Ingestible Biosensing Capsule with Integrated Thread-Based Sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025040891-A1
Application number	US-202318834347-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 6, 2023
Priority date	Feb 8, 2022
Publication date	Feb 6, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A capsule for passage through a gastrointestinal tract includes an electrochemical sensor disposed thereon and circuitry disposed within it. The circuitry uses the electrochemical sensor to obtain a measurement of a parameter within said gastrointestinal tract.

First claim

Having described the invention and a preferred embodiment thereof, what is claimed as new and secured by Letters Patent is:

1 . An apparatus for passage through a gastrointestinal tract, said apparatus comprising a capsule, an electrochemical sensor disposed on said capsule, and circuitry disposed within said capsule, said circuitry being configured to use said electrochemical sensor to obtain a measurement of a parameter within said gastrointestinal tract.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said electrochemical sensor comprises a conductive thread.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said electrochemical sensor comprises a screen-printed conductor that extends along an outer surface of said capsule.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said electrochemical sensor is functionalized for measurement of acidity or alkalinity of said gastrointestinal tract.

5 . (canceled)

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said measurement is a measurement of glucose levels in said gastrointestinal tract.

7 . (canceled)

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said measurement is a measurement of dopamine levels in said gastrointestinal tract.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said electrochemical sensor is functionalized for measurement of serotonin levels in said gastrointestinal tract.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said electrochemical sensor is functionalized for measurement of amounts of short-chain fatty acids in said gastrointestinal tract.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said electrochemical sensor is functionalized for measurement of dissolved oxygen concentration in said gastrointestinal tract.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said wherein said electrochemical sensor is functionalized for measurement of a neurotransmitter in said gastrointestinal tract.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said circuitry comprises a controller and a shut-down circuit, said shut-down circuit being configured to prevent said circuitry from receiving a signal provided by said electrochemical sensor.

14 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said electrochemical sensor is functionalized to sense plural parameters.

15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a sampling mechanism for drawing liquid into said capsule, wherein said controller is configured to actuate said sampling mechanism in response to information provided by said electrochemical sensor.

16 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an auger and a motor that turns said auger, wherein said capsule comprises an opening through which said auger draws liquid, wherein said controller is configured to start said motor automatically in response to information provided by said electrochemical sensor.

17 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to start sampling automatically in response to a measurement of pH provided by said electrochemical sensor.

18 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to start sampling automatically in response to a measurement of dissolved oxygen concentration provided by said electrochemical sensor.

19 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to start sampling automatically in response to measurements of both dissolved oxygen concentration and pH, said measurements having been provided by said electrochemical sensor.

20 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a reed switch that is configured to change state in response to an applied magnetic field so as to start sampling, thereby enabling said controller to be overridden.

21 . A method comprising providing a capsule for ingestion, said capsule comprising an electrochemical sensor on a surface thereof, said electrochemical sensor being connected to circuitry configured to receive a signal indicative of a parameter and, after said capsule has been ingested, receiving information from said electrochemical sensor concerning an environmental variable within a gastrointestinal tract into which said capsule has been ingested.

22 - 27 . (canceled)

28 . A method comprising using additive manufacturing to manufacture an ingestible capsule, inserting circuitry into said capsule, placing an electrochemical sensor on an outer surface of said capsule, and connecting said circuitry to said electrochemical sensor.

29 - 32 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Tufts College

Inventors

• Sonkusale Sameer
• Del Rio Ruiz Ruben
• Asci Cihan

Classifications

• A61B2562/125

  characterised by the manufacture of electrodes · CPC title

• A61B2010/0061

  Alimentary tract secretions, e.g. biliary, gastric, intestinal, pancreatic secretions · CPC title

• A61B10/0045

  Devices for taking samples of body liquids · CPC title

• A61B5/7285

  for synchronizing or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal · CPC title

• A61B5/1473

  invasive, e.g. introduced into the body by a catheter · CPC title