smart pill

Medication that lets doctors know whether and when patients have taken it. One version is a single-use, ingestible capsule that allows your physician to monitor pressure, pH, and temperature through your entire GI tract. 

Historical perspective: In a landmark move in December 2017, the Food and Drug Administration  approved the first digital pill. The “smart pill” in question consists of Abilify, a medication for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and a minuscule tracking system. Once the tablet reaches the gut and comes into contact with stomach acid, an embedded sensor the size of a grain of sand sends an electrical signal to a patch worn on the patient’s skin. The patch then wirelessly relays the signal to up to five predesignated smartphones, verifying the date and time the drug was ingested.