Drug delivery capsules with external intelligence

Abstract

A system for administering a medicament includes a plurality of capsules, a capsule dispenser, and a capsule activator. Each of the capsules includes a reservoir containing a medicament and an outlet in communication with the reservoir through which the medicament exits the capsule. The capsule dispenser releasably contains the ingestible capsules and is adapted to dispense the capsules to a user in accordance with a predetermined schedule. The capsule activator activates the dispensed capsules prior to administration to the user.

1 . A system comprising:
 a capsule, comprising:
 a reservoir configured to contain a medicament; 
 an outlet; and 
 an actuator; and 
   a unit external to the capsule,   wherein the unit comprises an activator configured so that:
 in a first state of the system prior activation of the capsule by the activator and prior to administration of the capsule to a user, the capsule is configured to keep the medicament within the reservoir; and 
 in a second state of the system after activation of the capsule by the activator and prior to administration of the capsule to the user, the activator activates the capsule so that the actuator is capable of expelling the medicament from the capsule via the outlet. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule further comprises a power source, and the activator is configured to activate the capsule by charging the power source. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator further comprises a spring, and the activator is configured to activate the capsule by loading the spring. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the unit further comprises a dispenser configured to house the capsule prior to administration to the user and to dispense the capsule when the capsule is activated. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the activator is configured to activate the capsule while the capsule is housed in the dispenser. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein dispenser is configured to dispense the capsule according to a predetermined schedule. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule and the unit are configured to wirelessly communicate with each other. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the capsule and the unit are configured to wirelessly communicate a medicament administration profile from the unit to the capsule. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the unit is configured to wirelessly communicate with both the capsule and a member external to the system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the member comprises a human other than the user. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the member comprises an object configured to be worn by the user. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the unit is configured to wirelessly communicate a medicament administration profile from an external member to the capsule via the unit. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the member comprises a human other than the user. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the member comprises an object configured to be worn by the user. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the unit is configured to wirelessly communicate with a member external to the system. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the member comprises a human other than the user. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the member comprises an object configured to be worn by the user. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the unit and a member external to the system are configured to wirelessly communicate a medicament administration profile from the member to the unit. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the member comprises a human other than the user. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the member comprises an object configured to be worn by the user. 
     
     
         21 . A system, comprising:
 a capsule, comprising:
 a reservoir configured to contain a medicament; 
 an outlet; and 
 an actuator; and 
   a unit external to the capsule,   wherein the unit comprises an activator configured so that:
 in a first state of the system prior activation of the capsule by the activator and when the capsule is in the unit, the capsule is configured to keep the medicament within the reservoir; and 
 in a second state of the system after activation of the capsule by the activator and when the capsule is in the unit, the activator activates the capsule so that the actuator is capable of expelling the medicament from the capsule via the outlet. 
   
     
     
         22 . A system, comprising:
 a capsule, comprising:
 a reservoir configured to contain a medicament; 
 an outlet through which the medicament may leave the capsule; and 
   a unit configured to house and dispense the capsule,   wherein at least one of the following holds:
 the unit is configured to wirelessly communicate with the capsule; and 
 the unit is configured to wirelessly communicate with a member external to the system.