This New Capsule Sends a Signal From Inside Your Stomach, And Then Disappears
Indian Defence Review••health
Key Points:
- MIT researchers have developed a bioresorbable capsule with a zinc-cellulose antenna and ultra-small RFID chip that emits a radio signal upon ingestion, enabling real-time verification of medication intake by healthcare providers.
- The capsule’s components, including a biodegradable metal coating, dissolve safely in the digestive tract within minutes to days, with only the tiny RFID chip passing through the body without harm, minimizing environmental and health risks.
- This technology targets patients requiring strict medication adherence, such as organ transplant recipients and those undergoing long-term treatment for infections like HIV or tuberculosis, addressing a major issue linked to over 125,000 preventable deaths annually in the U.S.
- In animal studies, the capsule successfully transmitted signals from inside the stomach to external receivers, confirming
