Ingestible device

An ingestible device for delivering a substance to a chosen or identifiable location in the alimentary canal of a human or animal, comprising

• an openable reservoir, for the substance, that is sealable against leakage of the substance;
• an actuator mechanism for opening the reservoir;
• an energy source, operatively connected for powering the actuator mechanism;
• a releasable latch for controllably switching the application of power to the actuator from the energy source;
• and
• a receiver of electromagnetic radiation, for operating the latch when the receiver detects radiation within a predetermined characteristic range, the device including a ferrite core having coiled therearound a wire for coupling received electromagnetic radiation to the releasable latch, characterised in that the device comprises an elongate, hollow housing, the ferrite core being elongate with its longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the hollow housing.

A method of operating an ingestible device for delivering a substance to a chosen or identifiable location in the alimentary canal of a human or animal, causing a mammal to ingest an ingestible device comprising

• an openable reservoir, for the substance, that is sealable against leakage of the substance;
• an actuator mechanism for opening the reservoir;
• an energy source, operatively connected for powering the actuator mechanism;
• a releasable latch for controllably switching the application of power to the actuator from the energy source;
• and
• a receiver of electromagnetic radiation, for operating the latch when the receiver detects radiation within a predetermined characteristic range;
• the receiver being capable of extracting energy from an oscillating magnetic field and the method comprising:
• at a chosen time, generating at least one axial, oscillating magnetic field and directing the field at the abdomen of the mammal whereby the receiver intercepts the said field and triggers the latch to cause opening of the reservoir;
• and
• simultaneously inhibiting the generation of long wave radio waves and short wave electrostatic radiation in the vicinity of the said abdomen.

An ingestible device for delivering a substance to a chosen or identifiable location in the alimentary canal of a human or animal, comprising

• an openable reservoir, for the substance, that is sealable against leakage of the substance;
• an actuator mechanism for opening the reservoir;
• an energy source, operatively connected for powering the actuator mechanism;
• a releasable latch for controllably switching the application of power to the actuator mechanism from the energy source;
• a receiver of electromagnetic radiation, for operating the latch when the receiver detects radiation within a predetermined characteristic range;
• and
• a transmitter of electromagnetic radiation for transmitting a signal indicative of operation of the device,
• the said reservoir including an exit aperture, for the substance, closed by a closure member that is sealingly retained relative to the aperture, the exit aperture being openable on operation of the actuator mechanism;
• wherein:
• (i) the latch is thermally actuated;
• (ii) the energy source is held in a potential energy state until the latch operates;
• and
• (iii) the device includes a heater for heating the latch whereby, on the receiver detecting the said radiation the receiver operates to power the heater and thereby release the latch, permitting expulsion of the substance from the reservoir;
• characterised in that:
• the device also includes a restraint operable to limit operation of the actuator mechanism;
• and in that, on release of the latch, the restraint operates a switch to activate the transmitter for transmission of a said signal.

An ingestible device for delivering a substance to a chosen or identifiable location in the alimentary canal of a human or animal, comprising

• an openable reservoir, for the substance, that is sealable against leakage of the substance;
• an actuator mechanism for opening the reservoir;
• an energy source, operatively connected for powering the actuator mechanism;
• a releasable latch for controllably switching the application of power to the actuator from the energy source;
• and
• a receiver of electromagnetic radiation, for operating the latch when the receiver detects radiation within a predetermined characteristic range;
• the energy source including a compressed spring capable of acting on the actuator mechanism the expansion of which is initiatable by the latch and the work of the expansion of which causes operation of the actuator mechanism, characterised in that the spring, in its uncompressed state, has a minimum helical angle of 15°.

An ingestible device for delivering a substance to a chosen or identifiable location in the alimentary canal of a human or animal, comprising

• an openable reservoir, for the substance, that is sealable against leakage of the substance;
• an actuator mechanism for opening the reservoir;
• an energy source, operatively connected for powering the actuator mechanism;
• a releasable latch for controllably switching the application of power to the actuator from the energy source;
• and
• a receiver of electromagnetic radiation, for operating the latch when the receiver detects radiation within a predetermined characteristic range;
• the energy source including a compressed spring capable of acting on the actuator mechanism the expansion of which is initiatable by the latch and the work of the expansion of which causes operation of the actuator mechanism, characterised in that the spring includes a pair of wires each coiled in loops to define a pair of hollow cylinder-like shapes, a first said cylinder-like shape being of a greater internal diameter than the outer diameter of the second said cylinder-like shape and the first cylinder-like shape encircling the second cylinder.

An ingestible device for delivering a substance to a chosen or identifiable location in the alimentary canal of a human or animal, comprising

• an openable reservoir, for the substance, that is sealable against leakage of the substance;
• an actuator mechanism for opening the reservoir;
• an energy source, operatively connected for powering the actuator mechanism;
• a releasable latch for controllably switching the application of power to the actuator from the energy source;
• and
• a receiver of electromagnetic radiation, for operating the latch when the receiver detects radiation within a predetermined characteristic range;
• the energy source including a compressed spring the expansion of which is initiatable by the latch and the work of the expansion of which causes operation of the actuator mechanism, characterised in that the spring comprises a stack of resiliently deformable discs, the periphery of each disc having formed therein a series of waves, the waves of respective said discs connecting such that the peak of each wave contacts the trough of a wave of an adjacent said disc.

An ingestible device for delivering a substance to a chosen or identifiable location in the alimentary canal of a human or animal, comprising:

• an openable reservoir, for the substance, that is sealable against leakage of the substance;
• an actuator mechanism for opening the reservoir;
• an energy source, operatively connected for powering the actuator mechanism;
• a releasable latch for controllably switching the application of power to the actuator from the energy source;
• a receiver of electromagnetic radiation, for operating the latch when the receiver detects radiation within a predetermined characteristic range;
• and
• a transmitter of electromagnetic radiation for transmitting a signal indicative of operation of the device;
• the said reservoir including an exit aperture, for the substance, closed by a closure member that is sealingly retained relative to the aperture, the exit aperture being openable on operation of the actuator mechanism;
• wherein
• (i) the latch is thermally actuated;
• (ii) the energy source is held in a potential energy state by the latch until the latch operates;
• and
• (iii) the device includes a heater for heating the latch whereby, on the receiver-detecting the said radiation the receiver operates to power the heater and thereby release the latch, permitting expulsion of the substance from the reservoir;
• characterised in that the device also includes
• (a) a restraint operable to limit operation of the actuator mechanism;
• (b) a switch for switchably operating the transmitter;
• and
• (c) a switch member operatively interconnecting the actuator mechanism and the switch such that operation of the actuator mechanism causes the switch member to operate the said switch.

A method of operating an ingestible device for delivering a substance to a chosen or identifiable location in the alimentary canal of a human or animal, the device including an openable reservoir, for the substance, that is sealable against leakage of the substance;

• an actuator mechanism for opening the reservoir;
• an energy source that is operatively connected for powering the actuator mechanism;
• a releasable latch for controllably switching the application of power to the actuator mechanism from the, energy source;
• a receiver of electromagnetic radiation, for operating the latch when the receiver detects radiation within a predetermined characteristic range;
• and a transmitter of electromagnetic radiation for transmitting a signal indicative of operation of the device, the said reservoir including an exit aperture, for the substance, that is initially closed by a closure member that is sealingly retained relative to the aperture, the exit aperture being openable on operation of the actuator mechanism, the method comprising the steps of charging the reservoir with a said substance;
• setting the latch;
• causing ingestion of the device by a human or animal;
• and causing the receiver to detect electromagnetic radiation in the predetermined characteristic range, thereby causing expulsion of the substance from the reservoir via the exit aperture, the method including the steps of causing expansion from an initial, compressed state a helical spring defining the said energy source and having, in its uncompressed state, a minimum helical angle of 15°.

A method of operating an ingestible device for delivering a substance to a chosen or identifiable location in the alimentary canal of a human or animal, the device including an openable reservoir, for the substance, that is sealable against leakage of the substance;

• an actuator mechanism for opening the reservoir;
• an energy source that is operatively connected for powering the actuator mechanism;
• a releasable latch for controllably switching the application of power to the actuator mechanism from the energy source;
• a receiver of electromagnetic radiation, for operating the latch when the receiver detects radiation within a predetermined characteristic range;
• and a transmitter of electromagnetic radiation for transmitting a signal indicative of operation of the device, the said reservoir including an exit aperture, for the substance, that is initially closed by a closure member that is sealingly retained relative to the aperture, the exit aperture being openable on operation of the actuator mechanism, the method comprising the steps of charging the reservoir with a said substance;
• setting the latch;
• causing ingestion of the device by a human or animal;
• and causing the receiver to detect electromagnetic radiation in the predetermined characteristic range, thereby causing expulsion of the substance from the reservoir via the exit aperture, the method including the steps of causing expansion from an initial, compressed state a spring, that defines the said energy source, including a pair of wires each coiled in loops to define a pair of cylinder-like shapes, a first said cylinder-like shape being of a greater internal diameter than the outer diameter of the second said cylinder-like shape and the first cylinder-like shape encircling the second cylinder.

A method of operating an ingestible device for delivering a substance to a chosen or identifiable location in the alimentary canal of a human or animal, the device including an openable reservoir, for the substance, that is sealable against leakage of the substance;

• an actuator mechanism for opening the reservoir;
• an energy source that is operatively connected for powering the actuator mechanism;
• a releasable latch for controllably switching the application of power to the actuator mechanism from the energy source;
• a receiver of electromagnetic radiation, for operating the latch when the receiver detects radiation within a predetermined characteristic range;
• and a transmitter of electromagnetic radiation for transmitting a signal indicative of operation of the device, the said reservoir including an exit aperture, for the substance, that is initially closed by a closure member that is sealingly retained relative to the aperture, the exit aperture being openable on operation of the actuator mechanism, the method comprising the steps of charging the reservoir with a said substance;
• setting the latch;
• causing ingestion of the device by a human or animal;
• and causing the receiver to detect electromagnetic radiation in the predetermined characteristic range, thereby causing expulsion of the substance from the reservoir via the exit aperture, the method including the steps of causing expansion from an initial, compressed state a spring, that defines the said energy source, including a stack of resiliently deformable discs, the periphery of each disc having formed therein a series of waves, the waves of respective said discs connecting such that the peak of each wave contacts the trough of a wave of an adjacent said disc.