Gastric resident electronics
Gastric resident electronics, devices, systems, and related methods are generally provided. Some embodiments comprise administering (e.g., orally) an (electronic) resident structure to a subject (e.g., a patient) such that the (electronic) resident structure is retained at a location internal to the subject for a particular amount of time (e.g., at least about 24 hours) before exiting said location internal to the subject. In some embodiments, the resident structure is a gastric resident electronic. That is to say, in some embodiments, the resident structure is configured for relatively long gastric residence and comprises an electronic component. In some embodiments, the structures and components described herein may comprise one or more components configured for the delivery of an active substance(s) (e.g., a pharmaceutical agent) to the subject. In some embodiments, the device has a modular design, combining an electronic component(s) with materials configured for controlled and/or tunable degradation/dissolution to determine the time at which (gastric) residence is lost and the device exits the location internal to the subject. For example, in some embodiments, the resident structure comprises an electronic component and one or more additional components associated with the electronic component such that the resident structure is configured to be retained at a location internal to a subject for greater than or equal to 24 hours.
1 . A gastric resident structure, comprising:
an elastic core;
three or more polymeric arms extending radially from the elastic core; and
a separate degradable linker coupling at least one of the three or more polymeric arms to the elastic core,
wherein at least one of the three or more polymeric arms comprises an electronic component, and
wherein at least one of the polymeric arms is configured to separate from the electronic component.
2 . A gastric resident structure configured for oral administration, comprising:
an elastic core;
three or more polymeric arms extending radially from the elastic core; and
an electronic component,
wherein at least one of the three or more polymeric arms comprises an electronic component,
wherein the gastric resident structure is configured such that it is retained at a location internally of a subject for at least about 24 hours, wherein the location internally of the subject is a stomach of the subject, and
wherein at least one of the polymeric arms is configured to separate from the electronic component.
3 . A gastric resident structure configured for transmission of a signal extra-corporeally, comprising:
an elastic core,
three or more polymeric arms extending radially from the elastic core,
an electronic component comprising a wireless transmitter,
wherein at least one of the three or more polymeric arms comprises the electronic component,
wherein the gastric resident structure is configured such that it is administered orally and retained at a location internal to a subject adjacent the pylorus of a subject for at least about 24 hours, wherein the location internally of the subject is a stomach of the subject,
wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit a signal from the location internal to the subject to a receiver positioned extracorporeal of the subject, and
wherein at least one of the polymeric arms is configured to separate from the electronic component.
4 . The gastric resident structure as in claim 1 , comprising a pharmaceutical agent associated with the electronic component.
5 . The gastric resident structure as in claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the pharmaceutical agent is configured to be released upon a signal received from the electronic component.
6 . A method for delivering an electronic component to a subject, comprising:
administering orally, to a subject, a gastric resident structure comprising an electronic component such that the electronic component is retained at a location internal to the subject for at least about 24 hours, wherein the location internal to the subject is a stomach of the subject,
wherein the gastric resident structure comprises an elastic core, three or more polymeric arms extending radially from the elastic core,
wherein one of the three or more polymeric arms comprises the electronic component, and
wherein at least one of the polymeric arms is configured to separate from the electronic component.
7 . The method as in claim 6 , wherein the gastric resident structure comprises a degradable linker.
8 . The method as in claim 7 , further comprising removing the electronic component from the location internal to the subject by degrading the degradable linker.
9 . The method as in claim 8 , wherein degrading the degradable linker comprises applying, via the electronic component, a voltage to the degradable linker.
10 . The method as in claim 9 , wherein the degradable linker comprises a plurality of carbonaceous particles, carbon nanotubes, and/or conductive particles.
11 . The gastric resident structure as in claim 2 , wherein the location internal to the subject is the stomach.
12 . The gastric resident structure as in claim 2 , wherein the location internal to the subject is proximate the pylorus.
13 . The gastric resident structure as in claim 1 , wherein the degradable linker comprises a plurality of carbonaceous particles, carbon nanotubes, and/or conductive particles.
14 . The gastric resident structure as in claim 1 , wherein the electronic component is configured to apply a voltage to the degradable linker.
15 . The gastric resident structure as in claim 1 , wherein the degradable linker is configured to degrade in the presence of a voltage.
16 . The gastric resident structure as in claim 1 , wherein the degradable linker is configured to degrade in the presence of a generated increase in temperature.
17 . The gastric resident structure as in claim 1 , wherein the degradable linker degrades, dissolves, disassociates, or mechanically weakens in a gastric environment which results in loss of retention shape integrity and passage out of a gastric cavity.
18 . The gastric resident structure as in claim 1 , wherein the three or more polymeric arms are configured to maintain structural integrity during a residence period of the gastric resident structure.
19 . The gastric resident structure as in claim 1 , further comprising a containing structure.
20 . The gastric resident structure as in claim 19 , wherein the gastric resident structure is constructed and arranged to have a first configuration when contained within the containing structure and a second configuration after release from the containing structure.
21 . The gastric resident structure as in claim 1 , wherein the electronic component comprises a wireless transmitter.
22 . The gastric resident structure as in claim 1 , wherein the electronic component comprises a pharmaceutical agent configured for release at a location internal to a subject.
23 . The gastric resident structure as in claim 19 , wherein the gastric resident structure is constructed and arranged to undergo elastic recoil upon release from the containing structure, the gastric resident structure having a first configuration when contained within the containing structure and a second configuration after release from the containing structure.