Image courtesy of the researchers, MIT News
MIT engineers are stirring the pot with their latest invention: a vibrating, ingestible capsule designed to tackle obesity by tricking the brain into feeling full. Before you even think about reaching for that third or fourth serving, this little device might be the nudge your body needs to put down the fork.
Called the Vibrating Ingestible BioElectronic Stimulator (VIBES), the capsule oscillates within the stomach, activating the stretch receptors that normally signal fullness after a large meal. This means you feel full faster, potentially reducing overall food intake.
Image courtesy of the researchers, MIT News
According to the researchers, in animal studies, this clever piece of tech reduced food consumption by about 40%, a significant figure that could translate into a new way of managing weight for those struggling with obesity.
The mind behind this innovation is Shriya Srinivasan, PhD ’20, formerly of MIT and now an assistant professor of bioengineering at Harvard University. Srinivasan, along with her team, including Giovanni Traverso, an associate professor at MIT, has been delving into the possibilities of controlling the body’s satiety signals through artificial means. The pill they’ve developed is about the size of a multivitamin and includes a vibrating element that’s activated by a small silver oxide battery. Once it hits the stomach acid, it’s game time for the vibrating motor.
Besides making users feel full, it’s about understanding and manipulating the complex dance of hormones and signals in our bodies. The vibrating drug stimulates the same pathways that are activated when we eat, releasing hormones and decreasing the levels of ghrelin, known as the hunger hormone.
Image courtesy of the researchers, MIT News
The current version is designed to do its dance for about 30 minutes once it hits the stomach, with the potential for longer stays and wireless activation down the line. The researchers are also keen to stress that in their animal studies, there were no signs of obstruction, perforation, or other scary side effects.
And when it comes to cost, the vision is clear: an affordable, accessible tool in the global fight against obesity, offering a ray of hope for those who don’t have access to more expensive or invasive treatments.
The future of this vibrating capsule is promising, with plans to scale up manufacturing and embark on human trials.
[via TechCrunch, NewsNation, MIT News, images courtesy of the researchers, MIT News]
by rrollins
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