There is provided a method for controlling a flow of intestinal contents in the intestinal passageway of a patient's intestines. The method comprises gently constricting (i.e., without substantially hampering the blood circulation in the intestinal tissue wall) at least one portion of the intestinal tissue wall to influence the flow in the intestinal passageway, and stimulating the constricted wall portion to cause contraction of the wall portion to further influence the flow in the intestinal passageway. The method can be used for restricting or stopping the flow in the intestinal passageway, or for actively moving the fluid in the intestinal passageway, with a low risk of injuring the intestines.

A vibrating ingestible capsule includes a housing, and having a vibrating agitator adapted such that, in a first vibrating mode of operation, the housing exerts vibrations on an environment surrounding the capsule. A temperature sensor produces temperature information signals. A control element receives a series of temperature information signals from the temperature sensor, compares a measured temperature-over-time pattern, which is based on the series of temperature information signals, to a predetermined temperature-over-time pattern, and, after the measured temperature-over-time corresponds to the predetermined temperature-over-time pattern, activates the vibrating agitator to operate in the first vibrating mode of operation. The predetermined temperature-over-time pattern includes a temperature transition from a first temperature to a second temperature within human body temperature range, which may exceeds the first temperature by a temperature differential of at least 3° C. A rate of the temperature transition may be at least 4° C. per hour.

The invention includes a wireless multifunction veterinary thermometer device that communicates with a mobile communication device running an application software or “app” that is used to record animal temperature data and to display animal treatment options considering the recorded data and ambient weather conditions. Treatment options may be determined by logic programmed within the app or by another computer program associated with a remote server and database. Data transfer takes place between the mobile device and the remote server/database. A heat stress indicator is displayed for the user. If the indicator represents a high heat stress level, the app logic or remote computer program may automatically generate a recommended treatment option, or the user may determine an appropriate treatment. User interfaces are provided for displaying and recording a wide range of additional data concerning the animal.

There is provided a method for controlling a flow of intestinal contents in the intestinal passageway of a patient's intestines. The method comprises gently constricting (i.e., without substantially hampering the blood circulation in the intestinal tissue wall) at least one portion of the intestinal tissue wall to influence the flow in the intestinal passageway, and stimulating the constricted wall portion to cause contraction of the wall portion to further influence the flow in the intestinal passageway. The method can be used for restricting or stopping the flow in the intestinal passageway, or for actively moving the fluid in the intestinal passageway, with a low risk of injuring the intestines.

The stapler of the invention is a surgical stapler/cutter that allows latero-lateral intestinal anastomosis, for both open surgery and laparoscopic surgery, at a distance from the openings used to insert the instrument. The stapler is based on the conventional structure of this type of stapler, and one of the fundamental features thereof is that an interspace (12) that determines a space for inserting the free ends (13, 13′) of the tissues (8, 8′) to be joined, is determined between an articulation shaft (3) of the two jaws (4, 5) of the stapler and the front end at which are disposed forms (6) and vertically movable teeth (9) on which staples (7) are disposed. This prevents the staples for the anastomosis and those for the removal of the pathological area from crossing when the area to be removed is cut. The invention also provides for the inclusion, in the described inter-space (12), of an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) device for testing blood flow that transmits a signal to a luminous signalling device which is visible to the user and which allows the degree of tissue vascularisation to be assessed.

This disclosure features methods and compositions for treating diseases of the gastrointestinal tract with an immune modulatory agent (e.g., a CD40/CD40L inhibitor).

The device, that can be implanted in the intestinal cavity, comprises a reactor comprising a semi-permeable or porous membrane or coating linked to a element for attachment to an intestinal or gastric wall. The reactor can be in the form of a ribbon, a structure having more than two faces or an open structure delimiting a lumen, comprising, or formed from, a semi-permeable or porous membrane. The reactor can also delimit, at least partially with the semi-permeable or porous membrane of same, a closed inner space. The reactor can comprise or carry enzymes or micro-organisms, in particular bacteria or yeast. The reactor is used for generating a chemical reaction with one or more molecules present in the intestine, or for producing one or more biologically active molecules. It can, in particular, be used for consuming sugars, disaccharides and simple sugars or producing essential amino acids or other molecules having a positive effect on the health.

A biomagnetism measurement device includes a tubular body, an inflatable portion inflatable upon supply of gas, and a magnetic sensor portion that detects a magnetic field from outside the tubular body. The inflatable portion is located at a required region of the tubular body, and the magnetic sensor portion is fixed to an inner wall of the inflatable portion. The tubular body and the inflatable portion include the same material, and the wall thickness of the inflatable portion is thinner than that of the tubular body.

A system and method by which a catheter tube may be automatically driven to a target location within the body of a subject, such as an enteral cavity or respiratory tract of the subject. The catheter tube may include an imaging device, a transceiver, a spectrometer, and a battery embedded in a tube wall at a distal end of the catheter tube. The imaging device may capture image data of structures proximal to the distal end of the catheter tube. An articulated stylet may be inserted in the catheter tube, which may be controlled by a robotic control engine according to navigation data generated by an artificial intelligence (AI) model based on the topographical image data. The spectrometer may sample and identify biomarkers proximal to the catheter tube. A remote computer may implement the robotic control engine and AI model and may wirelessly receive the image data from the transceiver.

An intestinal attachment device is provided that includes an ingestible housing with a chamber having disposed therein a low-profile ribbon with a head that serves as a single attachment area for an anchor sized and configured to attach to the mucosal surface of an intestine. A disposable material is also disposed within the chamber and at least partially surrounds the ribbon. An anchor is disposed within the housing and is attached to the head of the low-profile ribbon. The anchor has a constrained and a non-constrained state and is sized and configured to attach to the mucosal surface of the intestine. The anchor is at least partially surrounded by a dissolvable material.