Patent ID: 8755888

Claim:
A gastrointestinal electro stimulation system including: (I) a remote controlled capsule adapted for ingression into the gastrointestinal tract of a patient, (II) a remote control device for controlling and sharing information with said capsule, and (III) a magnetic coupling system for securing said capsule within the gastrointestinal tract of the patient, wherein said capsule has a main body portion and a plurality of electrodes arranged in electrical isolation from each other, said capsule containing: (a) a first RF transceiver operative to receive capsule operating instructions from and to transmit information to said remote control device; (b) a capsule control unit electrically coupled to said first RF transceiver and operative to process said received operating instructions; (c) a pulse generator electrically coupled to said capsule control unit and to said electrodes and configured to activate said electrodes so as to emit electrical stimuli pulses in accordance with said operating instructions; and (d) a power supply for supplying electrical power to said first RF transceiver, to said control unit and to said pulse generator, wherein said remote control device comprises: (e) a system control unit operative to generate said operating instructions; (f) a second RF transceiver coupled to said system control unit and configured to transmit said operating instructions and to receive information from said first RF transceiver, and wherein said magnetic coupling system comprises: (g) a first magnetic element associated with said capsule and a second magnetic element configured for placement externally of the body of the patient, wherein selectable operation of said pulse generator is operative to expose to electrical stimuli a portion of the gastrointestinal tract where said capsule is secured, and wherein said capsule is further adapted for egression from the pyloric region of the gastrointestinal tract after at least a predetermined dwell time therein, and wherein said main body portion of said capsule includes: at least one gastric juice-responsive expandable element adapted for storage within a storage compartment formed within said main body portion of said capsule; and a gastric-juice responsive cover for said storage compartment which when closed, prevents said at least one expandable element from exposure to gastric juices and, when open, facilitates exposure of said at least one expandable element to gastric juices such that said element expands so as to be forced out of said storage compartment and so as to increase the overall size of said capsule system thereby preventing said system from egression from the pyloric region of the stomach, wherein said at least one expandable element is connected to said main body portion of said capsule by means of a gastric-juice responsive releasable connector element.