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

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2026-01-27
- Length: 14m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-27-240-swallow-confirmed-smart-pills-that-ping-from-your-stomach
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/240-swallow-confirmed-smart-pills-that-ping-from-your-stomach-ASvim8n_

## Summary

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.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-27-240-swallow-confirmed-smart-pills-that-ping-from-your-stomach#t=0) Introduction and Sponsor: Mouser Electronics
- [2:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-27-240-swallow-confirmed-smart-pills-that-ping-from-your-stomach#t=125) The Problem: Medication Adherence and Health Risks
- [5:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-27-240-swallow-confirmed-smart-pills-that-ping-from-your-stomach#t=317) Previous Solutions: RFID Tags and Biodegradability Issues
- [9:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-27-240-swallow-confirmed-smart-pills-that-ping-from-your-stomach#t=564) MIT's Smart Pill: Zinc Antenna and Cellulose Coating
- [11:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-27-240-swallow-confirmed-smart-pills-that-ping-from-your-stomach#t=708) System Requirements: External Readers and Wearables
- [13:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-27-240-swallow-confirmed-smart-pills-that-ping-from-your-stomach#t=784) Future Improvements: Chipless RFID Possibilities

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (company)
- Mouser Electronics (company)
- zinc antenna (other)
- RFID (other)
- cellulose (material)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Journey from Idea to Success with Mike Morena of AdhereTech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-01-06-the-journey-from-idea-to-success-with-mike-morena-of-adheretech) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [Ep021: Chasing Rockets, Tripping on Synthesizers, an IoT Security Fail, and Alzheimer's Detection](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-05-31-ep021-chasing-rockets-tripping-on-synthesizers-an-iot-security-fail-and-alzheime) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 271: Audio Delay in a Hose, Ribbon Cable Repair, and DIY Hacker Metrology](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-17-ep-271-audio-delay-in-a-hose-ribbon-cable-repair-and-diy-hacker-metrology) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Pet Tracking with IoT-Enabled Smart Collars | Halo Collar's Ken Ehrman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-06-14-pet-tracking-with-iot-enabled-smart-collars-halo-collars-ken-ehrman) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [103 - Prescription Reconciliation, Medication Error Reduction, Automated Home Care, Assisted Robotics, Patient Behavioral Monitoring, and the future of Clinical Trials with Charles Gellman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lets-combinate/2023-09-20-103-prescription-reconciliation-medication-error-reduction-automated-home-care-a) (Let's Combinate)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2026-01-27-240-swallow-confirmed-smart-pills-that-ping-from-your-stomach. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Next Byte Podcast.