Communication system with partial power source
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 be used in a variety of different applications, including as components of ingestible identifiers, such as may be found in ingestible event markers, e.g., pharma-informatics enabled pharmaceutical compositions.
1. A composition, comprising:
a pharmaceutical product comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and
an ingestible event marker coupled to the pharmaceutical product, wherein the ingestible event marker comprises:
a control device; and
a partial power source comprising first and second electrodes formed of dissimilar electrochemical materials configured to contact a conductive fluid and generate a voltage to energize the ingestible event marker;
wherein the control device of the energized ingestible event marker is configured to modulate current flow through the conductive fluid, the modulated current flow defining a unique current signature associated with the ingestible event marker;
wherein the ingestible event marker of the composition is:
coated with an external layer configured to delay activation of the ingestible event marker for a first period of time; and
positioned inside the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, relative to a perimeter defined by the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, to delay activation of the ingestible event marker for a second period of time, wherein the ingestible event marker is positioned proximate to the perimeter or proximate to a center of the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier based on an identity of the pharmaceutical product.
2. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the external layer comprises a homogeneous layer of a single material.
3. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the external layer comprises two or more distinct materials.
4. The composition according to claim 3 , wherein the two or more distinct materials are present as a multilayer structure.
5. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the external layer is configured to provide conductive fluid passage through the external layer after contact of the composition with the conductive fluid.
6. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the external layer is further configured to protect the ingestible event marker in a dicing process.
7. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the external layer is configured to dissolve in five or more minutes after being in contact with the conducting fluid.
8. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the external layer is environmentally sensitive.
9. The composition according to claim 8 , wherein the external layer is temperature sensitive.
10. The composition according to claim 8 , wherein the external layer is pH sensitive.
11. The composition according to claim 10 , wherein the external layer is insoluble at a first pH and soluble at a second pH.
12. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the ingestible event marker is secured inside the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
13. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrodes of the ingestible event marker are coated with the external layer.
14. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the pharmaceutical product further comprises a pharmaceutical material, and wherein the external layer is further configured to prevent the ingestible event marker from being activated by the pharmaceutical material.
15. The composition according to claim 1 , wherein the ingestible event marker is positioned proximate to the perimeter or proximate to the center of the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier further based on a desired activation delay between a time of initial ingestion and activation of the ingestible event marker.
16. A composition, comprising:
a pharmaceutical product comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and
an ingestible event marker positioned inside the pharmaceutical product, wherein the ingestible event marker comprises:
a partial power source comprising first and second electrodes formed of dissimilar electrochemical materials, wherein the partial power source is configured to generate a voltage to energize the ingestible event marker upon contact with a conductive fluid; and
a control device configured to modulate current flow through the conductive fluid, wherein the modulated current flow defines a unique current signature;
wherein the ingestible event marker of the composition is:
coated with an external layer configured to at least one of delay activation of the ingestible event marker or protect the ingestible event marker; and
positioned relative to a perimeter defined by the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to delay activation of the ingestible event marker, wherein the ingestible event marker is positioned proximate to the perimeter or proximate to a center of the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier based on an identity of the pharmaceutical product.
17. The composition according to claim 16 , wherein the first and second electrodes of the ingestible event marker are coated with the external layer.
18. The composition according to claim 16 , wherein the external layer is environmentally sensitive.