Philips’ new intelligent pill (iPill) technology has the potential to take intelligent drug delivery to the next level. As the first pill that combines technologies for localized drug release with the ability to measure the internal environment and communicate this information to the outside world – without the need for large machines or wires.
Philips Research has developed a pill (iPill) that has been designed to be swallowed with food or water like a regular pill. This iPill is more a drug-filled capsule that uses the natural digestion process to reach the intestines and then deliver treatment at a specific spot. Once there, iPill has the technology on board to take specific internal measurements, such as temperature and acidity levels, and wirelessly transmit the data via a transceiver to an external unit for the doctor to monitor. (Credit: Philips Electronics)
