Details for Patent: 9,681,842

Title:	Pharma-informatics system
Abstract:	An apparatus including a coil configured to receive a signal associated with a composition ingested by a user and a data storage element operatively coupled to the coil, the data storage element configured to store, based on the signal, at least one of time information, date information, or identity information associated with the composition.
Inventor(s):	Zdeblick; Mark (Portola Valley, CA), Thompson; Andrew (Portola Valley, CA), Pikelny; Aleksandr (Los Angeles, CA), Robertson; Timothy (Belmont, CA), Hafezi; Hooman (Redwood City, CA)
Assignee:	Proteus Digital Health, Inc. (Redwood City, CA)
Filing Date:	Jan 13, 2015
Application Number:	14/596,056
Claims:	1. An apparatus, comprising: a coil configured to receive a monophasic electrically conductive signal associated with a composition ingested by a user, wherein the monophasic electrically conductive signal is configured to be transmitted through an electrically conductive medium by a signal generation element of an ingestible component associated with the composition, wherein the signal generation element is configured to generate the monophasic electrically conductive signal by modulating current flow through the electrically conductive medium; and a data storage element operatively coupled to the coil, the data storage element configured to store, based on the monophasic electrically conductive signal, at least one of time information, date information, or identity information associated with the composition. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coil is configured to be positioned outside a body of the user to receive the monophasic electrically conductive signal. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coil is disposed within at least one of a watch, a belt, a necklace or an earring configured to be worn by the user to receive the monophasic electrically conductive signal. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coil is configured to receive the monophasic electrically conductive signal in response to the signal generation element transmitting the monophasic electrically conductive signal through the electrically conductive medium in response to the ingestible component contacting an internal physiological site of the user. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the monophasic electrically conductive signal comprises the identity information associated with the composition. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coil is configured to be positioned within a body of the user to receive the monophasic electrically conductive signal. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a data transmission element configured to send, to an external device, at least one of the time information, the date information, or the identity information associated with the composition. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises an active agent. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the monophasic electrically conductive signal has a frequency between about 1 kHz to about 500 kHz. 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the monophasic electrically conductive signal comprises an address associated with the composition, the identity information including the address, the data storage element configured to store the identity information. 11. An apparatus, comprising: a detector comprising a coil configured to detect a monophasic electrically conductive signal associated with a composition ingested by a user, the detector configured to be at least partially disposed on a skin of the user when detecting the monophasic electrically conductive signal, wherein the monophasic electrically conductive signal is configured to be transmitted through an electrically conductive medium by a signal generation element of an ingestible component associated with the composition, wherein the signal generation element is configured to generate the monophasic electrically conductive signal by modulating current flow through the electrically conductive medium; and a data storage element operatively coupled to the detector, the data storage element configured to store, based on the monophasic electrically conductive signal, at least one of time information, date information, or identity information associated with the composition. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the monophasic electrically conductive signal comprises the identity information associated with the composition. 13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: a data transmission element configured to send, to an external device, at least one of the time information, the date information, or the identity information associated with the composition. 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the detector is disposed within at least one of a watch, a belt, a necklace or an earring configured to be worn by the user to detect the monophasic electrically conductive signal. 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the composition comprises an active agent. 16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the detector is configured to detect the signal in response to the signal generation element transmitting the monophasic electrically conductive signal through the electrically conductive medium in response to the ingestible component contacting an internal physiological site of the user. 17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the monophasic electrically conductive signal has a frequency between about 1 kHz to about 500 kHz. 18. A method, comprising: generating, by a signal generation element of an ingestible component associated with a composition ingested by a user, a monophasic electrically conductive signal by modulating current flow through an electrically conductive medium; transmitting, by the signal generation element, the monophasic electrically conductive signal through the electrically conductive medium; receiving, at a coil, the monophasic electrically conductive signal; and storing, in a data storage element and based on the monophasic electrically conductive signal, at least one of time information, date information, or identity information associated with the composition. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the coil is disposed within at least one of a watch, a belt, a necklace or an earring configured to be worn by the user. 20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: sending, to an external device and in response to the receiving the monophasic electrically conductive signal, at least one of the time information, the date information, or the identity information associated with the composition. 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the monophasic electrically conductive signal comprises the identity information associated with the composition. 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the coil is positioned outside a body of the user. 23. The method of claim 18, wherein the receiving is in response to transmitting the monophasic electrically conductive signal in response to contacting, by the ingestible component, an internal physiological site of the user. 24. The method of claim 18, wherein the monophasic electrically conductive signal has a frequency between about 1 kHz to about 500 kHz. 25. An apparatus, comprising: a coil configured to detect a monophasic electrical current signal within an electrically conductive physiological fluid, wherein the monophasic electrical current signal is configured to be transmitted through the electrically conductive physiological fluid by a signal generation element of an ingestible component associated with a composition ingested by a user, wherein the signal generation element is configured to generate the monophasic electrical current signal by modulating current flow through the physiological fluid; and a data storage element operatively coupled to the coil, the data storage element configured to store, based on the monophasic electrical current signal, at least one physiological datum. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the coil is configured to be positioned outside a user's body containing the electrically conductive physiological fluid to receive the monophasic electrical current signal. 27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the coil is disposed within at least one of a watch, a belt, a necklace or an earring configured to be worn by a user. 28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the monophasic electrical current signal has a frequency between about 1 kHz to about 500 kHz. 29. An apparatus, comprising: a detector comprising a coil configured to detect a monophasic electrically conductive signal associated with a composition ingested by a user, wherein the monophasic electrically conductive signal is configured to be transmitted through an electrically conductive physiological fluid by a signal generation element of an ingestible component associated with the composition, wherein the signal generation element is configured to generate the monophasic electrically conductive signal; and a data storage element operatively coupled to the detector, the data storage element configured to store, based on the monophasic electrically conductive signal, at least one of time information, date information, or identity information associated with the composition. 30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the monophasic electrically conductive signal is a conductive signal having a frequency between about 1 kHz to about 500 kHz. 31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the detector is disposed within at least one of a watch, a belt, a necklace or an earring configured to be worn by the user to detect the monophasic electrically conductive signal. 32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the signal generation element is configured to generate the monophasic electrically conductive signal by modulating a flow of ions between an anode and a cathode associated with the composition ingested by the user. 33. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the signal generation element is configured to generate the monophasic electrically conductive signal by modulating current in a single direction between two disparate materials. 34. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the signal generation element is configured to generate the monophasic electrically conductive signal by modulating a reaction between two disparate materials in the electrically conductive physiological fluid. 35. A system, comprising: an identifier comprising: a partial power source comprising a first material and a second material, the partial power source configured to: generate, upon contact with an electrically conductive medium, a potential difference between the first material and the second material to provide power to a control device; and generate, using the first material and the second material, a current flow within the electrically conductive medium, the current flow encoding information based on a variable conductance between the first material and the second material; and a membrane to define a path for the current flow; and a receiver configured to communicate with the identifier, the receiver comprising a first coil configured to receive the information, wherein the information is a monophasic electrically conductive signal associated with a composition ingested by a user. 36. The system of claim 35, wherein the identifier further comprises a second coil to receive an interrogation signal to apprise a transmitter of the interrogation signal of presence and identity of the identifier. 37. The system of claim 35, wherein the identifier further comprises: the control device configured to produce the variable conductance between the first material and the second material when the partial power source is in contact with the electrically conductive medium; and a power receiver configured to receive broadcast power and transduce the broadcast power into a form suitable for driving the control device. 38. The system of claim 37, wherein the power receiver is a second coil. 39. The system of claim 37, wherein the receiver further comprises a data storage element operatively coupled to the first coil, the data storage element configured to store, based on the information, at least one of time information, date information, or identity information associated with the composition. 40. A system, comprising: an identifier comprising: a partial battery comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the partial battery configured to: generate, upon contact with an electrically conductive physiological fluid, a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode to provide power to a signal generation element; and generate, using the first electrode and the second electrode, a current within the electrically conductive physiological fluid when in contact with the electrically conductive physiological fluid to conductively transmit a monophasic electrically conductive signal; and a first coil to receive an interrogation signal to apprise a transmitter of the interrogation signal of presence and identity of the identifier; and a receiver configured to communicate with the identifier, the receiver comprising a second coil configured to receive the monophasic electrically conductive signal, wherein the signal is associated with a composition ingested by a user. 41. The system of claim 40, wherein the identifier further comprises a membrane to define a path for the current. 42. The system of claim 40, wherein the identifier further comprises a power receiver configured to receive broadcast power and transduce the broadcast power into a form suitable for driving the signal generation element. 43. The system of claim 42, wherein the power receiver is the first coil. 44. The system of claim 40, wherein the receiver further comprises a data storage element operatively coupled to the first coil, the data storage element configured to store, based on the monophasic electrically conductive signal, at least one of time information, date information, or identity information associated with the composition. 45. A system comprising: an identifier comprising: a partial battery comprising a first material and a second material, the partial battery configured to: generate, upon contact of the first material and the second material with an electrically conductive physiological fluid, a potential difference between the first material and the second material using the electrically conductive physiological fluid as an electrolyte of the partial battery to provide power to a control device; and modulate a current flow within the physiological fluid being used as the electrolyte and based on a variable conductance within the control device and between the first material and the second material to generate a monophasic electrically conductive signal; and a membrane to define a path for the current flow; and a receiver configured to communicate with the identifier, the receiver comprising a first coil configured to receive the current flow, wherein the current flow is associated with a composition ingested by a user. 46. The system of claim 45, wherein the identifier further comprises a second coil to receive an interrogation signal to apprise a transmitter of the interrogation signal of presence and identity of the identifier. 47. The system of claim 45, wherein the identifier further comprises a power receiver configured to receive broadcast power and transduce the broadcast power into a form suitable for driving the control device. 48. The system of claim 47, wherein the power receiver is a second coil. 49. The system of claim 45, wherein the receiver further comprises a data storage element operatively coupled to the first coil, the data storage element configured to store, based on the monophasic electrically conductive signal, at least one of time information, date information, or identity information associated with the composition. 50. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a second coil is configured to transmit an activation signal to activate the signal generation element of the ingestible component.