- Joined
- May 14, 2008
- Messages
- 20,061
- Reaction score
- 6,866
Vibratory Ingestible BioElectronic Stimulator, or VIBES for short, stimulates nerve endings that sense stomach expansion, tricking the brain into thinking the stomach is full.
“The capsule, about the size of a large vitamin, houses a tiny motor that starts vibrating when it hits the stomach, stimulating the organ’s stretch receptors,” according to MIT Technology Review magazine.
The current version of VIBES is designed to vibrate for 30 minutes after arriving in the stomach, but researchers plan to explore the possibility of it remaining there longer, with the ability to be able to turn it on or off wirelessly.
During animal testing, the pills passed through the digestive track in about four to five days.
“The animals did not show any signs of obstruction, perforation, or other negative impacts while the pill was in their digestive tract,” MIT’s release said.
Engineers develop a vibrating, ingestible capsule that might help treat obesity
MIT engineers designed an ingestible capsule that vibrates within the stomach, creating an illusory sense of fullness and reducing appetite. The pill could offer a minimally invasive, cost-effective way to treat obesity.
news.mit.edu