Pharma-informatics system
View Patent ↗Compositions, systems and methods that allow for the detection of the actual physical delivery of a pharmaceutical agent to a body are provided. Embodiments of the compositions include an identifier and an active agent. The invention finds use in a variety of different applications, including but not limited to, monitoring of therapeutic regimen compliance, tracking the history of pharmaceutical agents, etc.
1. A composition comprising:
an active agent;
an identifier that transmits a conductive signal, wherein the conductive signal transmitted by the identifier is substantially confined to a body comprising a bodily fluid;
a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and
a power source that is activated upon contact with the bodily fluid, wherein said power source comprises:
first and second consumable electrodes formed of dissimilar materials, wherein the first and second consumable electrodes are configured to both generate a voltage to energize the identifier and transmit the conductive signal to the body when the first and second electrodes contact the bodily fluid; and
wherein said composition is disrupted upon administration to a subject.
2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive signal is a generic signal.
3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive signal is a unique conductive signal.
4. The composition according to claim 3 , wherein the unique conductive signal is a coded signal.
5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive signal is a constant signal.
6. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition generates an intermittent conductive signal.
7. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive signal is a modulated signal.
8. The composition according to claim 7 , wherein the modulated signal is modulated in at least one of amplitude, frequency and phase.
9. The composition according to claim 8 , wherein the conductive signal is a frequency modulated signal.
10. The composition according to claim 8 , wherein the conductive signal is an amplitude modulated signal.
11. The composition according to claim 8 , wherein the conductive signal is a phase modulated signal.
12. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises an activator and a conductive signal generation element, wherein the activator activates the signal generation element to emit the conductive signal.
13. The composition according to claim 12 , wherein the activator comprises the power source that is turned on upon contact with the bodily fluid.
14. The composition according to claim 12 , wherein the conductive signal generation element comprises control logic.
15. The composition according to claim 12 , wherein the conductive signal generation element comprises an oscillator.
16. The composition according to claim 12 , wherein the conductive signal generation element comprises a signal transmitter.
17. The composition according to claim 16 , wherein the signal transmitter comprises at least one of the first and second electrode.
18. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the active agent is a cardiovascular agent.
19. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the composition is a solid.
20. The composition according to claim 19 , wherein the composition is a tablet.
21. A system comprising: (a) a composition according to claim 1 ; and (b) a receiver for detecting a signal produced by the identifier.
22. The system according to claim 21 , wherein the receiver is an in vivo receiver.
23. The system according to claim 21 , wherein the receiver is an ex vivo receiver.
24. A method comprising a composition disposed within a body, the composition comprising an active agent, an identifier, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and a power source comprising first and second consumable electrodes formed of dissimilar materials configured to both generate a voltage to energize the identifier and transmit the conductive signal to the body, the method comprising:
transmitting by the identifier a conductive signal substantially confined to the body;
disrupting the composition upon administration to a subject, to obtain data for the composition;
generating a voltage to energize the identifier when the power source contacts a bodily fluid by consuming the first and second electrodes;
transmitting the conductive signal substantially confined to the body when the first and second electrodes contact the bodily fluid and are consumed by the bodily fluid; and
determining historical information for the composition from said data.
25. The method according to claim 24 , comprising determining the identity of the last known purchaser of the composition from said historical information.
26. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the conductive signal is transmitted at frequencies in the order of 100 kHz.
27. the composition of claim 1 , wherein the first and second consumable electrodes formed of dissimilar metals constitute a pre-battery, wherein the pre-battery is completed when the first and second consumable electrodes contact the bodily fluid upon administration of the composition to a subject.