SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OBTAINING SAMPLES USING INGESTIBLE DEVICES
Ingestible devices configured to obtain samples when present in the GI tract of a subject, as well as related systems and methods, are disclosed. Sampling systems that include an absorbent material a preservative, such as an analyte preservative, as well as related materials and methods, are also disclosed.
1 . An ingestible device, comprising:
a housing defined by a first end, a second end substantially opposite from the first end, and a wall extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end;
a first opening in the wall of the housing;
a second opening in the first end of the housing, the second opening being oriented substantially perpendicular to the first opening; and
a curved chamber connecting the first opening and the second opening, wherein at least a portion of the curved chamber forms a sampling chamber within the ingestible device.
2 .- 65 . (canceled)
66 . An ingestible device having an opening between an interior of the ingestible device and an exterior of the ingestible device, the ingestible device comprising:
a chamber; and
a multi-stage valve system in the interior of the ingestible device,
wherein:
the multi-stage valve system has first, second and third states,
the first state of the multi-stage valve system is different from the second and third states of the multi-stage valve system;
the second state of the multi-stage valve system is different from the first and third states of the multi-stage valve system;
when the multi-stage valve system is in its first state, the opening prevents fluid communication between the interior of the ingestible device and the exterior of the ingestible device;
when the multi-stage valve system is in its second state, the opening allows fluid communication between the interior of the ingestible device and the exterior of the ingestible device; and
when the multi-stage valve system is in its third state, the opening prevents fluid communication between the interior of the ingestible device and the exterior of the ingestible device.
67 . The ingestible device of claim 66 , wherein:
the multi-stage valve system comprises an actuator system having first, second and third states;
when the actuator system is in its first state, the multi-stage valve system is in its first state;
when the actuator system is in its second state, the multi-stage valve system is in its second state; and
when the actuator system is in its third state, the multi-stage valve system is in its third state.
68 . The ingestible device of claim 67 , wherein the actuator system comprises first and second members.
69 . The ingestible device of claim 68 , wherein:
when the multi-stage valve system is in its first stage, the first member holds the multi-stage system in its first state; and
when the multi-stage system is in its second stage, the second member holds the valve multi-stage system in its second state.
70 . The ingestible device of claim 68 , wherein the first member comprises a first chamber comprising wax, and the second member comprises a second chamber comprising wax.
71 . The ingestible device of claim 69 , wherein:
when the actuator system is in its first state, the wax in the first chamber is solid; and
when the actuator system is configured so that, when the actuator is changing from its first state to its second stage in its second state, at least a portion of the wax in the first chamber is liquid.
72 . The ingestible device of claim 70 , further comprising a device configured to heat the wax in the first chamber.
73 . The ingestible device of claim 70 , wherein:
when the actuator system is in its second state, the wax in the second chamber is solid; and
when the actuator system is configured so that, when the actuator is changing from its second state to its second stage in its third state, at least a portion of the wax in the second chamber is liquid.
74 . The ingestible device of claim 70 , further comprising a device configured to heat the wax in the second chamber.
75 . The ingestible device of claim 67 , wherein the multi-stage valve system further comprises a trigger mechanically coupled with the actuator system.
76 . The ingestible device of claim 75 , wherein:
the trigger has first, second and third states;
when the actuator system is in its first state, the trigger is in its first state;
when the actuator system is in its second state, the trigger is in its second state; and
when the actuator system is in its third state, the trigger is in its third state.
77 . The ingestible device of claim 67 , wherein the valve system further comprises a gate mechanically coupled to the actuator system.
78 . The ingestible device of claim 77 , wherein:
the gate has first, second and third states;
when the actuator system is in its first state, the gate is in its first state;
when the actuator system is in its second state, the gate is in its second state; and
when the actuator system is in its third state, the gate is in its third state.
79 . The ingestible device of claim 77 , wherein:
the gate has an opening;
when the gate is in its first state, the opening of gate and the opening of the ingestible device are not aligned; and
when the gate is in its second state, the opening of gate and the opening of the ingestible device are aligned;
when the gate is in its third state, the opening of gate and the opening of the ingestible device are not aligned.
80 . The ingestible device of claim 67 , wherein the multi-stage valve system further comprises a biasing system mechanically coupled to actuator system.
81 . The ingestible device of claim 80 , wherein the biasing system comprises first and second biasing members.
82 . The ingestible device of claim 81 , wherein first member comprises a first spring, and the second member comprises a second spring.
83 . The ingestible device of claim 66 , further comprising a sampling system configured so that, when the valve system is in its second stage, the exterior of the ingestible device is in fluid communication with the sampling system.
84 . The ingestible device of claim 83 , wherein the sampling system comprises a plurality of absorbent members.
85 . The ingestible device of claim 83 , wherein the sampling system comprises a biomarker preservative.
86 . The ingestible device of claim 66 , further comprising an analytical system configured to analyze a sample in the interior of the ingestible device.
87 . The ingestible device of claim 66 , further comprising a microprocessor configured to control at least one system of the ingestible device.
88 . An ingestible device having an opening between an interior of the ingestible device and an exterior of the ingestible device, the ingestible device comprising:
a chamber; and
a multi-stage valve system in the interior of the ingestible device,
wherein:
the multi-stage valve system comprises:
an actuator system comprising a first member;
a trigger comprising a first peg and a first lip;
a gate comprising a protrusion, and a gate leg having an opening; and
a biasing system comprising first and second biasing members;
when the multi-stage valve system is in a first stage:
the first biasing member applies a force to the trigger so that the first peg contacts the first member;
the first member opposes the force applied to the trigger by the first biasing member;
the second biasing member applies a force to the gate so that the protrusion contacts the first lip;
the first lip opposes the force applied to the gate by the second biasing member; and
the opening in the gate leg is not aligned with the opening in the ingestible device.
89 .- 100 . (canceled)
101 . An ingestible device having an opening between an interior of the ingestible device and an exterior of the ingestible device, the ingestible device comprising:
a chamber; and
a sampling system in the interior of the ingestible device,
wherein:
the sampling system comprises:
a first absorbent member; and
a second absorbent member different from the first absorbent member; and
the sampling system is configured so that fluid that flows from the exterior of the ingestible device to the interior of the ingestible device enters the first absorbent member; and
the sampling system is configured to allow fluid to flow from the first absorbent member to the second absorbent member.
102 .- 115 . (canceled)
116 . An ingestible device having an opening between an interior of the ingestible device and an exterior of the ingestible device, the ingestible device comprising:
a chamber; and
a sampling system in the interior of the ingestible device configured to absorb a fluid that enters the interior of the ingestible device via the opening, the sampling system comprising an absorbent member and at least one preservative at least partially absorbed in the absorbent member.
117 .- 150 . (canceled)
151 . A method, comprising:
collecting a sample into a sampling system of an ingestible device,
wherein the sampling system comprises an absorbent member and at least one preservative at least partially absorbed in the absorbent member.
152 .- 186 . (canceled)