Gastric Residence Electronics

Technology

This invention is a combination of both a device and its methodology.  

Device:  

• Made of 3D-printed layers of elastomeric and biocompatible polymer. 

• Stable in acidic environments and strong enough to sustain functions throughout the GI tract. 

• Integrated with a power system to drive its sensors and personalized drug delivery reservoirs as well as its communications and control system. 

• The re-configurable structure allows a change in format from an ingestible pill to an expanded retention form within the stomach. The change in structure is triggered upon dissolution of its water-soluble exterior gelatin capsule that effectively increases the device’s diameter to prevent passing into the small intestine. 

Methodology: 

• Once the GRE is ingested and expanded, the device can communicate information, monitor an individual’s vital signs through sensors, and deliver personalized drugs.

• The GRE is compatible with personal devices, such as smart phones, and empowers users to directly communicate and control the long-residence device without specialized equipment. This feature allows for seamless interconnection with other wireless electronics peripherals, wearable devices, and biomedical implants, enabling real-time feedback-based automated treatment or responsive mediation.

• The device can connect to the digital cloud via personal electronics enabling remote health management and monitoring, including data collections supporting clinical studies and compliance.

• Once the desired period of residence is over, the GRE disintegrates and safely passes through from the gastric space. 

Problem Addressed

Most long-term human body electronics must be implanted through invasive procedures, and require a specialized receiver to communicate. Ingestible electronics have numerous useful functions, such as monitoring temperature, pH, and pressure, and the devices can include biomolecular sensors, wireless identification microchips, gas sensors, cameras for wireless imaging and endoscopy, and modules for drug delivery. However, they are generally incapable of maintaining a stable long-residence in the stomach. The Gastric Resident Electronics (GRE) is free of such problems because it is ingestible, maintains numerous functionalities, and has the stability to reside in the stomach long-term.  

Advantages

• Does not require invasive procedures for long-term residence inside the body. 
• Can be tailored and optimized via 3D-printing to achieve a desired residence period, including distinct geometry requirements of the organ. 
• Can be administered orally, rectally, vaginally, nasally, or urethrally.   

Publications

Yong Lin Kong, et al. 3D-Printed Gastric Resident Electronics. Advanced Materials Technologies. 2018 Dec 13. doi: 10.1002/admt.201800490