Granted Patent
B2
US 12,403,308 · App. 18/532,183 · Granted Sep 2, 2025
Swallowable capsule and method for stimulating incretin production within the intestinal tract
Inventors:
Mir A. Imran (Los Altos Hills, CA); Mir Hashim (Fremont, CA); Emily Arnsdorf (Mercer Island, WA)
Assignee:
Alva Therapeutics, Inc.
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Abstract
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.
Claims (26)
1. A system for stimulating incretin-producing cells (IP-cells) in an intestinal tract of a patient to secrete an incretin, the system comprising:
a device configured to travel through the intestinal tract and electrically stimulate the IP-cells at any location in the intestinal tract; and
a controller for delivering an electrical signal from the device to an intestinal wall proximate the device, wherein the electrical signal includes a waveform configured to electrically stimulate the IP-cells in the intestinal tract to secrete the incretin without causing a peristaltic contraction.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the intestinal wall is a wall of a small intestine.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the IP-cells comprise K-cells.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the incretin comprises GLP-1.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the waveform has a square wave shape.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the waveform includes a first waveform and a second waveform, the first waveform configured to stimulate the IP-cells without causing a peristaltic contraction.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the second waveform is configured to generate a peristaltic contraction of intestinal tissue proximate the device, wherein the device is configured to be advanced within the intestinal tract using the generated peristaltic contraction.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the second waveform occurs non-concurrently with the first waveform.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the second waveform is generated responsive to a velocity of the device moving through the intestinal tract.
10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising an accelerometer disposed on or within the device configured to measure the velocity.
11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for determining a location of the device in a GI tract, wherein the electrical signal is delivered responsive to the location of the device in the intestinal tract.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the location is a small intestine.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor determines the location based on at least one of a sensed pH or sensed pressure applied to a device surface by intestinal wall tissue.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a swallowable capsule.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises at least one electrode for electrically stimulating the IP-cells.
16. A system for stimulating incretin-producing cells (IP-cells) in an intestinal tract of a patient to secrete an incretin, the system comprising:
a device configured to travel through the intestinal tract and electrically stimulate the IP-cells at any location in intestinal tract; and
a controller for delivering an electrical signal from the device to an intestinal wall proximate the device, wherein the electrical signal includes a first waveform configured to electrically stimulate the IP-cells in the intestinal tract to secrete the incretin without causing a peristaltic contraction, and a second waveform configured to generate a peristaltic contraction of intestinal tissue proximate the device, wherein the device is configured to be advanced within the intestinal tract using the generated peristaltic contraction.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the second waveform occurs non-concurrently with the first waveform.
18. A system for stimulating incretin-producing cells (IP-cells) in an intestinal tract of a patient to secrete an incretin, the system comprising:
a swallowable device configured to travel through the intestinal tract and electrically simulate the IP-cells at any location in the intestinal tract; and
a controller for delivering an electrical signal from the device to an intestinal wall proximate the device, wherein the electrical signal includes a waveform having a current and a pulse width configured to electrically stimulate the IP-cells in the intestinal tract to secrete the incretin without substantially causing a peristaltic contraction.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the current ranges from 10 μA to 2 Ma.
20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the pulse width ranges from 10 μs to 100 ms.
Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST
Recorded Jul 28, 2025
From: INCUBE LABS, LLC
To: ALVA THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071855/0826 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST
Recorded Mar 11, 2025
From: IMRAN, MIR A.; HASHIM, MIR; ARNSDORF, EMILY
To: INCUBE LABS, LLC
Reel/Frame 070476/0374 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST
Recorded Dec 7, 2023
From: IMRAN, MIR A.; HASHIM, MIR; ARNSDORF, EMILY
To: INCUBE LABS, LLC
Reel/Frame 065801/0374 →
Continuity (12)
Continuation
16230749
· Dec 21, 2018
Continuation
15971810
· May 4, 2018
Provisional Application
61273389
· Aug 3, 2009
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