INGESTIBLE DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
An ingestible device is disclosed which can produce spectral data of one or more analytes, as well as associated methods for characterizing the gastrointestinal tract of a subject which contains such analytes. Related kits and systems are also disclosed.
1 . A device, comprising:
a spectrometer configured to generate spectral data of a sample within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject in vivo,
wherein the device is an ingestible device.
2 - 169 . (canceled)
170 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a communications unit configured to transmit data to and/or receive operating parameters from a base station.
171 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a processing unit configured to generate a digestion profile for the subject based on the spectral data.
172 . The device of claim 171 , wherein the processing unit is within the device.
173 . The device of claim 171 , wherein the device is configured to communicate with a processing unit within a base station that is external to the device.
174 . The device of claim 170 , wherein the device and/or the base station comprises memory configured to store the spectral data and/or the digestion profile.
175 . The device of claim 171 , wherein the processing unit is configured to compare the spectral data to one or more spectral standards to generate the digestion profile.
176 . The device of claim 171 , wherein the processing unit is configured to generate the digestion profile based on one or more inputs.
177 . The device of claim 176 , wherein the one or more inputs comprises information relating to the subject.
178 . The device of claim 177 , wherein the information relating to the subject comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of weight, height, sex, diet, physical activity level, a medical condition, a medication, a genetic profile, a phenotypic profile, an immune profile, body mass index (BMI), race, age, tobacco use, alcohol use, heart rate, pulse, place of residence, blood glucose level, adiposity, and a microbiome profile.
179 . The device of claim 178 , wherein the medical condition comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of cancer, a metabolic disease, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, an inflammatory bowel disease, short bowel syndrome, a malabsorption syndrome, a bile metabolism disorder, obesity, a pancreatic insufficiency, chronic pancreatitis, epilepsy, a protein malnutrition, an allergy, and Celiac disease.
180 . The device of claim 177 , wherein the one or more inputs comprise one or more criteria selected by a user.
181 . The device of claim 180 , wherein the one or more criteria comprises an indication of one or more analytes, a desired outcome for the subject, or a combination thereof.
182 . The device of claim 181 , wherein the desired outcome comprises at least one outcome selected from the group consisting of losing weight, gaining weight, losing body fat, gaining body fat, losing muscle mass, gaining muscle mass, managing a medical condition, treating a medical condition, increasing absorption of a macronutrient, and decreasing absorption of a macronutrient.
183 . The device of claim 171 , wherein the processing unit is configured to search a database comprising a plurality of digestion profiles and identify an individual or a plurality of individuals with digestion profiles similar to the digestion profile for the subject.
184 . The device of claim 183 , wherein the processing unit is configured to display information regarding the individual or the plurality of individuals identified as having digestion profiles similar to the digestion profile for the subject.
185 . The device of claim 183 , wherein the processing unit is configured to add information regarding the individual or of the plurality of individuals identified as having digestion profiles similar to the digestion profile for the subject.
186 . The device of claim 171 , wherein the processing unit is configured to transmit the spectral data to a server and receive the digestion profile for the subject from the server.
187 . The device of claim 171 , wherein the digestion profile for the subject is indicative of the presence or absence of one or more analytes in the sample.
188 . The device of claim 171 , wherein the digestion profile for the subject is indicative of a relative or a total amount of one or more analytes in the sample.
189 . The device of claim 171 , wherein the digestion profile is indicative of calories ingested by the subject, calories absorbed by the subject, the amount of one or more analytes ingested by the subject, the amount of one or more analytes absorbed by the subject, or a combination thereof.
190 . The device of claim 171 , wherein the digestion profile is indicative of a lifestyle recommendation for the subject, a dietary recommendation for the subject, or a combination thereof.
191 . The device of claim 171 , wherein the digestion profile is predictive of the effect of ingesting one or more substances by the subject.
192 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to generate the spectral data at a predetermined region within the GI tract of the subject.
193 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is operable to generate the spectral data at a plurality of time points as the device travels through the GI tract of the subject.
194 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spectrometer comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of a light source, a photodetector, a dispersive element, a lens, and a filter.
195 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spectrometer is configured to generate at least one member selected from the group consisting of absorbance spectral data, transmission spectral data, reflectance spectral data, Fourier transform spectral data, and Raman spectral data.
196 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a plurality of spectrometers configured to generate different types of spectral data.
197 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spectrometer comprises a light source and a photodetector defining a light path through a detection chamber.
198 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spectrometer comprises a light source and a photodetector positioned on the exterior of the device.
199 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spectral data comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ultraviolet spectral data, visible spectral data, near-infrared (NIR) spectral data, and mid-infrared (MIR) spectral data.
200 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spectrometer comprises a 2-dimensional array of photodetectors.
201 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spectral data comprises hyperspectral data.
202 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spectrometer comprises a hyperspectral camera.
203 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises one or more environmental sensors for measuring environmental data external to the device.
204 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to identify a location of the device within the GI tract of the subject based on the spectral data.
205 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to attach to the GI tract of the subject in vivo.
206 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a microcontroller configured to operate the spectrometer to generate the spectral data, and optionally wherein the processing unit is the microcontroller.
207 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sample is a fluid sample within the GI tract of the subject.
208 . A kit, comprising:
the device of claim 1 ; and
at least one ingestible standard, at least one detection agent, or a combination thereof.
209 . A system, comprising:
an ingestible device which comprises a spectrometer configured to generate spectral data of a sample within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject in vivo; and
a processing unit configured to generate a digestion profile for the subject based on the spectral data.
210 . A method, comprising:
obtaining spectral data of for at least one sample within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject in vivo; and
using the spectral data to generate a digestive profile of the subject.