Ingestible Biosensing Capsule with Thread-Based Sensors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for observing conditions within the gastrointestinal tract are invasive and require significant pre-operative cooperation from patients, making it difficult to study localized changes in the gastrointestinal tract effectively.

Innovation Solution

A capsule with an electrochemical sensor and circuitry that uses measurements of environmental variables like acidity, oxygen concentration, and other parameters to determine its location within the gastrointestinal tract, allowing for targeted sampling and data collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If invasive procedures like endoscopy or biopsy are used to observe conditions within the gastrointestinal tract, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and patient burden increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical invasive procedures (endoscopy, biopsy) with a simple ingestible capsule containing electrochemical sensors. The capsule uses electrochemical sensing to detect pH, oxygen, and other gastrointestinal parameters, substituting mechanical intrusion with chemical/electrical measurement methods that are far less invasive and equally precise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential measurement function from complex invasive procedures and isolates it into a minimal capsule device. By taking out only the necessary sensing capabilities (electrochemical sensors for pH, O2, etc.) and removing all unnecessary mechanical components, the system achieves high measurement precision with minimal device complexity and patient burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If invasive procedures are used to study localized changes in the gastrointestinal tract, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to required pre-operative cooperation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical procedures requiring patient cooperation (positioning, sedation, procedure coordination) with a simple swallowable capsule. The electrochemical sensors automatically measure gastrointestinal conditions without requiring patient actions beyond ingestion, thereby maintaining measurement precision while dramatically improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The capsule performs measurements autonomously after being swallowed. The electrochemical sensors self-regulate and continuously monitor pH, oxygen, and other parameters without requiring external control or patient cooperation. The capsule serves itself by navigating the GI tract independently and conducting all measurements autonomously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the capsule uses multiple electrochemical sensors to measure various parameters, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The capsule employs multiple electrochemical sensors that can detect various gastrointestinal parameters (pH, oxygen, bile acids, enzymes). This multi-functional sensor array allows the single capsule device to adapt to different measurement needs and gastrointestinal conditions, achieving high versatility without proportionally increasing overall device complexity through shared sensor architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables non-invasive, targeted sampling and data collection within the gastrointestinal tract, providing precise information about environmental conditions and allowing for more effective study and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders.

Implementation Method 1

an electrochemical sensor disposed on the capsule... configured to use the electrochemical sensor to obtain a measurement of a parameter within the gastrointestinal tract

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochemical sensing:

Implementation Method 2

Among these are electrochemical sensors that have been functionalized for measurement of acidity or alkalinity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectpH measurement:

Implementation Method 3

an electrochemical sensor disposed on the capsule... configured to use the electrochemical sensor to obtain a measurement of a parameter within the gastrointestinal tract

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochemical sensing:

Implementation Method 4

Among these are... dissolved oxygen concentration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxygen concentration measurement:

Implementation Method 5

The reed switch changes state in response to an applied magnetic field so as to start the motor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field detection: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS20250040891A1Ingestible Biosensing Capsule with Integrated Thread-Based Sensors

Publication Date: 2025.02.06 TRUSTEES OF TUFTS COLLEGE

AI summary

A capsule for passage through a gastrointestinal tract includes an electrochemical sensor disposed thereon and circuitry disposed within it. The circuitry uses the electrochemical sensor to obtain a measurement of a parameter within said gastrointestinal tract.