ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED INGESTIBLE CAPSULE FOR SAMPLING FLUIDS IN ALIMENTARY TRACT

摘要

An ingestible electrical capsule system (1400) for acquiring samples along the alimentary tract of a patient is provided. The capsule system (1400) includes a housing (102) having at least one aperture (970); at least one impervious collection chamber (1402) disposed within the housing (102) and having at least one aperture in fluid communication with a respective aperture of the housing (102); and at least one closure member (966). Individual closure members (966) are associated with a respective aperature of the at least one collection chamber (1402), wherein the individual closure members (966) are actuatable between an open state for permitting flow of the fluid through the respective closure member into the associated collection chamber (1402) for acquiring a sample of ambient fluid, and a closed state for substantially blocking flow of fluid into and out of the associated collection chamber (1402) for storing the acquired sample. The capsule system (1400) further includes control circuitry (906) for controlling actuation of the at least one closure member (966).