Communication system incorporated in an ingestible product
Inventors
Hafezi, Hooman • O'Reilly, David • Johnson, Patricia • Hatamkhany, Zahedeh • Robertson, Timothy
Assignees
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc • Proteus Digital Health Inc
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Publication Number
US-8836513-B2
Publication Date
2014-09-16
Expiration Date
Abstract
The system of the present invention includes a conductive element, an electronic component, and a partial power source in the form of dissimilar materials. Upon contact with a conducting fluid, a voltage potential is created and the power source is completed, which activates the system. The electronic component controls the conductance between the dissimilar materials to produce a unique current signature. The system can also be associated with food and communicate data about ingestion of food material to a receiver.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an ingestible/digestible communication system that produces a detectable encoded current signature. It includes an ingestible/digestible material having a plurality of communication devices that, when contacted by a conducting fluid, generate a voltage potential difference that provides power to activate the communication devices. Each communication device includes a first material and a second material that are electrically isolated and selected to form the voltage potential difference when in contact with the conducting fluid.
The support structure includes a control module electrically coupled to the first material and the second material. The control module is configured to control conductance between the first material and the second material to modulate a current flow extending through the conducting fluid between the first material and the second material. By modulating the conductance, the communication device generates a detectable encoded current signature that is detectable by a receiver/transceiver.
Activation of different communication devices is coordinated with digestive context using coatings configured for dissolution or mechanical breaking. At least one first communication device is located within a first coating configured to dissolve in a user's stomach to thereby activate the at least one first communication device in the user's stomach and to withstand mastication pressure to prevent activation as the user chews. At least one second communication device is coated with a second coating configured to break as the user chews to thereby activate the at least one second communication device in the user's mouth.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 covers a signal producing food product with digestible material and multiple communication devices that use electrically isolated dissimilar materials on a support structure to generate and encode an ionic/current signature in a conductive fluid, with coating-based activation in the user's stomach and mouth. Dependent claim members further add optional current-path modification, marker species detection, body-associated detection and decoding, saliva activation, and sensor reporting including pH measurement to a control module.
Digestible material with multiple communication devices
A signal producing food product comprising a digestible material and a plurality of communication devices associated with the digestible material.
Electrically isolated first and second materials forming a voltage potential difference
Each communication device comprises a first material physically associated with a support structure and a second material physically associated with the support structure at a location different from the first material, wherein the first material and the second material are electrically isolated from each other and are selected such that they form a voltage potential difference when in contact with a conductive fluid to provide power to activate the communication device.
Control module modulating conductance to generate a detectable encoded current signature
The support structure includes a control module electrically coupled to the first material and the second material and configured to control conductance between the first material and the second material to modulate a current flow extending through the conductive fluid between the first material and the second material and thereby generate a detectable encoded current signature.
Stomach-coating activation that withstands mastication pressure
At least one first communication device of the plurality of communication devices is located within a first coating wherein the first coating is configured to dissolve in a user's stomach to thereby activate the at least one first communication device in the user's stomach and withstand mastication pressure to prevent the activation of the at least one first communication device as the user chews the signal producing food product.
Mouth-coating activation that breaks during chewing
At least one second communication device of the plurality of communication devices is coated with a second coating configured to break as the user chews the signal producing food product to thereby activate the at least one second communication device in the user's mouth.
Non-conductive membrane to facilitate extension of current flow
The signal producing food product wherein at least one communication device includes a non-conductive membrane positioned to facilitate extension of current flow through a conductive fluid between first and second materials.
Marker species detection
The signal producing food product includes a marker species, and at least one communication device is configured to detect or measure that marker species.
Body-associated detector that receives and decodes encoded information
A signal producing food product where multiple communication devices transmit information as a detectable encoded current signature to a body-associated detector, which receives and decodes the encoded information.
Saliva-triggered activation for at least one second communication device
The signal producing food product includes at least one second communication device that is activated upon contact with the user’s saliva.
pH sensing sensor electrically connected to a communication device
A signal producing food product further includes a sensor electrically connected to one communication device that detects the pH level of the environment around the device and sends a representative signal to the control module.
Overall, the claim set centers on a digestible signal producing food product using electrically isolated first and second materials to form a voltage potential difference in a conductive fluid, with a control module modulating conductance to generate a detectable encoded current signature. The claim set additionally covers context-dependent activation via coatings for stomach versus mouth, and dependent members add non-conductive current-path features, marker species detection, body-associated detection and decoding, saliva-triggered activation, and pH sensing with sensor-to-control-module signaling.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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