Claims for Patent: 9,433,371

Summary for Patent: 9,433,371

Title:	In-body device with virtual dipole signal amplification
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.
Inventor(s):	Hafezi; Hooman (Redwood City, CA), Costello; Benedict (Piedmont, CA), Robertson; Timothy (Belmont, CA), Holen; Maria Casillas (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee:	Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Redwood City, CA)
Application Number:	14/161,582
Patent Claims:	1. An ingestible event marker, comprising: a first signal transmission electrode defining a plane; a second signal transmission electrode defining a plane; a circuit electrically coupled with the first signal transmission electrode and the second signal transmission electrode; and an insulation element defining a center plane substantially parallel to the plane of the first signal transmission electrode and the plane of the second signal transmission electrode, the first signal transmission electrode located on a first side of the center plane, the second signal transmission electrode located on a second side of the center plane different than the first side of the center plane, the insulation element having a perimeter in the center plane greater than at least one of (1) a perimeter of the first signal transmission electrode in the plane defined by the first signal transmission electrode or (2) a perimeter of the second signal transmission electrode in the plane defined by the second signal transmission electrode, the first signal transmission electrode and the second signal transmission electrode collectively configured to emit a signal to change a current flowing through an electrically conductive liquid located between the first signal transmission electrode and the second signal transmission electrode based upon an instruction from the circuit. 2. The ingestible event marker according to claim 1, wherein the first signal transmission electrode and the second signal transmission electrode are configured to collectively provide a voltage potential to the circuit when the first signal transmission electrode and the second signal transmission electrode are in contact with the electrically conductive liquid. 3. The ingestible event marker according to claim 1, wherein the insulation element is configured to increase a length of a current path in the electrically conductive liquid between the first signal transmission electrode and the second signal transmission electrode relative to a current path between the first signal transmission electrode and the second signal transmission electrode without the insulation element. 4. The ingestible event marker according to claim 3, wherein the increase in the length of the current path results in an increase in voltage induced in the electrically conductive liquid. 5. The ingestible event marker according to claim 3, wherein the increase in the length of the current path results in providing a signal amplification between the first signal transmission electrode and the second signal transmission electrode. 6. An ingestible event marker, comprising: a first signal transmission electrode; a second signal transmission electrode, the second signal transmission electrode positioned a first distance from the first signal transmission electrode; a circuit electrically coupled with the first signal transmission electrode and the second signal transmission electrode; and an insulation element intersecting a path (1) between the first signal transmission electrode and the second signal transmission electrode and (2) having the first distance, the first signal transmission electrode and the second signal transmission electrode collectively configured to emit a signal to change a current flowing through an electrically conductive liquid, via a conductive path having a second distance greater than the first distance, located between the first signal transmission electrode and the second signal transmission electrode, based on an instruction from the circuit, the insulation element configured to define a length of the conductive path in the electrically conductive liquid to be greater than the path having the first distance by preventing the current from flowing via the path having the first distance and permitting the current to flow via the conductive path. 7. The ingestible event marker according to claim 6, wherein preventing the current from flowing via the path having the first distance and permitting the current to flow via the conductive path results in an increase in voltage induced in the electrically conductive liquid relative to permitting the current to flow via the path having the first distance. 8. The ingestible event marker according to claim 6, wherein the first signal transmission electrode and the second signal transmission electrode are configured to collectively provide a voltage potential to the circuit when the first signal transmission electrode and the second signal transmission electrode are in contact with the electrically conductive liquid.