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NEWS: The Age 19 Aug 03: 'Intelligent pill' could be on sale within five years

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BigTrancer

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'Intelligent pill' could be on sale within five years
London
August 19, 2003

An "intelligent pill" that dispenses precise amounts of medicine according to what the body needs could be on sale in five years, say researchers.

The "iPill" being developed by Canadian scientists is an electrical device the size of a small coin containing a micropump and sensors.

Once swallowed, the pill measures the body's temperature and acidity balance at several locations, and responds by delivering more or less medicine from an internal reservoir.

The iPill's inventor, electrical engineer Dr Wael Badawy, has already produced a prototype made from stomach acid-resistant plastic.

He believes the iPill, which could be sold for just seven pence (17 Australian cents), not including the cost of the medicine, will help to minimise the side effects of cancer or HIV treatments.

It could also prevent accidents caused by overdoses of pain relievers, which can damage the kidneys and liver.

Badawy, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Calgary, said: "Any patient who is prescribed a pill that has to be swallowed should be able to benefit from this device.

"In production, the delivery system will cost between 10 and 20 US cents apiece."

The iPill's electronics cover just 400 square micrometres - the area of 10 blood cells.

Each pill can store one ml of medicine in its reservoir, The Engineer magazine reported.

Sensors feed data back to a microprocessor which applies an electrical current to the pump, forcing the drug down a channel and out of the pill.

The system is driven by "batteries" made from layers of metal able to provide power for up to four hours.

As well as limiting doses, the iPill can be programmed to release drugs at regular intervals - particularly useful in the treatment of diseases such as cancer.

The emptied pill passes through the body within one to three days and is eliminated naturally.

Laboratory tests have shown that the system works, and animal trials are planned within the next year.

Badawy believes it will be approved for human use within five years. He is now developing a more advanced power source that can extend the iPill's lifespan to between 12 and 24 hours.

From: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/19/1061059808302.html
Click to expand...

It's been years since I've heard of a new drug delivery system, this sounds really cool. I wonder how on earth it knows where it is in the body.

BigTrancer :)
 
It's got metal in it, yet it is "eliminated naturally". Does that mean it finds it's way out in yer stools, or it's actually broken down by your digestive system?

Cheers BT, very interesting indeed...

:)
 
I get the idea that it finds it's way out still in tact... Yep this is some highly advanced technology in the way of cold & flu tablets!
 
They predict it will be approved in 5 years. Imagine the technology being adopted by clandestine manufacturers (not home cooks variety) in the far future to release drugs such as MDMA in multiple perfect doses to create a perfect experience and stop at the right time when no MDMA stops having any effect (for me after about 3 pills).
 
Just memtntion MDMA and this device and the possibilities are endless. Im not sure if thats good or bad. :)
 
This is actually nanotech surely? This reminds me of that Martin Short film Inner Space....:)
 
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