Swallowable Electronic Devices
The pills, made by Proteus
Digital Health, have sand-
particle-sized silicon chips with
small amounts of magnesium
and copper on them. After
they're swallowed, they generate voltage as they make
contact with digestive juices.
That signals a patch on the
person's skin, which then
relays a message to a mobile
phone given to a healthcare provider. It's only been
approved for use with
placebos right now, but the
company is hoping to get it
approved for use with other
drugs (which would be where it would get the most use).
Even if there's a slight whiff of
dystopia about a pill that
tracks your actions, it does
help with a major problem.
Patients aren't the best at
taking their pills, especially those suffering from chronic
illnesses, so it's one step of
many toward a future where
they don't have to.
small amounts of magnesium
and copper on them. After
they're swallowed, they generate voltage as they make
contact with digestive juices.
That signals a patch on the
person's skin, which then
relays a message to a mobile
phone given to a healthcare provider. It's only been
approved for use with
placebos right now, but the
company is hoping to get it
approved for use with other
drugs (which would be where it would get the most use).
Even if there's a slight whiff of
dystopia about a pill that
tracks your actions, it does
help with a major problem.
Patients aren't the best at
taking their pills, especially those suffering from chronic
illnesses, so it's one step of
many toward a future where
they don't have to.
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