A surgical weight loss procedure to reduce stomach volume is provided. The procedure involves gathering together a quantity of stomach tissue and securing this tissue together in a gathered position, which can reduce the volume of the stomach. This reduced stomach volume allows a patient to feel satiated with a much smaller amount of food, leading to weight loss.

A medical capsule with a sensor device comprising a light emitting element and a light detecting element with the sensor device being adapted to detect the presence or non-presence of blood and/or Biliverdin based on the light absorption properties of blood and Biliverdin. The capsule is provided with a casing forming a gap at its outer surface. The light emitting element alternatively emits violet light of a wavelength of about 380-450 nm, green light of a wavelength of about 530-580 nm, and red light of a wavelength of about 620-750 nm, whereas the light detecting element generates a separate sensor signal associated with measured light intensities I.sub.violet, I.sub.green, and I.sub.red of at least each of the wavelength ranges of the light from the light emitting element. By evaluating a quotient I.sub.red/I.sub.green, false-positive detection of blood can be avoided. The present disclosure also relates to a calibration method for said medical capsule.

An apparatus for monitoring nutrition, especially fermentation in a rumen of a ruminant, is designed to be orally applied to the ruminant and to stay permanently in the rumen. The apparatus includes: a) at least one sensing unit for sensing a characteristic value of dissolved carbon dioxide in the liquor of rumen and/or reticulum; and b) at least one first communication unit for the wireless communication of data with a respective second communication unit outside the ruminant. The sensing unit includes at least one attenuated total reflectance (ATR) sensor.

A method of gastric tube placement verification comprising the steps of: Inserting a gastric tube within the patient; Providing a colorimetric based gastric tube placement verification system for a patient gastric tube including i) a housing configured to be coupled to the gastric tube whereby stomach content aspirate can flow through an internal passage of the housing; and ii) at least one colorimetric based sensor within the housing and configured to come into contact with the patient stomach content aspirate, the least one colorimetric based sensor configures to detect a first gastric acid; Coupling the housing of the colorimetric based gastric tube placement verification system to a proximal end of the gastric tube; Aspirating stomach content of the patient whereby stomach aspirate can flow through an internal passage of the housing; and Visually inspecting at least one colorimetric based sensor within the housing for verification of proper gastric tube placement.

The present disclosure relates to methods of collecting and testing bacteria containing samples from within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a subject. The methods may include disposing an ingestible device in the GI tract, collecting a bacteria-containing sample from the GI tract, selectively lysing eukaryotic cells in the sample by combining the sample with a dried reagent, exposing bacteria in the sample to resazurin in the ingestible device to produce resorufin, emitting light from the ingestible device, the emitted light being filtered through an optical filter to control for scatter so that the light interacts with the resorufin to produce fluorescence, and measuring a total fluorescence from the resorufin; or a rate of change of fluorescence from the resorufin as a function of time within the GI tract of the subject; and correlating the measured parameter to a number of viable bacterial cells in the sample.

A method and apparatus for determining gastric content volume. The internal temperature of the contents of the stomach is measured at least one predetermined time t after the patient is fed, and the gastric volume determined from the temperature. In preferred embodiments, a known volume of water at a known temperature is injected into the stomach, and the temperature of the stomach contents is measured after the stomach temperature has stabilized. An apparatus for performing the method, in which continuous measurement is possible without disturbing the patient's feeding schedule, and a method for using the inventive method in the control of an automatic feeding apparatus, are also disclosed.

A gastric electric stimulation (GES) system is disclosed which includes a processing system, and at least one of a left vagus nerve sensor (L/R Sensors) and a right vagus nerve sensor coupled to the processing system, the processing system is configured to receive a model which statistically correlates sensed compound nerve action potential (CNAP) parameters measured from at least one of left and right vagus nerves of subjects within a population to feedback surveys of the subjects corresponding to a plurality of gastric symptoms and symptom parameters, receive one or more gastric symptoms of a subject outside of the population (Subject.sub.out), determine CNAP parameters that correspond to the gastric symptoms with least severity (CNAP.sub.min), measure CNAP activity of the Subject.sub.out from the L/R sensors while modifying GES parameters for the Subject.sub.out, select the GES parameters that corresponds to the CNAP.sub.min (GES.sub.out), and output the GES.sub.out.

A method for measuring gut permeability includes administering a solution including a fluorescent contrast agent to a subject; irradiating a location on the skin of the subject to cause a portion of the solution leaked into the bloodstream to fluoresce; obtaining fluorescence data of the intensity of the fluorescence as a function of time; normalising the fluorescence data to obtain normalised data of said intensity as a function of time; and analysing said normalised data to determine the gut permeability by calculating: (a) the first peak value of said intensity; (b) the integral of said intensity with respect to time; (c) the product of the first peak value of said intensity and the time at said peak value; (d) the time at which the first peak value of said intensity occurs; or (e) the first peak value of said intensity divided by the time at which said peak value occurs.

Articles and systems configured for treating GI motility disorders are generally provided. In some embodiments, an article comprising one or more electrodes (with both sensing and stimulating capabilities) may be configured to stimulate one or more tissues in the GI tract, electrically and/or chemically, to modulate peristalsis and/or allow neuromodulation. In some embodiments, a system comprises a controller that allows for close-loop operation of the article, e.g., such that the article may stimulate (e.g., via a feedback loop) the one or more organs in the GI tract upon receiving sensed parameters in the GI tract. In some embodiments, an implantation tool comprising a sensor may allow for submucosal or intramuscular implantation of an article. The implantation tool and the article may be useful for, for example, as a general platform for delivery of treating GI motility disorders and/or neuromodulation of the GI tract.

The present invention is directed to a balloon based system and method for measuring gastrointestinal motility. The balloon can be a stand-alone balloon with pressure sensing capabilities or the balloon can be deployed as a component of a catheter-based system. The balloon can be deployed in an uninflated state and can be inflated with fluid such as air, water, or other biocompatible fluid while disposed within the gastrointestinal tract. The pressure sensor can take the form of a pressure sensor disposed within the balloon or disposed on a surface of the balloon. Additional, sensors can also be applied to monitor other conditions, function, or disease state.