'Smart Pill': Microchips Monitor Patient's Medication

A new "smart pill" product that contains embedded microchips may be able to help monitor patients' medication use. Thanks to Proteus Digital Health, a privately held biotech company from the United States, they've decided to set up manufacturing sites in the United Kingdom and involve producing companies, such as Novaritis and Otsuka, with plans that include hiring potentially 200 staff members to manufacture the product.

According to Donald Cowling, the managing director at the company, Proteus chose Britain as the country for manufacturing due to tax breaks, its expertise in testing products and the high-tech manufacturing sites available.

Proteus already has European and U.S. approval for the "smart pill" technology system, according to Reuters. This tiny sensor is embedded in a tablet that's linked to a patch worn on the patients' abdomen. Yet the sensor contains no battery or antenna and can be activated by natural juices that are present in the stomach. In other words, the patch works by sending information via Bluetooth to the device, such as a tablet or even a smartphone.

Once the sensor picks of the information, a doctor is informed of whether or not their patients are taking their medications properly. The device also picks up on other medical information, including heart rate.

As the smart pill primarily tracks individuals medicine intake, many teams from Britain's National Health Service aim to study the benefits of the technology for such uses as treating high blood pressure, among other health issues.

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