Details for Patent: 8,545,436

Title:	Body-associated receiver and method
Abstract:	Receivers, which may be external or implantable, are provided. Aspects of receivers of the invention include the presence of one or more of: a high power-low power module; an intermediary module; a power supply module configured to activate and deactivate one or more power supplies to a high power processing block; a serial peripheral interface bus connecting master and slave blocks; and a multi-purpose connector. Receivers of the invention may be configured to receive a conductively transmitted signal. Also provided are systems that include the receivers, as well as methods of using the same. Additionally systems and methods are disclosed for using a receiver for coordinating with dosage delivery systems.
Inventor(s):	Robertson; Timothy (Belmont, CA), Omidvar; Fataneh (Danville, CA), Behzadi; Yashar (San Francisco, CA), Arne; Lawrence (Redwood City, CA), Rowberry; Kenneth (San Jose, CA), Hutchison; James (Palo Alto, CA), Leichner; Robert (Menlo Park, CA), Savage; George (Portola Valley, CA), Thompson; Andrew (Portola Valley, CA), Zdeblick; Mark (Portola Valley, CA), Kreidler; Marc (Sunnyvale, CA), Hafezi; Hooman (Redwood City, CA), Duck; Robert (San Francisco, CA)
Assignee:	Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Redwood City, CA)
Filing Date:	Dec 23, 2011
Application Number:	13/336,956
Claims:	1. A receiver for detection of physiological information associated with a subject, the receiver comprising: a power source secured within a housing; a power management module electrically coupled to the power source and secured within the housing such that the power management module controls the power source; a processing unit electrically coupled to the power management module and secured within the housing, wherein the processing unit is configured to detect a first signal having a first frequency and corresponding to a first current flow produced by a device internal to the subject and a second signal having a second frequency and corresponding to a second current flow associated with the subject's physiology, wherein the first frequency is greater than the second frequency; and a communication module electrically coupled to the processing unit and secured within the housing, wherein the communication module allows for communication between the receiver and a device external to the subject such that the receiver is able to provide the physiological information to the external device and to provide control information to another external device based on the physiological information; wherein the power management module comprises a beacon switching module that generates a signal that allows the power management module to transition an operational state of the receiver depending on the first signal; and wherein the power management module comprises: a high power operation module that controls high power output from the power supply to the processing unit when the processing unit is in an active state; an intermediate power operation module that controls intermediate power output from the power supply to the processing unit while the processing unit is in an active nonoperation state; and a lower power operation module that controls low power output from the power supply and monitors the subject's skin for the high frequency current flow while the processing unit is in an inactive state. 2. The receiver of claim 1, further comprising a delivery apparatus secured within the housing, wherein the delivery apparatus includes: a containment unit that includes: a chamber to contain a fluid; a plunger secured to the chamber; and a microneedle secured to the chamber and capable of piercing the subject's skin; and a control unit, which is electrically coupled to the processing unit, that controls the plunger based on dosage control information provided by the processing unit, wherein the control unit moves the plunger to expel the fluid through the microneedle. 3. The receiver of claim 1, wherein the power management module includes a beacon switching module for sending a signal to the intermediate power operation unit to allow the processing unit to switch to the active non-operation state such that the processing unit is capable of determining if information in the form of high frequency current flow is present and wherein the power management module supplies high power to the processing unit if the processing unit detects information in the form of high frequency current flow. 4. A receiver for detection of physiological information associated with a subject, the receiver comprising: a power source secured within a housing; a power management module electrically coupled to the power source and secured within the housing; a processing unit electrically coupled to the power management module and secured within the housing, wherein the processing unit detects and gathers information in the form of high frequency current flow produced by a device internal to the subject and low frequency current flow associated with the subject's physiology; and a communication module electrically coupled to the processing unit and secured within the housing, wherein the communication module allows for communication between the receiver and a device external to the subject such that the receiver is able to provide the physiological information to the external device and to provide control information to another external device; wherein the power management module comprises: a high power operation unit that controls high power output from the power supply to the processing unit when the processing unit is in an active state; an intermediate power operation unit that controls intermediate power output from the power supply to the processing unit while the processing unit is in an active nonoperation state; and a lower power operation unit that controls low power output from the power supply and monitors the subject's skin for the high frequency current flow while the processing unit is in an inactive state. 5. The receiver of claim 4, further comprising a delivery apparatus secured within the housing, wherein the delivery apparatus includes: a containment unit that includes: a chamber to contain a fluid; a plunger secured to the chamber; and a microneedle secured to the chamber and capable of piercing the subject's skin; and a control unit, which is electrically coupled to the processing unit, that controls the plunger based on dosage control information provided by the processing unit, wherein the control unit moves the plunger to expel the fluid through the microneedle. 6. The receiver of claim 4, wherein the power management module includes a beacon switching module for sending a signal to the intermediate power operation unit to allow the processing unit to switch to the active non-operation state such that the processing unit is capable of determining if information in the form of high frequency current flow is present and wherein the power management module supplies high power to the processing unit if the processing unit detects information in the form of high frequency current flow. 7. A receiver for detection of physiological information associated with a subject, the receiver comprising: a power source secured within a housing; a power management module electrically coupled to the power source and secured within the housing; a processing unit electrically coupled to the power management module and secured within the housing, wherein the processing unit detects and gathers information in the form of high frequency current flow produced by a device internal to the subject and low frequency current flow associated with the subject's physiology; and a communication module electrically coupled to the processing unit and secured within the housing, wherein the communication module allows for communication between the receiver and a device external to the subject such that the receiver is able to provide the physiological information to the external device; wherein the power management module comprises: a high power operation unit that controls high power output from the power supply to the processing unit when the processing unit is in an active state; an intermediate power operation unit that controls intermediate power output from the power supply to the processing unit while the processing unit is in an active nonoperation state; and a lower power operation unit that controls low power output from the power supply and monitors the subject's skin for the high frequency current flow while the processing unit is in an inactive state. 8. The receiver of claim 7, further comprising a delivery apparatus secured within the housing, wherein the delivery apparatus includes: a containment unit that includes: a chamber to contain a fluid; a plunger secured to the chamber; and a microneedle secured to the chamber and capable of piercing the subject's skin; and a control unit, which is electrically coupled to the processing unit, that controls the plunger based on dosage control information provided by the processing unit, wherein the control unit moves the plunger to expel the fluid through the microneedle. 9. The receiver of claim 7, wherein the power management module includes a beacon switching module for sending a signal to the intermediate power operation unit to allow the processing unit to switch to the active non-operation state such that the processing unit is capable of determining if information in the form of high frequency current flow is present and wherein the power management module supplies high power to the processing unit if the processing unit detects information in the form of high frequency current flow.