Medical or veterinary digestive tract utilization systems and methods
View Patent ↗Systems and methods are described for implementing or deploying medical or veterinary utility modules comprising a first module operable in a digestive or respiratory tract to engage a second module, optionally by a magnetic field. Alternatively or additionally, systems may be operable to remain in situ and also operable to permit a therapeutic material dispensation. In some contexts, for example, systems or methods may dispense a therapeutic material via a subject's throat or elsewhere in the digestive or respiratory tract.
1. A medical or veterinary system comprising:
a first module comprising:
at least one portion operable in a digestive or respiratory tract to engage a second module at least magnetically, the second module small enough to pass through the digestive or respiratory tract per vias naturales; and
at least one other portion operable to support the at least one portion in an oral cavity directly or indirectly for more than a day;
one or more artificial conduits operable to guide a therapeutic material and to extend from the first module to a digestive site or respiratory site other than the oral cavity; and
one or more magnetic-flux-generating elements operable to diminish a disengagement force between the first module and the second module by removing at least 0.1% of a magnetic flux passing from the first module into the second module.
2. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 in which the first module comprises:
more than one dose of the therapeutic material.
3. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 in which the first module further comprises:
a temperature sensor.
4. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 in which the first module further comprises:
a material-concentration-indicative sensor.
5. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 in which the first module further comprises:
a sensor.
6. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 in which the first module further comprises:
an antenna.
7. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 in which the first module further comprises:
an antihyperglycemic medication.
8. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 in which the first module further comprises:
a polymer-containing binding agent.
9. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 in which the first module further comprises:
an antimicrobial agent.
10. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 in which the one or more magnetic-flux-generating elements operable to diminish the disengagement force between the first module and the second module comprise:
an electrically conductive coil.
11. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the second module, operable to remain in an esophagus, gastric compartment, or intestine of the digestive or respiratory tract for more than a day.
12. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the second module, including at least a fluid-containing reservoir at a higher-than-ambient pressure.
13. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the second module, operable to remain at least partly within a throat of the digestive or respiratory tract for more than a day.
14. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the second module, operable to engage the first module by indirect contact in situ.
15. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the second module, comprising at least a wearable and removable item.
16. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 , further comprising:
the second module, including at least an adhesive operable for coupling with a mucous membrane.
17. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 , further comprising:
circuitry for activating one or more dispensers selectively.
18. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a remote module operable for receiving status-indicative data from the first module.
19. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a ferromagnetic material.
20. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 in which the first module further comprises:
a magnetic-flux-guiding element;
a sensor;
an antenna;
an antihyperglycemic medication including at least a polymer-containing binding agent; and
one or more actuators operable for releasing at least the antihyperglycemic medication into a material flow path at least about one millimeter long.
21. The medical or veterinary system of claim 20 , further comprising:
circuitry for selectively activating at least one of the one or more actuators operable for releasing at least the antihyperglycemic medication into the material flow path extending out of a gastric compartment;
a remote module operable for receiving dispensation-status-indicative data from the first module; and
another module operable in the digestive or respiratory tract to support the second module indirectly for more than a day in the digestive or respiratory tract.
22. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 , further comprising:
circuitry for selectively activating one or more actuators operable for releasing at least an antihyperglycemic medication into a material flow path extending out of a gastric compartment;
a remote module operable for receiving dispensation-status-indicative data from the first module; and
another module operable in the digestive or respiratory tract to support the second module for more than a day in the digestive or respiratory tract.
23. The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 The medical or veterinary system of claim 1 in which the second module comprises:
at least a fluid-containing reservoir; and
a material flow path at least about one centimeter long operable to guide a material more than one centimeter in a flow from the fluid-containing reservoir.