Ingestible Capsule For Appetite Regulation

• US 20080065168A1
• Filed: 12/05/2006
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tylerton International Inc.
• Original Assignee: MetaCure Limited (MetaCure (USA), Inc.)
• Inventors: Bitton, Ophir, Rousso, Benny, Policker, Shai
• Granted Patent: US 8,295,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/40
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/00 Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor A61N2/00 takes precedence; irradiation apparatus A61N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36082 Cognitive or psychiatric applications, e.g. dementia or Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

A method is provided for treating a subject. The method includes administering to the subject an ingestible capsule containing one or more flexible support elements adapted to expand while in a stomach of the subject, thereby bringing a plurality of electrodes into contact with a wall of the stomach. The method also includes driving the electrodes to apply an electrical signal to the stomach wall at first and second times, the second time at last 24 hours after the first time. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A method for treating a subject, comprising:

administering to the subject an ingestible capsule containing one or more flexible support elements adapted to expand while in a stomach of the subject, thereby bringing a plurality of electrodes into contact with a wall of the stomach; and

driving the electrodes to apply an electrical signal to the stomach wall at first and second times, the second time at least 24 hours after the first time.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising sensing a parameter in a vicinity of the capsule, and transmitting an indication of the parameter from the capsule to a site outside of the subject.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein administering the ingestible capsule comprises administering the capsule prior to eating by the subject.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising receiving an input from the subject indicative of the subject eating, wherein applying the signal comprises applying the signal in response to receiving the input.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein driving the electrodes comprises modulating a blood glucose level of the subject by stimulating a non-gastric organ.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein driving the electrodes comprises modulating a blood-hormone level associated with pancreatic activity.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein driving the electrodes comprises driving the electrodes to apply an Excitable-Tissue Control (ETC) signal to the stomach wall.

12. The method according to claim 1, comprising applying the electrical signal to the wall of the stomach at at least one time between the first and second times.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein driving the electrical signal comprises:

measuring a parameter of a vicinity of the electrodes; and

in response to the measuring, driving the electrodes to apply the electrical signal to the stomach wall.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein driving the electrodes comprises modulating a rate of slow wave propagation in the stomach.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein driving the electrodes comprises reducing a likelihood of the subject overeating.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein driving the electrodes comprises configuring the signal to modulate a parameter of a contraction generated by stomach muscle of the subject.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein modulating the parameter comprises increasing satiety of the subject.

23. The method according to claim 1, comprising transmitting data to the ingestible capsule, from outside a body of the subject, subsequent to administering the capsule.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein transmitting the data comprises transmitting a start time of eating.

28. The method according to claim 23, comprising receiving an indication of a state of the subject from the ingestible capsule, and wherein transmitting comprises transmitting the data to the ingestible capsule in response to the received indication.

38. The method according to claim 1, wherein driving the electrodes to apply the electrical signal comprises configuring the electrical signal to increase satiety of the subject.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein driving the electrodes to apply the electrical signal comprises:

detecting eating by the subject; and

driving the electrodes responsively to the detection of the eating.

42. The method according to claim 39, wherein detecting eating by the subject comprises:

identifying a migrating motor complex (MMC) characterized by a change in an electrical activity of an antrum of the subject; and

modulating a threshold level of the eating detection in response thereto.

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49. Apparatus for treating a subject, comprising:

a plurality of electrodes;

one or more flexible support elements, which are coupled to the electrodes, and are adapted to expand in a stomach of a subject, such that at least a portion of the electrodes comes in contact with a wall of the stomach at least a portion of the time that the electrodes are in the stomach, the support elements adapted to remain in the stomach for at least 24 hours;

a control unit, adapted to drive the electrodes to apply an electrical signal to the stomach wall; and

an ingestible capsule, adapted to hold the support elements, electrodes, and control unit during ingestion of the capsule by the subject, and to release the support elements, electrodes, and control unit in the stomach.

50. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the control unit and the electrodes are configured to remain in the stomach for at least one week.

54. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the control unit is adapted to drive the electrodes to apply an Excitable-Tissue Control (ETC) signal to the stomach wall.

55. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the ingestible capsule comprises a material configured to dissolve in the stomach.

56. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the support elements comprise electrically conductive sections which are configured to function as electrodes.

57. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprise one or more local sense electrodes.

58. The apparatus according to claim 49, comprising at least one physiological sensor, and wherein the control unit is configured to drive the electrodes in response to a signal from the physiological sensor.

60. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the support elements are configured to remain expanded for a time period, and to collapse at the end of the time period, facilitating passage of the apparatus from the stomach.

63. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the support elements comprise a dissolvable material configured to dissolve and allow passage of the apparatus from the stomach.

64. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the control unit is adapted to configure the electrical signal to increase satiety of the subject.

65. The apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the control unit is adapted to detect eating by the subject, and to drive the electrodes to increase the satiety of the subject responsively to the detection of the eating.

72. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein the apparatus comprises an external communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with the control unit.

73. The apparatus according to claim 72, wherein the external communication device is configured to transmit data representing a stimulation protocol for the plurality of electrodes, from outside a body of the subject to the control unit.

74. The apparatus according to claim 72, wherein the external communication device comprises an input device configured to receive input from the subject, and wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the input to the control unit.

75. The apparatus according to claim 72, wherein the external communication device is configured to receive from the control unit a transmission indicative of a state of the stomach.

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