Ingestible Medical Device

Abstract

Various embodiments are described herein for a device and method for an ingestible medical device with a rotatable element. In some described embodiments, the ingestible medical device includes a storage sub-unit with multiple chambers each having an opening for collecting or dispensing substances from the GI tract. The device further comprises a chamber enclosure with an access port. One of the chamber enclosure and the storage sub-unit are rotatable to allow for aligning the access port with a chamber opening. The ingestible medical device includes a sensor for positioning the access port of the chamber enclosure or the storage sub-unit as one of these elements rotates.

1 - 73 . (canceled) 
     
     
         74 . An ingestible medical device, comprising:
 a storage sub-unit comprising a chamber, the chamber comprising a chamber opening configured to collect a sample, distribute a substance, or both;   a chamber enclosure covering the storage sub-unit, the chamber enclosure comprising a solid region and an access port;   a member configured to generate a position signal based on a distance between the chamber opening and the access port; and   a motor configured to provide relative movement between the storage sub-unit and the chamber enclosure.   
     
     
         75 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 74 , wherein the member comprises an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. 
     
     
         76 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 75 , wherein the optical receiver is configured to receive light transmitted by the optical transmitter. 
     
     
         77 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 76 , wherein the member is configured so that the position signal depends on an amount of light received by the optical receiver from the optical transmitter. 
     
     
         78 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 77 , wherein:
 in a first state, a first amount of light is received by the optical receiver from the optical transmitter, and the position signal has a first value;   in a second state, a second amount of light is received by the optical receiver from the optical transmitter, and the position signal has a second value;   the first amount of light is greater than the second amount of light; and   the first position signal value is greater than the second position signal value.   
     
     
         79 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 75 , wherein the optical transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter and the optical receiver comprises an infrared receiver. 
     
     
         80 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 74 , wherein the position signal comprises a voltage signal. 
     
     
         81 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 80 , wherein the member comprises an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. 
     
     
         82 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 81 , wherein the optical receiver is configured to receive light transmitted by the optical transmitter. 
     
     
         83 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 82 , wherein the member is configured so that the voltage signal depends on an amount of light received by the optical receiver from the optical transmitter. 
     
     
         84 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 82 , wherein the voltage signal is based on an optical signal, and the optical signal depends on the distance between the chamber opening and the access port. 
     
     
         85 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 82 , wherein:
 in a first state, a first amount of light is received by the optical receiver from the optical transmitter, and the voltage signal has a first value;   in a second state, a second amount of light is received by the optical receiver from the optical transmitter, and the voltage signal has a second value;   the first amount of light is greater than the second amount of light; and   the first voltage signal value is greater than the second voltage signal value.   
     
     
         86 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 81 , wherein the optical transmitter comprises an infrared transmitter and the optical receiver comprises an infrared receiver. 
     
     
         87 . An ingestible medical device of  claim 74 , wherein:
 in a first state, the access port covers the chamber opening and the ingestible medical device is configured to collect a sample, distribute a substance, or both; and   in a second state, the solid region covers the chamber opening and the ingestible medical device is not configured to collect a sample, distribute a substance, or both.   
     
     
         88 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 87 , wherein:
 the ingestible medical device remains in the first state for a predetermined amount of time to collect the sample, distribute the substance, or both.   
     
     
         89 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 87 , further comprising a microcontroller coupled to the motor and the member so that, based on the position signal, the microcontroller triggers the motor to stop relative movement between the storage sub-unit and the member. 
     
     
         90 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 89 , wherein the microcontroller comprises a timer, and the microcontroller triggers relative movement between the storage sub-unit and the member based on expiration of a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         91 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 74 , wherein the storage sub-unit is rotatable, and the chamber enclosure is stationary. 
     
     
         92 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 74 , wherein the chamber enclosure is rotatable, and the storage sub-unit is stationary. 
     
     
         93 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 74 , wherein the chamber comprises multiple compartments separated from each other. 
     
     
         94 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 74 , further comprising an environmental sensor. 
     
     
         95 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 74 , further comprising a microcontroller coupled to the motor and the member so that the microcontroller triggers the motor to initiate relative movement between the storage sub-unit and the member, regardless of the position signal. 
     
     
         96 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 74 , further comprising a microcontroller coupled to the motor and the member so that the microcontroller triggers the motor to stop relative movement between the storage sub-unit and the member, based on the position signal. 
     
     
         97 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 96 , wherein:
 the microcontroller triggers the motor to initiate relative movement between the storage sub-unit and the member based on input from an environmental sensor.   
     
     
         98 . The ingestible medical device of  claim 97 , wherein the environmental sensor is a pH level sensor, a light sensor, an impedance sensor, a temperature sensor or a capacitance sensor.