Temperature-Activated Vibrating Capsule for GI Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gastrointestinal treatment methods lack an effective mechanism for activating vibrating capsules at the precise moment they enter the human body, leading to false activations and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A vibrating ingestible capsule equipped with a temperature sensor and control element that activates the vibrating agitator only when a specific temperature transition pattern, indicating ingestion, is detected, ensuring accurate activation within the human body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the vibrating capsule is activated based on simple temperature threshold detection, then the activation mechanism is simple and low-cost, but false activations occur due to temporary temperature fluctuations or external heat sources
Solution Approach 1:
The control element is programmed with predetermined temperature-over-time patterns that represent expected ingestion scenarios. The system performs preliminary analysis of temperature trends before triggering activation, comparing real-time data against pre-defined criteria to distinguish true ingestion events from false positives
Solution Approach 2:
The control element continuously monitors temperature readings and compares the measured temperature-over-time pattern against the predetermined pattern. Activation is triggered only when the measured pattern corresponds to the expected ingestion pattern, providing feedback-based verification to eliminate false activations
2Measurement precision
If the capsule monitors temperature continuously at high frequency, then the detection precision of temperature transitions is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control element dynamically adjusts the monitoring strategy based on detected temperature trends. When a temperature transition matching the predetermined pattern is detected, the system increases measurement frequency to precisely capture the transition moment for activation triggering. During stable temperature periods, monitoring frequency is reduced to conserve battery power
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
The solution ensures precise activation of the capsule within the gastrointestinal tract, reducing false positives and enhancing treatment efficacy by utilizing a temperature transition pattern that includes a rapid rise to and stability within human body temperature.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor adapted to produce temperature information signals
Implementation Method 2
compare a measured temperature-over-time pattern, which is based on the series of temperature information signals, to a predetermined temperature-over-time pattern
Implementation Method 3
a vibrating agitator adapted such that, in a first vibrating mode of operation, the housing exerts vibrations on an environment surrounding the capsule
Data Source
AI summary
A vibrating ingestible capsule includes a housing, and having a vibrating agitator adapted such that, in a first vibrating mode of operation, the housing exerts vibrations on an environment surrounding the capsule. A temperature sensor produces temperature information signals. A control element receives a series of temperature information signals from the temperature sensor, compares a measured temperature-over-time pattern, which is based on the series of temperature information signals, to a predetermined temperature-over-time pattern, and, after the measured temperature-over-time corresponds to the predetermined temperature-over-time pattern, activates the vibrating agitator to operate in the first vibrating mode of operation. The predetermined temperature-over-time pattern includes a temperature transition from a first temperature to a second temperature within human body temperature range, which may exceeds the first temperature by a temperature differential of at least 3° C. A rate of the temperature transition may be at least 4° C. per hour.