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US 7,554,452 B2Granted
Ingestible tracking and locating device
OwnerCary Coleinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to an electronic tracking and locating system. More specifically, it discloses an electronic tracking and locating system, having a biocompatible housing such that it may be located within the body, either temporarily or for a longer duration.
Claims21
A method for locating a human or animal comprising the steps of:
- providing an activating signal from a transmitter to activate an electronic component located within the digestive tract of the human or animal, where the electronic component is configured with a swellable polymer matrix that swells upon contact with fluids to form expansion members that prevents passage of the electronic component through the digestive tract to temporarily prevent passage of the electronic component through the digestive tract;
- activating the electronic component with the activating signal to generate a unique signal;
- receiving the unique signal;
- transmitting the unique signal through to an end-user remotely located from the human or animal.
1 more element
A method for locating a human or animal comprising the steps of:
- placing a bicompatible housing inside the stomach and/or digestive tract comprising a receiver calibrated to receive at least one external coded signal and a transmitter to transmit a coded electromagnetic signal, and a weakening material attached to the biocompatible housing where the weakening material comprises with a swellable polymer matrix that swells upon contact with fluids to form an expansion member that prevents passage of the electronic component through the digestive tract, where the weakening material retains the device within the body until the weakening material weakens, thereby allowing the device to pass from the body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.