Gastrointestinal Capsule and Treatment Method

Abstract

A gastrointestinal capsule (GIC) including a capsule housing having a longitudinal axis; a thrusting mechanism, disposed within the housing; and a battery adapted to power the and a battery adapted to power the thrusting mechanism; the thrusting mechanism having an active mode, and a passive mode with respect to the active mode, the thrusting mechanism adapted to exert a radial force on the housing, in a radial direction with respect to the axis, such that when the capsule is disposed within a gastrointestinal tract of a user, and the mechanism is in the active mode, the gastrointestinal capsule stimulates a wall of the tract; the active mode including a series of at least two pulses of the radial force, the series having a first duration, the passive mode having a second duration, wherein an activation cycle is defined by the series of pulses followed by the second duration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . a gastrointestinal capsule (GIC) comprising:
 (a) a capsule housing having a longitudinal axis;   (b) a thrusting mechanism, disposed within said housing, said thrusting mechanism having an active mode, and a passive mode with respect to said active mode, said thrusting mechanism adapted to exert a radial force on said housing, in a radial direction with respect to said axis, such that when the capsule is disposed within a gastrointestinal tract of a user, and said mechanism is in said active mode, the gastrointestinal capsule stimulates a wall of said tract; and   (c) a battery adapted to power the mechanism;   said active mode including a series of at least two pulses of said radial force, said series having a first duration, the passive mode having a second duration,   wherein an activation cycle is defined by said series of pulses followed by said second duration, and wherein said first duration is within a range of 1-10 seconds.   
     
     
         2 . The GIC of  claim 1 , said second duration exceeding said first duration. 
     
     
         3 . The GIC of  claim 1 , said activation cycle having a period within a range of 5-60 seconds. 
     
     
         4 . The GIC of  claim 1 , said activation cycle having a period within a range of 8-30 seconds. 
     
     
         5 . The GIC of  claim 1 , said thrusting mechanism configured such that said first duration is within a range of 2.5-6 seconds. 
     
     
         6 . The GIC of  claim 1 , said thrusting mechanism configured to exert said radial forces on said housing to attain a vibrational frequency within a range of 12 Hz to 80 Hz. 
     
     
         7 . The GIC of  claim 6 , said thrusting mechanism configured such that said vibrational frequency is within a range of 15 Hz to 50 Hz. 
     
     
         8 . The GIC of  claim 6 , said thrusting mechanism configured such that said vibrational frequency is within a range of 18 Hz to 45 Hz. 
     
     
         9 . The GIC of  claim 1 , said thrusting mechanism configured such that a net force exerted by the capsule on an external environment is at least 400 grams force. 
     
     
         10 . The GIC of  claim 1 , said thrusting mechanism configured such that an instantaneous net force exerted by the capsule on an external environment is at least 800 grams force. 
     
     
         11 . The GIC of  claim 1 , said thrusting mechanism including a rotatably mounted eccenter, said thrusting mechanism adapted to rotate said eccenter to exert said radial force. 
     
     
         12 . The GIC of  claim 1 , said thrusting mechanism adapted such that when the capsule is disposed within said tract, and said mechanism is in said active mode, the capsule stimulates said wall of said tract. 
     
     
         13 . The GIC of  claim 1 , said thrusting mechanism including a controller, electrically attached to said power supply, said controller adapted to control said thrusting mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The GIC of  claim 13 , said controller being physically isolated from all motors within said housing. 
     
     
         15 . The GIC of  claim 13 , said controller being physically isolated, by at least 2 mm, from all motors within said housing. 
     
     
         16 . The GIC of  claim 1 , said at least one thrusting mechanism further adapted to exert axial forces on said housing, a ratio of said radial forces to said axial forces being at least 1.5:1. 
     
     
         17 . The GIC of  claim 16 , said ratio of said radial forces to said axial forces being at most 20:1. 
     
     
         18 . The GIC of  claim 16 , said ratio being within a range of 2.5:1 to 15:1. 
     
     
         19 . A gastrointestinal capsule (GIC) comprising:
 (a) a capsule housing having a longitudinal axis;   (b) a thrusting mechanism, disposed within said housing, said thrusting mechanism including a rotatably mounted eccenter, said thrusting mechanism having an active mode, and a passive mode with respect to said active mode, said thrusting mechanism adapted to rotate said eccenter to exert a radial force on said housing, in a radial direction with respect to said axis, such that when the capsule is disposed within a gastrointestinal tract of a user, and said mechanism is in said active mode, the gastrointestinal capsule stimulates a wall of said tract; and   (c) a battery adapted to power the mechanism;   said active mode including a series of at least two pulses of said radial force, said series having a first duration, said passive mode having a second duration,   wherein an activation cycle is defined by said series of pulses followed by said second duration, and wherein said first duration is within a range of 1-10 seconds;   said activation cycle having a period within a range of 5-60 seconds.   
     
     
         20 . A gastrointestinal capsule (GIC) comprising:
 (a) a capsule housing having a longitudinal axis;   (b) a thrusting mechanism, disposed within said housing, said thrusting mechanism having an active mode, and a passive mode with respect to said active mode, said thrusting mechanism adapted, in said active mode, to exert a radial force on said housing, in a radial direction with respect to said axis, and (c) a battery adapted to power the mechanism;   said active mode including a series of at least two pulses of said radial force, said series having a first duration, said passive mode having a second duration,   wherein an activation cycle is defined by said series of pulses followed by said second duration, and wherein said first duration is within a range of 1-10 seconds.