Patent ID: 8682440

Claim:
A swallowable capsule for stimulating L-cells in the intestinal track of a patient, the capsule comprising: a capsule body having a surface; the capsule body sized to be swallowed and pass through the intestinal tract of a patient; at least one pair of electrodes disposed on the capsule body surface configured to electrically stimulate the L-cells; at least one sensor coupled to the capsule body for sensing a property of the intestinal track to determine a location of the capsule within the intestinal tract; a controller coupled to the least one pair of electrodes and the at least one sensor, the controller disposed within the capsule body and configured to receive an input signal from the least one sensor, determine a location of the capsule within the intestinal tract based on the input and generate a waveform outputted to the at least one pair of electrodes, the waveform configured to electrically stimulate L-cells proximate the capsule location to secrete a polypeptide without causing a peristaltic contraction the intestinal tract; a power source coupled to the controller; and wherein the capsule is configured to electrically stimulate L-cells along an entire length of the intestinal tract.