Ingestible device and associated methods

Abstract

An ingestible device is disclosed which can produce spectral data of one or more analytes, as well as associated methods for characterizing the gastrointestinal tract of a subject which contains such analytes. Related kits and systems are also disclosed.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method, comprising:
 providing an ingestible device including a spectrometer to obtain spectral data of at least one sample within a gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject in vivo;   administering the ingestible device to the subject so that the ingestible device is disposed in the GI tract of the subject;   obtaining spectral data of the at least one sample within the GI tract of a subject in vivo; and   using the spectral data to generate a digestive profile of the subject.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further including a processing unit configured to generate a digestion profile for the subject based on the spectral data, and the method further comprising generating with the processing unit the digestion profile for the subject based on the spectral data. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the ingestible device includes the processing unit therein. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the processing unit is configured to compare the spectral data to one or more spectral standards to generate the digestion profile. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising administering at least one ingestible standard, at least one detection agent, or a combination thereof, to the subject, the at least one ingestible standard, at least one detection agent, or a combination thereof providing the one or more spectral standards. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the ingestible standard comprises a predetermined quantity of at least one macronutrient. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one macronutrient is an alcohol, a carbohydrate, a protein, an amino acid, or a fat. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the digestion profile for the subject is indicative of a relative or a total amount of one or more analytes in the sample. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the digestion profile is indicative of calories ingested by the subject, calories absorbed by the subject, the amount of one or more analytes ingested by the subject, the amount of one or more analytes absorbed by the subject, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the method further comprises operating the device to obtain the spectral data at one or more predetermined regions within the GI tract of the subject. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the obtaining the spectral data at one or more predetermined regions within the GI tract comprises operating the spectrometer to obtain spectral data based on an identified location of the device within the GI tract of the subject. 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 providing an ingestible device including a spectrometer to obtain spectral data of at least one sample within a gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject in vivo;   administering the ingestible device to the subject so that the ingestible device is disposed in the GI tract of the subject;   obtaining spectral data of the at least one sample within the GI tract of a subject in vivo;   using the spectral data to determine the presence or absence of one or more macronutrients in the GI tract of the subject.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further including a processing unit configured to determine the presence or absence of one or more macronutrients in the GI tract of the subject based on the spectral data, and the method further comprising determining with the processing unit the presence or absence of one or more macronutrients in the GI tract of the subject based on the spectral data. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ingestible device includes the processing unit therein. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the processing unit is configured to compare the spectral data to one or more spectral standards to determine the presence or absence of one or more macronutrients in the GI tract of the subject. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising administering at least one ingestible standard, at least one detection agent, or a combination thereof, to the subject, the at least one ingestible standard, at least one detection agent, or a combination thereof providing the one or more spectral standards. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the ingestible standard comprises a predetermined quantity of at least one macronutrient. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one macronutrient is a protein, an amino acid, a steroid, a polysaccharide, a carbohydrate, a fat, an alcohol, a ketone, or a metabolite. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein macronutrient information for the subject is based on a relative or a total amount of one or more analytes in the sample. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises operating the device to obtain the spectral data at one or more predetermined regions within the GI tract of the subject. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the obtaining the spectral data at one or more predetermined regions within the GI tract comprises operating the spectrometer to obtain spectral data based on an identified location of the device within the GI tract of the subject.