MelCap Develops Swallowable Electronic Pill to Treat Obesity, Eating Disorders

MelCap Systems, an Israeli firm, has developed a new way of treating obesity and other eating conditions. The company introduced a swallowable electronic pill that stimulates the stomach to make it believe it's full.

To begin the therapy, the pill is swallowed and an external magnet is used to position it in a specific spot within the stomach, be it near the lower esophagus sphincter or in proximity to the vagus nerve. The pill unfurls a mesh filled with inflated particles and a wireless device is then used to activate the pill.

When it receives the signal, the pill delivers a series of electrical pulses to the lining of the stomach, stimulating the organ. Depending on the pill's location, different effects can be achieved to tailor the therapy to the individual patients' needs.

This is still a technology waiting for further development and requires confirmation using clinical trials, but MelCap is forging ahead and hopes to have a product ready to market hopefully sometime next year.



Source: Medindia