INGESTIBLE DEVICE WITH PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCT
A pharmaceutical product including a housing that defines a cavity, wherein the cavity stores a pharmaceutical material, and wherein the housing comprises a material configured to dissolve based on contact with a fluid, an ingestible device to encode information in a current signature, wherein the ingestible device is positioned within the housing, and a protective material that encompasses the ingestible device. The ingestible device may be attached to a flexible component, wherein the flexible component is configured to releasably secure the ingestible device within the housing.
1 .- 20 . (canceled)
21 . A pharmaceutical product, comprising:
a capsule having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper and lower ends are brought together to form a housing that defines a cavity and wherein the cavity is filled with a drug, the capsule configured to disintegrate when in contact with a surrounding fluid; and
an ingestible device associated with the capsule to encode information in a current signature, wherein the ingestible device is placed within the housing, wherein the ingestible device comprises electronic components that are surrounded by a protective layer, the protective layer comprising a geometry configured to be embedded into a distal end of either the upper end or the lower end of the capsule, and wherein the protective layer is configured to begin to disintegrate after the capsule has begun to disintegrate and has exposed the content of the capsule to the surrounding fluids.
22 . The product of claim 21 , wherein the ingestible device further comprises dissolvable components that are surrounded by the protective layer.
23 . The product of claim 21 , wherein the protective layer is configured to prevent at least one of the capsule or the drug from interacting with the electronic components of the ingestible device.
24 . The product of claim 21 , wherein the protective layer is configured to delay exposure of the electronic components to the surrounding fluid.
25 . The product of claim 24 , wherein the delayed exposure delays activation of the ingestible device.
26 . The product of claim 21 , wherein the protective layer is embedded into the distal end of either the upper end or the lower end of the capsule using the force of friction.
27 . The product of claim 21 , wherein the ingestible device comprises a partial power source comprising first and second electrodes.
28 . The product of claim 27 , wherein the partial power source is configured to power the electronic components after the first and second electrodes are exposed to a conductive fluid.
29 . The product of claim 21 , wherein the protective layer is laminated around the electronic components.
30 . The product of claim 21 , wherein the protective layer is held into the distal end of either the upper end or the lower end of the capsule using a mechanical attachment.
31 . The product of claim 21 , wherein the ingestible device is configured to encode the information in the current signature after it is powered on.
32 . The product of claim 21 , wherein the ingestible device is configured to be powered on after it comes in contact with a conductive fluid.