Flexible circuit for a swallowable pill

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a flexible circuit for insertion into a pill capsule. The flexible circuit has a first portion having an electrical contact to electrically connect with a battery, a second portion having an electrical contact to electrically connect with the battery, a first arm separating the first portion and second portion, a third portion comprising a first antenna, a second arm separating the first portion and third portion, a fourth portion comprising a second antenna, a third arm separating the first portion and fourth portion, a third arm separating the first portion and fourth portion, and a fifth portion comprising a third antenna. The first portion, second portion, and first arm form a first receptacle to receive a battery. The third portion, fourth portion, and fifth portion form a second receptacle to receive a cube ferrite core.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A body antenna configured to detect signals from a pill antenna swallowed by a patient, the body antenna comprising:
 a tab portion configured to physically attach to an electrical connector;   a coil portion extending outwards from the tab portion, said coil portion forming an octagonal region;
 said coil portion comprising a plurality of concentric wire turns following a shape of the octagonal region; and 
 said plurality of concentric wire turns including a first end and a second end, said second end corresponding to end of the plurality of concentric wire turns; and 
   a bridge extending over at least a portion of the plurality of concentric wire turns, said bridge including a conductor wrapped by an insulation, wherein the conductor is configured to electrically connect the second end with circuitry of the electrical connector.   
     
     
         22 . The body antenna of  claim 21 , wherein the conductor comprises a conductive ink placed in between the insulation. 
     
     
         23 . The body antenna of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of concentric wire turns are printed on a substrate of the coil portion. 
     
     
         24 . The body antenna of  claim 21 , wherein the tab portion comprises a stiffener configured to provide mechanically robust connection with the electrical connector. 
     
     
         25 . The body antenna of  claim 21 , further comprising an encapsulation layer configured to encapsulate the coil portion. 
     
     
         26 . The body antenna of  claim 21 , further comprising a tuning circuit. 
     
     
         27 . The body antenna of  claim 21 , further comprising a filtering circuit. 
     
     
         28 . A system comprising a body antenna according to  claim 21 , wherein system further comprises a pill capsule, said pill capsule comprises the pill antenna. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the pill capsule comprises a flexible circuit, said flexible circuit including a:
 a base;   a first arm extending from the base, the first arm configured to fold on a first side of the base;   a second arm extending from the base, the second arm configured to fold on a second side opposite from the first side;   wherein the base, the first arm, and the second arm are configured to form a first recess and a second recess in a folded configuration; and   wherein the first recess is configured to house a battery and the second recess is configured to house a ferrite core.   
     
     
         30 . A body antenna configured to detect signals from a pill antenna swallowed by a patient, the body antenna comprising:
 a tab portion configured to physically attach to an electrical connector;   a coil portion extending outwards from the tab portion;
 said coil portion comprising a plurality of concentric wire turns; and 
 said plurality of concentric wire turns including a first end and a second end, said second end corresponding to end of the plurality of concentric wire turns; and 
   a bridge extending over at least a portion of the plurality of concentric wire turns, said bridge including a conductor wrapped by an insulation, wherein the conductor is configured to electrically connect the second end with circuitry of the electrical connector.