Systems and methods for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include at least one electrically stimulating electrode coupled to a pulse generator. Individuals with GERD are treated by implanting a stimulation device within and/or proximate the patient's lower esophageal sphincter, gastric fundus, or other nearby gastrointestinal structures and applying electrical stimulation to the patient's lower esophageal sphincter and/or fundus, in accordance with certain predefined protocols. Electrical stimulation provided by the disclosed systems results in an increase in the length of the high pressure zone of the LES and/or modulation of the receptive relaxation response of the fundus to decrease gastric pressure, creating a longer barrier to the reflux of gastric contents or increasing functional lower esophageal pressure respectively, thereby treating GERD.

The present invention discloses a capsule device for pressure measurement. The capsule device comprises a capsule enclosure, a data transmission assembly and a thin film pressure sensor. The capsule enclosure is formed with an accommodating chamber, and the data transmission assembly is arranged in the accommodating chamber. The thin film pressure sensor is attached to the outer surface of the capsule enclosure to measure pressure, and the thin film pressure sensor is connected with the data transmission assembly.

A method of communicating with an ingestible capsule includes detecting the location of the ingestible capsule, focusing a multi-sensor acoustic array on the ingestible capsule, and communicating an acoustic information exchange with the ingestible capsule via the multi-sensor acoustic array. The ingestible capsule includes a sensor that receives a stimulus inside the gastrointestinal tract of an animal, a bidirectional acoustic information communications module that transmits an acoustic information signal containing information from the sensor, and an acoustically transmissive encapsulation that substantially encloses the sensor and communications module, wherein the acoustically transmissive encapsulation is of ingestible size. The multi-sensor array includes a plurality of acoustic transducers that receive an acoustic signal from a movable device, and a plurality of delays, wherein each delay is coupled to a corresponding acoustic transducer. Each delay may be adjusted according to a phase of a signal received by the corresponding acoustic transducer.

Embodiments provide devices, preparations and methods for delivering therapeutic agents (TAs) such as clotting factors (CFs, e.g., Factor 8) within the GI tract. Many embodiments provide a swallowable device e.g., a capsule for delivering TAs into the intestinal wall (IW). Embodiments also provide TA preparations configured to be contained within the capsule, advanced from the capsule into the IW and/or surrounding tissue (ST) and degrade to release the TA into the bloodstream to produce a therapeutic effect (e.g., improved clotting). The preparation can be operably coupled to delivery means having a first configuration where the preparation is contained in the capsule and a second configuration where the preparation is advanced out of the capsule into the IW or ST (e.g., the peritoneal cavity). Embodiments are particularly useful for delivery of CFs for treatment of clotting disorders (e.g., hemophilia) where such CFs are poorly absorbed and/or degraded within the GI tract.

Photobiomodulation can be used to treat disorders of the gastrointestinal system. The photobiomodulation can be delivered by an intraluminal device (which can be within the gastrointestinal system) that includes at least one light delivery device configured to provide photobiomodulation; at least one photodetector device to measure reflectance based on the photobiomodulation; a processor to receive a reflectance signal from the at least one photodetector device based on the reflectance measured by the at least one photodetector device and process the reflectance signal; and a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor to transmit at least a portion of the processed reflectance signal. The wireless transceiver can communicate with an external device that includes a wireless transceiver to receive the at least the portion of the processed reflectance signal.

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.

A pellet for testing distal colonic and anorectal function. In one embodiment the pellet comprises a bag comprising the exterior of the pellet wherein the bag is comprised of a polymer that is reactive with a catalyst to form a more solid-like substance. In another embodiment, the pellet may comprise one of a grapheme layer, a wavelength transducer, or a magnetically attractive element. In another embodiment the pellet may comprise a telescopic extender and further comprise a telescope bad coupled to the telescopic extender.

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.

Various examples describe a livestock monitoring system and method. A sensor signal may comprise a rotational component describing a rotation of the sensor within an animal and a linear component describing a linear movement of the sensor within the animal. The rotational component may be used to identify an animal respiration signal. The animal respiration signal and the linear component may be used to generate a respiration-corrected linear component. An animal heart signal may be detected from the respiration-corrected linear component.

An implantable medical device is disclosed. A housing includes a hollow body forming a first electrode on an outer surface with end caps affixed to opposite ends, one end cap forming a second electrode. A microcontroller circuit is provided and includes a microcontroller operable under program instructions stored within a non-volatile memory device. An analog front end is interfaced to the electrodes to sense electrocardiographic signals. A transceiver circuit is operable to wirelessly communicate with an external data device. The program instructions define instructions to continuously sample the electrocardiographic signals into the non-volatile memory device and to offload the non-volatile memory device to the external data device. A receiving coil and a charging circuit are operable to charge an onboard power source for the microcontroller circuit.