Scientists Develop “Intelligent Pill”

Scientists have developed a device they call the intelligent pill, or “iPill”. No, it doesn’t make you smarter. This pill is actually designed to release medication to specific areas of the body.

Dutch group Philips, which is one of the world’s biggest hospital equipment makers, state that the pill measures acidity with a sensor which determines its location in the gut, and then will proceed to release drugs where they are needed.

The “iPill” is made up of a microprocessor, battery, wireless radio, pump and a drug reservoir which releases medication into the body.

This device allows for the opportunity to deliver lower doses of medicine, since it can target a specific area of the body, thus resulting in less side effects. The “iPill” can also record temperatures in certain areas of the body and report back the results wirelessly through an external receiver.

Philips plans to introduce this device at the annual meeting of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) in Atlanta in November.

While the “iPill” is currently a prototype, Philips believes that the pill, which measures just 11 x 26 mm, is suitable for serial manufacturing.


Source: Reuters