A gastrointestinal administration device comprising an elongated tube or track, an anchor and a channel, which allows the proximal end of the tube or track to be wholly secured inside the mouth from where it passes down the lateral oropharynx to the desired site in the gastrointestinal tract. This system may be used to administer nutrients, fluids, medications, nutraceuticals, dietary supplements and/or non-nutrient gastrointestinal stimulants or other therapies directly to a desired site in the gastrointestinal tract in humans and animals for a variety of purposes including novel applications such as weight and glucose control, local administration of medication and storage of a deposit of a therapeutic agent. It may also be used for monitoring of processes inside the gastrointestinal tract.

Provided are devices and methods for providing a flexible implantable tissue stimulator. A flexible implantable tissue stimulator can be use in a variety of medical/surgical procedures, and therapeutic interventions, such as musculoskeletal stimulation therapy. The flexible implantable tissue stimulator can be implanted via a minimally invasive procedure and comprises a biocompatible flexible construction that enables it to conform to a variety of implantation orientations and biological conditions. The flexible implantable tissue can provide programmable biphasic electrical stimulation to impaired tissue, such as a gluteal muscle.

Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and devices for oral drug delivery. The method generally involves orally administering a drug delivery device to the subject in need of treatment and triggering iontophoresis. The drug delivery device includes one or more active agents for delivery to the subject. The method can include the step of delivering the active agent to the intestinal mucosa after iontophoresis is triggered at the site, or simultaneously as iontophoresis is applied at the site. After the active agent(s) are delivered, the drug delivery device can be released from the intestinal mucosa. The iontophoresis can be performed for a period of time and at an electrical current that is effective to improve permeability of the one or more active agents across the intestine compared to orally administering the same drug delivery device in the absence of iontophoresis.

A biomedical device having improved handling features to be easily inserted into a cavity or recess is disclosed, as well as methods for using thereof, said device comprising a flat and soft substrate, comprising electrically conductive tracks, configured to interface a biological surface; and a rigid member located on a portion of said flat and soft substrate, said member being substantially composed of a mechanically adaptive material being fully or partially degradable upon a degrading/softening trigger.

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for selectively and reversibly modulating targeted neural and non-neural tissue of a nervous system for the treatment of pain. An electrical stimulation is delivered to the treatment site that selectively and reversibly modulates the targeted neural- and non-neural tissue of the nervous structure, inhibiting the perception of pain while preserving other sensory and motor function, and proprioception.

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.

Self-righting articles, such as self-righting capsules for administration to a subject, are generally provided. In some embodiments, the self-righting article may be configured such that the article may orient itself relative to a surface (e.g., a surface of a tissue of a subject). The self-righting articles described herein may comprise one or more tissue engaging surfaces configured to engage (e.g., interface with, inject into, anchor) with a surface (e.g., a surface of a tissue of a subject). In some embodiments, the self-righting article may have a particular shape and/or distribution of density (or mass) which, for example, enables the self-righting behavior of the article. In some embodiments, the self-righting article may comprise a tissue interfacing component and/or a pharmaceutical agent (e.g., for delivery of the active pharmaceutical agent to a location internal of the subject). In some cases, upon contact of the tissue with the tissue engaging surface of the article, the self-righting article may be configured to release one or more tissue interfacing components. In some cases, the tissue interfacing component is associated with a self-actuating component. For example, the self-righting article may comprise a self-actuating component configured, upon exposure to a fluid, to release the tissue interfacing component from the self-righting article. In some cases, the tissue interfacing component may comprise and/or be associated with the pharmaceutical agent (e.g., for delivery to a location internal to a subject).

Self-righting articles, such as self-righting capsules for administration to a subject, are generally provided. In some embodiments, the self-righting article may be configured such that the article may orient itself relative to a surface. The self-righting articles described herein may comprise one or more tissue engaging surfaces configured to engage with a surface. In some embodiments, the self-righting article may have a particular shape and/or distribution of density (or mass) which, for example, enables the self-righting behavior of the article. In some embodiments, the self-righting article may comprise a tissue interfacing component and/or a pharmaceutical agent (e.g., for delivery of the active pharmaceutical agent to a location internal of the subject). In some cases, upon contact of the tissue with the tissue engaging surface of the article, the self-righting article may be configured to release one or more tissue interfacing components.

Methods, systems, and apparatus for electrically stimulating a smooth muscle. The method includes generating a continuous pulse train signal having pulses and pulse intervals between the pulses, the pulses and the pulse intervals being generated at a pulse frequency. The method also includes modulating the continuous pulse train signal at a modulation frequency to match dynamics of intracellular calcium ion oscillations in the smooth muscle. The method also includes entraining a group of cells of the smooth muscle by applying the modulated continuous pulse train signal to the group of cells of the smooth muscle to increase an oscillation frequency of the calcium ion oscillations.

Methods of preventing, treating, and/or controlling a hemorrhage in an organ of a patient include providing electrical stimulation to the arteries, veins, nerves innervating the arteries or veins, or walls of the organ. The apparatus has at least one electrode operably connected to a stimulus generator and placed in electrical communication with an artery, vein, nerve, or organ wall. An electrical stimulus generator causes an electrical stimulus to be administered to the artery, vein, nerve, or wall through the at least one electrode, where the electrical stimulus is effective for preventing, treating, and/or controlling a hemorrhage.