Title : Development and Test of a Resorbable Electronic Pill
Speaker: UPADHYE VIVEKANAND MINANATH. of Ph.D.(Engg)
Date/Time: Oct 27 / 3 PM
Venue: IAP Lecture Hall -2
Research Supervisor: Sanjiv Sambandan
Abstract:
This thesis presents the design and development of a digestible capsule for tracking its movement through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, intended as a low-cost diagnostic solution for decentralized healthcare, especially in rural settings. Unlike traditional diagnostic capsules that require retrieval, this system uses safe, edible materials—removing the need for post-excretion recovery and allowing the capsule to dissolve harmlessly.
The system is based on mutual inductive coupling between a wearable external belt and a passive in-body capsule, with no internal batteries or active electronics. The ingestible capsule includes a flexible pH sensor based on copper–zinc galvanic reactions, capable of detecting local acidity changes and ejecting itself for short-range detection. A wireless receiver with an Android interface was also developed for real-time signal monitoring.
In addition to the capsule, the thesis explores other edible electronic components—such as sugar-based diodes and melanin-conductive films—demonstrated independently as part of a broader effort toward fully edible circuit design. The complete tracking system was validated in non-human primate trials, confirming capsule detection within the gut and supporting the feasibility of edible electronics for minimally invasive diagnostics.