circuit when the container is opened and to transmit an RFID signal;

and wherein the detection circuit is configured to receiver the RFID signal and to activate the at least one ingestible device to generate an electrical current to dissolve the coating.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle coupled to the food product, the handle comprising a battery and a metal electrode.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flexible container comprising at least one wall separating two chambers, wherein a first chamber comprises the food product and a second chamber comprises the at least one ingestible device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the wall is configured to rupture by squeezing the flexible tube.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a thin-film drug delivery mechanism comprising a film that dissolves when placed in the mouth.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one ingestible device is embedded within the film.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coating is configured to dissolve at a predetermined temperature.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an ingestible medication stored within the food product.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ingestible device comprises:

a support structure;

a first material physically associated with the support structure; and

a second material physically associated with the support structure at a location different from the location of the first material, such that the first material and second material are electrically isolated from each other and capable of generating a voltage potential when in contact with a conducting fluid,

wherein the support structure includes a control module for controlling the conductance between the first material and the second material; and

wherein the ingestible device is activated when in contact with the conducting fluid and the contact results in a current signature that includes information encoded therein using the control module.

23. A system, comprising:

a food product;

at least one ingestible device associated with the food product to communicate information, the ingestible device associated with an ingestible medication to be ingested in conjunction with the food product;

at least one coating material surrounding the at least one ingestible device;

wherein the coating is configured to release the at least one ingestible device upon the occurrence of an event; and

an acoustic receiver configured to couple to a user, the acoustic receiver configured to detect acoustic sounds emanating from a body of a user.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the acoustic sounds are generated by masticating the food product.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising a piezoelectric element electrically coupled to ingestible device.