Pharma-informatics system

Abstract

An apparatus that includes a partial power source including a first material and a second material, the partial power source configured to generate, upon contact with a conducting medium, a potential difference between the first material and the second material to provide power to a control device, and generate, using the first material and the second material, a current flow within the conducting medium, the current flow including information encoded based on a variable conductance between the first material and the second material.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for communicating information within a body of a patient, the system comprising:
 an ingestible identifier comprising:
 a partial power source comprising a first material and a second material, the partial power source configured to generate, upon contact with an electrically conductive medium in an internal target physiological site of the patient, a potential difference between the first material and the second material to provide power to a circuit; 
 the circuit configured to generate a magnetic signal encoding information signifying that the ingestible identifier has been activated; and 
 a membrane at least partially surrounding the circuit; and 
   a receiver comprising a receiver element configured to receive the magnetic signal transmitted by the ingestible identifier, wherein the receiver comprises a data storage element, and wherein the data storage element is configured to store the encoded information from the magnetic signal.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the ingestible identifier further comprises a coil, and the circuit is configured to generate the magnetic signal by creating an oscillating current that is transmitted to the coil to generate the magnetic signal. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the receiver further comprises a magnetic-signal detection mechanism configured to receive the magnetic signal. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the receiver has a form factor that is configured to be worn by the patient. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the receiver is further configured to retransmit the encoded information to a separate external device. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the receiver further comprises RF circuitry and is configured to retransmit the encoded information to the separate external device by using an RF communication protocol. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the receiver further comprises a physiological sensor. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the data storage element is further configured to store data comprising at least one of time, date and identity of an ingested composition associated with when the receiver receives the encoded data from the ingestible device. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the ingestible identifier further comprises a coil configured to receive an interrogation signal to apprise a transmitter of the interrogation signal of a presence and identity of the ingestible identifier. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the receiver further comprises a notification mechanism. 
     
     
         31 . A receiver for receiving information from an ingestible identifier activated within a body of a patient, the receiver comprising:
 a receiver element configured to receive a magnetic signal transmitted by the ingestible identifier, wherein the receiver comprises a data storage element, and wherein the data storage element is configured to store the encoded information from the magnetic signal;   and wherein the magnetic signal is transmitted to the receiver by:
 the ingestible identifier being activated by a partial power source comprising a first material and a second material, the partial power source configured to generate, upon contact with an electrically conductive medium in an internal target physiological site of the patient, a potential difference between the first material and the second material to provide power to a circuit; and 
 after being activated, the circuit of the ingestible identifier generating the magnetic signal encoding information signifying that the ingestible identifier has been activated. 
   
     
     
         32 . The receiver of  claim 31 , further comprising a magnetic-signal detection mechanism configured to receive the magnetic signal. 
     
     
         33 . The receiver of  claim 31 , having a form factor that is configured to be worn by the patient. 
     
     
         34 . The receiver of  claim 31 , further configured to retransmit the encoded information to a separate external device. 
     
     
         35 . The receiver of  claim 34 , further comprising RF circuitry and wherein the receiver is configured to retransmit the encoded information to the separate external device by using an RF communication protocol. 
     
     
         36 . The receiver of  claim 31 , further comprising a physiological sensor. 
     
     
         37 . The receiver of  claim 31 , wherein the data storage element is further configured to store data comprising at least one of time, date and identity of an ingested composition associated with when the receiver receives the encoded data from the ingestible device. 
     
     
         38 . The receiver of  claim 31 , further comprising a notification mechanism.