Wireless Communications System Integrating Electronics Into Orally Ingestible Products For Controlled Release Of Active Ingredients

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure include a consumable capsule containing an active ingredient in at least one compartment movably sealed by a stimuli responsive actuator, and an activation device configured to communicate with the consumable capsule. The activation device is configured to emit a wireless signal to activate the stimuli responsive actuator of the consumable capsule, and the consumable capsule is configured to release the active ingredient into an external environment based on the activation of the stimuli responsive actuator.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for activating a consumable capsule, comprising:
 a consumable capsule containing an active ingredient in at least one compartment movably sealed by a stimuli responsive actuator comprising at least one stimuli responsive material; and   an activation device configured to communicate with the consumable capsule,
 wherein the activation device is configured to emit a wireless signal to activate the stimuli responsive actuator of the consumable capsule, 
 wherein the activation device is configured to provide power to the consumable capsule, and 
 wherein the consumable capsule is configured to release the active ingredient into an external environment based on the activation of the stimuli responsive actuator. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a communication device configured to instruct the activation device to emit the wireless signal.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the communication device is configured to instruct the activation device to emit the wireless signal based on user input. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the communication device is configured to instruct the activation device to emit the wireless signal based on at least one physical attribute of a user. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the communication device is configured to instruct the activation device to emit the wireless signal based on at least one environmental attribute. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one stimuli responsive material comprises azobenzene incorporated in a liquid-crystalline elastomer. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one stimuli responsive material comprises an electro-active polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stimuli responsive actuator is activatable based at least in part on light emitted in response to the wireless signal. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activation device is configured to be wearable by the mammal that consumes the consumable capsule. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the activation device is further configured to monitor one or more aspects of the mammal's health. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the activation device emits the wireless signal to activate the stimuli responsive actuator of the consumable capsule when the activation device monitoring one or more aspects of the mammal's health measures a condition in the mammal's health requiring administration of the active ingredient. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a communication device in wireless communication with the activation device and the consumable capsule, wherein:
 the activation device emits a wireless signal to the communication device when the activation device monitoring one or more aspects of the mammal's health measures a condition in the mammal's health requiring administration of the active ingredient; and   the communication device emits a wireless signal to activate the stimuli responsive actuator of the consumable capsule after a user reviews the wireless signal emitted by the activation device and received by the communication device and confirms that the active ingredient should be administered to the mammal.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the consumable capsule is configured to transmit a wireless signal to the activation device or the communication device when the stimuli responsive actuator has been activated. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the consumable capsule is a one-way communication device capable of only receiving a wireless signal. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activation device is configured to emit the wireless signal based on user input. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activation device is configured to emit the wireless signal based on at least one physical attribute of a user. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activation device is configured to emit the wireless signal based on at least one environmental attribute. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activation device comprises a primary coil and the consumable capsule comprises one or more orthogonal secondary coils, wherein the primary coil is configured to transmit an electromagnetic signal capable of inductively coupling with the secondary coils to thereby allow the secondary coils to generate a low-level AC signal capable of being used to supplying power to the consumable capsule. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stimuli responsive actuator is activatable based at least in part on heat emitted in response to the wireless signal. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stimuli responsive actuator is activatable based at least in part on vibration emitted in response to the wireless signal.