Ingestible apparatus for in vivo detection

Abstract

A device which is introduced into the intestinal tract of a living organism and which operates autonomously therein, adapted to detect the presence of one or more target substances within the intestinal tract, such as for example antigens or antibodies produced as a result of an antigen. In one embodiment, the device is swallowable and includes a detection apparatus which provides an opportunity for the target substance(s) to interact with the apparatus and hence indicate the presence of the target substance(s). In one implementation, the detection apparatus includes one or more receptor sites to which the antigen or antibody can bond, the bonding being detectable by a change in an electrical parameter associated with the apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A probe ingestible by a living being, the probe comprising:
 a housing; and   detection apparatus disposed at least partly in communication with a surface of the housing and configured to enable a target substance in an intestinal tract of the living being to interact with the apparatus, the interaction enabling detection of the target substance.   
     
     
         16 . The probe of  claim 15 , wherein the detection apparatus configured to enable a target substance to interact comprises a plurality of receptor sites configured to enable binding of one or more molecules of the target substance thereto; and
 wherein the detection of the target substance comprises:
 excretion of the probe by the living being; and 
 subsequent laboratory analysis of at least part of the detection apparatus to determine the presence of the target substance. 
   
     
     
         17 . The probe of  claim 16 , wherein the target substance comprises at least one of: (i) an antigen; and/or (ii) an antibody generated by the living being in response to the presence of an antigen in the intestinal tract. 
     
     
         18 . The probe of  claim 15 , further comprising circuitry disposed at least partly within the housing and in communication with the detection apparatus; and
 wherein:
 the detection apparatus configured to enable a target substance to interact comprises a plurality of receptor sites configured to enable binding of one or more molecules of the target substance thereto; and 
 the detection of the target substance comprises detection of a variation of at least one electrical or chemical property associated with the detection apparatus while the probe is in situ. 
   
     
     
         19 . The probe of  claim 18 , wherein the detection of a variation comprises detection of a variation of at least one of (i) an electrical conductivity; and/or (ii) an electrical resistance or resistivity. 
     
     
         20 . The probe of  claim 19 , wherein the detection apparatus comprises at least one of a (i) a diffusive membrane; and/or (ii) a bio-electronic sensing apparatus. 
     
     
         21 . The probe of  claim 20 , wherein the target substance comprises at least one of: (i) an antigen; and/or (ii) an antibody generated by the living being in response to the presence of an antigen in the intestinal tract. 
     
     
         22 . The probe of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the target substance comprises at least one of: (i) an antigen; and/or (ii) an antibody generated by the living being in response to the presence of an antigen in the intestinal tract; and   the detection apparatus comprises an apparatus configured to detect a change in at least one of (i) an electrical conductivity; and/or (ii) an electrical resistance or resistivity, upon exposure to the target substance.   
     
     
         23 . The probe of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 circuitry disposed at least partly within the housing and in communication with the detection apparatus; and   a wireless interface in communication with the circuitry and configured to at least wirelessly transmit data to an apparatus external to the living being while the probe is disposed within an intestinal tract of the living being, the transmitted data relating to detection of the target substance by the detection apparatus.   
     
     
         24 . The probe of  claim 23 , further comprising cover apparatus configured to selectively cover at least a portion of the detection apparatus during at least one of (i) a period prior to the interaction, and/or (ii) a period after the interaction;
 wherein:   the wireless interface is configured to receive a command generated external to the living being;   and the circuitry is configured to, based at least on receipt of the command, cause the cover apparatus to selectively cover or uncover the detection apparatus while the probe is in situ.   
     
     
         25 . The probe of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 circuitry disposed at least partly within the housing and in communication with the detection apparatus; and   a wireless interface in communication with the circuitry and configured to at least wirelessly transmit data to an apparatus external to the living being while the probe is disposed within an intestinal tract of the living being, the transmitted data relating to detection of the target substance by the detection apparatus.   
     
     
         26 . The probe of  claim 15 , further comprising cover apparatus configured to cover or uncover at least a portion of the detection apparatus while in situ. 
     
     
         27 . The probe of  claim 26 , further comprising circuitry in signal communication with the cover apparatus, the circuitry configured to selectively actuate the cover apparatus. 
     
     
         28 . The probe of  claim 27 , further comprising a wireless interface in communication with the circuitry and configured to: (i) wirelessly transmit data to an apparatus external to the living being while the probe is disposed within an intestinal tract of the living being, the transmitted data relating to detection of the target substance by the detection apparatus; and (ii) receive a command to cause said actuation of said cover apparatus. 
     
     
         29 . A probe ingestible by a human being, the probe comprising:
 a housing configured in a shape and size that can be swallowed by the human being;   detection apparatus disposed at least partly in communication with a surface of the housing and configured to enable a target substance to interact with the apparatus in an intestinal tract of the human being, and cause generation of at least one signal based on said interaction;   a wireless apparatus capable of at least transmitting radio frequency signals; and   digital processing apparatus in communication with the detection apparatus and the wireless apparatus and configured to cause said wireless apparatus to transmit a radio frequency signal indicative of said interaction to a receiver apparatus disposed external to the human being.   
     
     
         30 . The probe of  claim 29 , further comprising apparatus configured to selectively cover or uncover the detection apparatus while the probe is in the intestinal tract. 
     
     
         31 . The probe of  claim 29 , wherein:
 the target substance comprises at least one of: (i) an antigen; and/or (ii) an antibody generated by the human being in response to the presence of an antigen in the intestinal tract; and   the detection apparatus comprises an apparatus configured to detect a change in at least one of (i) an electrical conductivity; and/or (ii) an electrical resistance or resistivity, upon or after said interaction.   
     
     
         32 . The probe of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a reservoir disposed within the housing; and   apparatus controlled by the digital processing apparatus and configured to selectively cause expulsion of at least a portion of an agent in the reservoir to a region exterior to the housing when the probe is within the intestinal tract, the region exterior being within the intestinal tract, such that the released at least portion of the agent is directly applied to at least part of the intestinal tract.   
     
     
         33 . The probe of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a reservoir disposed within the housing; and   apparatus controlled by the digital processing apparatus and configured to selectively cause sample or biopsy of the intestinal tract when the probe is within the intestinal tract, the sample or biopsy causing tissue from the intestinal tract to be disposed within the reservoir.   
     
     
         34 . A probe ingestible by a human being, the probe comprising:
 a housing;   an electrical power supply;   detection apparatus powered at least in part by the power supply and disposed at least partly within the housing and configured to enable at least one of: (i) an antigen; and/or (ii) an antibody generated by the human being in response to the presence of an antigen, that is present in an intestinal tract of the human being, to interact with the detection apparatus;   a wireless apparatus capable of at least transmitting radio frequency signals; and   digital processing apparatus powered at least in part by the power supply and in communication with the detection apparatus and the wireless apparatus, the digital processing apparatus configured to cause said wireless apparatus to transmit a radio frequency signal indicative of said interaction to a receiver apparatus disposed external to the human being.