Patent ID: 8784308

Claim:
A pharmaceutical product comprising: a pill; and a device including a top and a bottom, and secured to the pill, wherein the device comprises: a non-conductive skirt that defines a central cavity; a control unit positioned in the central cavity defined by the skirt, wherein the control unit includes at least a first material and a second material, wherein the first material is dissimilar from the second material, and wherein the first and second materials are positioned on opposite sides of the control unit and electrically connected thereto, wherein the first material is exposable at a first side of the skirt and the second material is exposable at a second side of the skirt such that the skirt separates the two dissimilar materials when exposed, wherein, when the first and second materials are exposed and in contact with a conductive fluid a voltage potential for powering the control unit is generated and a current flow is produced through the conductive fluid between the first and second materials that extends around the non-conductive skirt, and wherein the control unit, when powered, modulates the current flow to generate a current signature with information encoded in the current signature; and a securing portion on the bottom of the device for securing the device to the pill.