Hardware Podcasts

240. Swallow Confirmed: Smart Pills That “Ping” From Your Stomach

The Next Byte Podcast · 27 Jan 2026 · 14m

What this episode covers

Hosts from The Next Byte Podcast discuss a smart pill developed by MIT that proves medication adherence by transmitting a signal from the stomach. The device uses a biodegradable zinc antenna and a cellulose Faraday cage to activate only after ingestion, minimizing the non-biodegradable residue to a tiny RF chip. The hosts highlight how this technology addresses the critical issue of missed doses in treatments for organ transplants and infectious diseases, while noting the requirement for an external wearable reader.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mouser Electronics
Materials
cellulose
Also
zinc antenna, RFID

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