Communication system incorporated in an ingestible product
View Patent ↗The system of the present invention includes a conductive element, an electronic component, and a partial power source in the form of dissimilar materials. Upon contact with a conducting fluid, a voltage potential is created and the power source is completed, which activates the system. The electronic component controls the conductance between the dissimilar materials to produce a unique current signature. The system can also be associated with food and communicate data about ingestion of food material to a receiver.
1. A signal producing food product comprising:
a digestible material;
a plurality of communication devices associated with the digestible material, wherein each communication device comprises:
a first material physically associated with a support structure; and
a second material physically associated with the support structure at a location different from the first material, wherein the first material and the second material are electrically isolated from each other and are selected such that they form a voltage potential difference when in contact with a conductive fluid to provide power to activate the communication device, wherein the support structure includes a control module electrically coupled to the first material and the second material and configured to control conductance between the first material and the second material to modulate a current flow extending through the conductive fluid between the first material and the second material and thereby generate a detectable encoded current signature;
wherein at least one first communication device of the plurality of communication devices is located within a first coating wherein the first coating is configured to dissolve in a user's stomach to thereby activate the at least one first communication device in the user's stomach and withstand mastication pressure to prevent the activation of the at least one first communication device as the user chews the signal producing food product, and
wherein at least one second communication device of the plurality of communication devices is coated with a second coating configured to break as the user chews the signal producing food product to thereby activate the at least one second communication device in the user's mouth.
2. The signal producing food product of claim 1 , wherein the digestible material is a food material.
3. The signal producing food product of claim 2 , wherein activation of at least one of the plurality of communication devices produces information that indicates that the food material has been consumed.
4. The signal producing food product of claim 2 , further comprising a pharmaceutical product in an ingestible form and associated with at least one of the plurality of communication devices and the food material, such that ingestion also delivers a medication.
5. The signal producing food product of claim 1 , wherein the digestible material is secured to the plurality of communication devices.
6. The signal producing food product of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of communication devices are configured to communicate information in the detectable encoded current signature to a detector associated with the user's body and wherein the detector receives and decodes the encoded information produced by the plurality of communication devices.
7. The signal producing food product of claim 1 , wherein the the at least one second communication device is activated when in contact with the user's saliva.
8. The signal producing food product of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of communication devices are configured to communicate with a receiver secured to the user's skin.
9. The signal producing food product of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor in communication with and electrically connected to one of the plurality of communication devices, wherein the sensor is configured to detect pH levels of the environment surrounding the respective communication device and is configured to send a signal to the control module representative of the surrounding environment.
10. The signal producing food product of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of communication devices further comprises a non-conductive membrane secured to its respective support structure and positioned relative to the first and second materials to facilitate extension of the current flow extending through the conductive fluid between the first and second material.
11. The signal producing food product of claim 1 , wherein the signal producing food product includes a marker species and at least one of the plurality of communication devices is configured to detect or measure the marker species.