Details for Patent: 9,161,707

Title:	Communication system incorporated in an ingestible product
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.
Inventor(s):	Hafezi; Hooman (Redwood City, CA), O'Reilly; David (Palo Alto, CA), Johnson; Patricia (San Carlos, CA), Hatamkhany; Zahedeh (San Mateo, CA), Robertson; Timothy (Belmont, CA)
Assignee:	Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Redwood City, CA)
Filing Date:	Sep 12, 2014
Application Number:	14/485,276
Claims:	1. A signal producing product comprising: a first coating material; a second coating material; and a communication device at least partially surrounded by the first coating material, wherein the second coating material at least partially surrounds the communication device and the first coating material, wherein the communication device comprises: a first material; a second material; and a circuit electrically coupled to the first material and the second material and configured to control electrical conductance between the first material and the second material to generate a remotely detectable signal therebetween, wherein the circuit is configured to determine a local impedance and to postpone activation of the communication device, to allow time for the first coating material to dissolve, while the local impedance is at a level such that the detectable signal does not have sufficient signal strength for detection; wherein the first material and the second material are configured to generate a voltage potential to provide power to the communication device when the first material and the second material are in contact with an electrically conductive fluid; and wherein the second coating material is configured to withstand mastication pressure to prevent activation of the communication device as a user chews the signal producing product; and wherein the first coating material is configured to dissolve in the user's stomach. 2. The signal producing product of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first coating material or the second coating material comprises a chemically active coating, and wherein the chemically active coating comprises a marker species. 3. The signal producing product of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to communicate information to a detector associated with the user's body. 4. The signal producing product of claim 3, wherein the detector receives and decodes the information communicated by the communication device. 5. The signal producing product of claim 1, wherein the first coating material is configured to dissolve when in contact with a physiological fluid. 6. The signal producing product of claim 1, wherein the communication device is configured to communicate with a receiver secured to the user's skin. 7. The signal producing product of claim 1, further comprising a sensor in communication with and electrically connected to the communication device. 8. The signal producing product of claim 7, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a pH level of an environment surrounding the communication device and to send a signal to the circuit. 9. The signal producing product of claim 8, wherein the circuit varies a rate of transfer of mass that produces an ionic transfer between the first material and the second material to encode information relevant to the pH level in the ionic transfer. 10. The signal producing product of claim 1, wherein the communication device further comprises a support structure, wherein the first material is physically associated with the support structure and the second material is physically associated with the support structure at a location different from the first material. 11. The signal producing product of claim 10, wherein the support structure comprises the circuit. 12. The signal producing product of claim 11, wherein the communication device further comprises a non-conductive membrane secured to the support structure, wherein the non-conductive membrane is positioned relative to the first material and the second material is configured to facilitate extension of an electrical current path through the electrically conductive fluid between the first material and second material. 13. The signal producing product of claim 1, wherein the communication device is a first communication device, and wherein the signal producing product further comprises a second communication device. 14. The signal producing product of claim 1, further comprising a digestible material. 15. The signal producing product of claim 14, wherein the digestible material comprises a food material. 16. The signal producing product of claim 15, wherein the communication device is configured to produce information that indicates that the food material has been consumed upon activation of the communication device. 17. The signal producing product of claim 15, further comprising a pharmaceutical product in an ingestible form and associated with the communication device and the food material, such that ingestion of the signal producing product by the user delivers the pharmaceutical product to the user. 18. The signal producing product of claim 14, wherein the first coating material is positioned between the digestible material and the communication device to isolate the digestible material from the communication device. 19. The signal producing product of claim 14, wherein the digestible material comprises a liquid. 20. A signal producing product comprising: a digestible material; a coating material; and a communication device associated with the digestible material and at least partially surrounded by the coating material, wherein the communication device comprises: a first material; a second material; a circuit electrically coupled to the first material and the second material and configured to control electrical conductance between the first material and the second material to generate a remotely detectable signal therebetween; wherein the first material and the second material are configured to generate a voltage potential to provide power to the communication device when the first material and the second material are in contact with an electrically conductive fluid; and wherein the coating material is configured to withstand mastication pressure to prevent activation of the communication device as a user chews the signal producing product; and wherein the coating material is configured to dissolve in the user's stomach; and wherein the communication device is a first communication device and the coating material is a first coating material, wherein the signal producing product further comprises a second communication device; and wherein the second communication device is at least partially surrounded by a second coating, wherein the second coating is configured to break as the user chews the signal producing product. 21. A signal producing product comprising: a digestible material; a coating material; and a communication device associated with the digestible material and at least partially surrounded by the coating material, wherein the communication device comprises: a first material; a second material; a circuit electrically coupled to the first material and the second material and configured to control electrical conductance between the first material and the second material to generate a remotely detectable signal therebetween; wherein the first material and the second material are configured to generate a voltage potential to provide power to the communication device when the first material and the second material are in contact with an electrically conductive fluid; and wherein the coating material is configured to withstand mastication pressure to prevent activation of the communication device as a user chews the signal producing product; and wherein the coating material is configured to dissolve in the user's stomach; and wherein the communication device is a first communication device and the coating material is a first coating material, wherein the signal producing product further comprises a second communication device; and wherein the second communication device is configured to activate upon contact with the user's saliva.