Highly-swellable polymeric films and compositions comprising the same

Abstract

Highly-swellable polymeric films are provided. Aspects also include ingestible compositions that include the highly-swellable polymeric film and an ingestible component. Aspects further include methods of making and using the compositions.

1 .- 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A device comprising:
 a framework;   a control device coupled to the framework;   a partial power source coupled to the control device and configured to provide power to the control device when activated, the partial power source comprising an anode material and a cathode material; and   a highly-swellable polymeric film that rapidly swells without disintegrating upon contact with an aqueous medium external to the device, and covers at least one of the anode material and the cathode material;   wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film is pre-fabricated to:
 in a first mode of operation, increase shelf-life stability of the device by inhibiting reaction of at least one of the anode material and the cathode material with ambient moisture while the device is in storage; and 
 in a second mode of operation:
 swell upon contact with the aqueous medium; and 
 upon swelling, provide conduction between the aqueous medium and at least one of the anode material and the cathode material that the highly-swellable polymeric film is covering. 
 
   
     
     
         41 . The device according to  claim 40 , wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film rapidly swells to ten times or greater in volume upon contact with the aqueous medium. 
     
     
         42 . The device according to  claim 41 , wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film swells to ten times or greater in volume within one minute or less upon contact with the aqueous medium. 
     
     
         43 . The device according to  claim 40 , wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film is configured to absorb ten grams or more of water per gram of film upon contact the aqueous medium. 
     
     
         44 . The device according to  claim 40 , wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film comprises an ionic polymer. 
     
     
         45 . The device according to  claim 44 , wherein the ionic polymer is a polysaccharide. 
     
     
         46 . The device according to  claim 45 , wherein the polysaccharide is an alginate. 
     
     
         47 . The device according to  claim 46 , wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film further comprises a carboxyl functional group. 
     
     
         48 . The device according to  claim 47 , wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film comprises a polyacrylic acid. 
     
     
         49 . The device according to  claim 40 , wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film comprises cross-linked polymers. 
     
     
         50 . The device according to  claim 40 , wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film further comprises a porogen. 
     
     
         51 . The device according to  claim 40 , wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film has a thickness of ten microns or greater. 
     
     
         52 . The device according to  claim 40 , wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film is stably associated with an ingestible event indicator. 
     
     
         53 . A system comprising:
 an ingestible device sized to be minimally dimensioned for ingestion, the ingestible device comprising:
 a framework; 
 a control device coupled to the framework; 
 a partial power source coupled to the control device and configured to provide power to the control device when activated, the partial power source comprising an anode material and a cathode material; and 
 a highly-swellable polymeric film that rapidly swells without disintegrating upon contact with an aqueous medium external to the ingestible device, and covers at least one of the anode material and the cathode material; 
 wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film is pre-fabricated to:
 in a first mode of operation, increase shelf-life stability of the ingestible device by inhibiting reaction of at least one of the anode material and the cathode material with ambient moisture while the ingestible device is in storage; and 
 in a second mode of operation:
 swell upon contact with the aqueous medium; and 
 upon swelling, provide conduction between the aqueous medium and at least one of the anode material and the cathode material that the highly-swellable polymeric film is covering; and 
 
 
   a receiver configured to receive a communication associated with the ingestible device.   
     
     
         54 . The system according to  claim 53 , wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film rapidly swells to ten times or greater in volume upon contact with the aqueous medium. 
     
     
         55 . The system according to  claim 53 , wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film is further pre-fabricated to, in the second mode of operation, provide signal amplification by increasing a length of a current path between the anode material and cathode material. 
     
     
         56 . The system according to  claim 53 , further comprising an active agent associated with the ingestible device. 
     
     
         57 . The system according to  claim 56 , further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and wherein the ingestible device is coupled to the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         58 . The system according to  claim 57 , wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film is further configured to separate the ingestible device from the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier upon swelling. 
     
     
         59 . A method comprising:
 accessing an ingestible device sized to be minimally dimensioned for ingestion, the ingestible device comprising:
 a framework; 
 a control device coupled to the framework; 
 a partial power source coupled to the control device and configured to provide power to the control device when activated, the partial power source comprising an anode material and a cathode material; 
   accessing a highly-swellable polymeric film; and   combining the ingestible device and the highly-swellable polymeric film, such that the highly-swellable polymeric film covers at least one of the anode material and the cathode material;   wherein the highly-swellable polymeric film is pre-fabricated to:
 in a first mode of operation, increase shelf-life stability of the ingestible device by inhibiting reaction of at least one of the anode material and the cathode material with ambient moisture while the ingestible device is in storage; and 
 in a second mode of operation:
 rapidly swell without disintegrating upon contact with an aqueous medium external to the ingestible device; and 
 upon swelling, provide conduction between the aqueous medium and at least one of the anode material and the cathode material that the highly-swellable polymeric film is covering.