Swallowable capsule and method for stimulating incretin production within the intestinal tract
Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus and methods for stimulating L cells in the intestinal tract to produce incretins for the treatment of conditions including diabetes and obesity. Many embodiments provide a method and apparatus for the treatment of diabetes by electrically stimulating L-cells to secrete incretins to stimulate or otherwise modulate the production of insulin. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable capsule for stimulating L-cells in the intestinal tract as the capsule moves through the tract. The capsule can include two or more electrodes for providing electrical stimulation to L-cells, a power source for powering one or more components of the capsule, a sensor for sensing the location of the capsule in the intestinal tract; a controller and a waveform generator for generating the electrical signals emitted by the electrodes to stimulate the L-cells to secrete incretins such as GLP-1 to stimulate insulin production for glucose regulation of diabetic conditions.
1. A method for stimulating hormone producing cells (HP-cells) in the intestinal tract of a patient to secrete a glucose regulating hormone (GR-hormone), the method comprising:
ingesting a swallowable device configured to travel through the intestinal tract and electrically stimulate the HP-cells at any location in the intestinal tract;
delivering an electrical signal from the device to an intestinal wall proximate the device, wherein the signal includes a waveform configured to electrically stimulate HP-cells in the intestinal tract to secrete the GR-hormone without causing a peristaltic contraction.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intestinal wall is a wall of the small intestine.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the HP-cells comprise K-cells or L-cells.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the secreted GR-hormone comprises an incretin or GLP-1.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
modulating a release of insulin in the patient responsive to the secreted GR-hormone.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the insulin release is modulated by the electrical stimulation of the HP-cells to produce an increase in plasma insulin within 30 minutes of stimulation.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
controlling a blood glucose level of the patient responsive to the secreted GR-hormone.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
suppressing an appetite level of the patient responsive to the secreted GR-hormone.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the waveform has a square wave shape.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the waveform includes a first wave form and a second waveform, the first wave form configured to stimulate the HP-cells without causing a peristaltic contraction.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second waveform is configured to generate a peristaltic contraction of intestinal tissue proximate the device, the method further comprising:
advancing the device within the intestinal tract using the generated peristaltic contraction.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second waveform occurs substantially non-concurrently with the first waveform.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second waveform is generated responsive to a velocity of the device moving through the intestinal tract.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the velocity is measured using an accelerometer disposed on or within the device.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a location of the device in a GI tract, wherein the signal is delivered responsive to the location of the device in the intestinal tract.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the location is a small intestine.
17. The method of claim 15 wherein the location is determined using a sensor.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the location is determined based on at least one of a sensed pH or sensed pressure applied to the device surface by intestinal wall tissue.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the ingestion of the device is coordinated with a ingestion of food.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the device is ingested during a selected time period before, during or after the ingestion of food.
21. The method of claim 19 wherein a time period is selected to coordinate the stimulation of the HP-cells with the absorption of nutrients from the food into a blood stream.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a swallowable capsule.
23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a controller, at least one electrode and a waveform generator.
24. A method for stimulating hormone producing cells (HP-cells) in the intestinal tract of a patient to secrete a hormone which modulates a release of insulin, the method comprising:
ingesting a swallowable device configured to travel through the intestinal tract and electrically stimulate the HP-cells at any location in the intestinal tract;
delivering an electrical signal from the device to a intestinal wall proximate the device, wherein the signal includes a waveform configured to electrically stimulate the HP-cells in the intestinal tract to secrete the hormone without causing a peristaltic contraction of a small intestine; and
modulating the release of insulin in the patient responsive to the secreted hormone.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the insulin release is modulated by the electrical stimulation of the IP-cells to produce an increase in plasma insulin within 30 minutes of stimulation.
26. The method of claim 24 , wherein the hormone comprises an incretin or GLP-1.
27. The method of claim 24 , further comprising:
increasing the insulin sensitivity of the patient's body tissue responsive to the secreted hormone.
28. The method of claim 24 , further comprising:
controlling a blood glucose level of the patient responsive to the secreted hormone.
29. The method of claim 24 , wherein the HP-cells comprise K-cells or L-cells.
30. A method for stimulating hormone producing cells (HP-cells) in an intestinal tract of a patient to secrete a hormone which suppresses an appetite level of the patient, the method comprising:
ingesting a swallowable device configured to travel through the intestinal tract and electrically stimulate the HP-cells at any location in the intestinal tract;
delivering an electrical signal from the device to the intestinal wall proximate the device, wherein the signal includes a waveform configured to electrically stimulate the HP-cells in the intestinal tract to secrete the hormone without causing a peristaltic contraction of the small intestine; and
suppressing the appetite level of the patient in response to the secreted hormone.