This could be quite helpful for GI patients.

A new vibrating pill shown to help relieve constipation is now available.

The drug-free solution is designed for daily use. In a trial, the pill produced at least one additional weekly bowel movement for 41% of participants, compared to at least one additional bowel movement for 23% of participants who took a placebo pill.

Vibrant was approved by the FDA in August but is just now becoming available for doctors to prescribe, the company announced Wednesday.

Because it is not a drug, Vibrant is considered a Class 2 medical device by the FDA, which is the same class as contact lenses.

Here's how it works: Around bedtime, the pill is inserted in a pod to activate it, then swallowed. It travels the digestive tract and reaches the large intestine about 14 hours later.

"Then it goes to work," the company explained in a news release. "After it's swallowed, it is active for about 2 hours, goes quiet for around 6, hours and then activates again for another 2 hours."

"There are little vibrations for 3 seconds on, 3 seconds off," said Cathy Collis, chief commercial officer for Israel-based Vibrant Gastro, in a statement.

The vibrations help trigger peristalsis, the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the gastrointestinal tract, the company said. Decreased peristalsis is a cause of constipation, which is defined as having less than three bowel movements per week, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

About 2.5 million people see their doctor each year for constipation. The pills are made of what the company called "medical-grade material" that is the same as what's used to make gastroenterology cameras.

In the trial, most people did not report feeling the pill inside of them.

"A minority could feel it," said Eamonn Quigley, MD, chief of gastroenterology at Houston Methodist Hospital, in a statement. "None of them felt it was being uncomfortable. And none of them stopped taking it because of that."

Quigley helped test the capsules and does not have a financial stake in the company, according to Vibrant.

The pills do not dissolve inside a person's body. Rather, "after they've done their job, the person's body poops them out, and they're flushed away," the company said.

Sources:

Vibrant: "Drug-free relief from chronic constipation may come from a new vibrating pill."

Cleveland Clinic: "Peristalsis," "Constipation."


link: https://www.medscape.com/viewa...pon=17&impID=5155254

Better pooping through technology!

Shakes the shit out of you!

Battery? Battery leaks while stuck in GI tract? Batteries in the sewage system? Batteries in sewage treatment?

As I was reading the article I kept saying to myself "please, for the love of God, please be one-time use".

I mean, re-using them is probably more cost effective, but gross.

New meaning for the term "bowel movement"!!

Battery? Battery leaks while stuck in GI tract? Batteries in the sewage system? Batteries in sewage treatment?

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I did not see batteries mentioned in the story.

Well, if you can't feel it, where is the fun in that?

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
Battery? Battery leaks while stuck in GI tract? Batteries in the sewage system? Batteries in sewage treatment?

Oh sweet negative Nelly Jesus!! Yes, YES, along with the pill you have to swallow a full size car battery. No, to be sure, they use a dual battery switch and you have to choke down two. TWO I say!!



To get FDA clearance, Vibrant had to demonstrate that there were no toxic materials in the pills and that they could withstand, for example, the force of a bite in case someone accidentally bit them.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Well, if you can't feel it, where is the fun in that?

Oh, you swallow them. Dang.

Although not noted in the article extensive searching revealed:

During his presentation, Eamonn Quigley, MD, MACG, professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College, and chief of gastroenterology and hepatology at Houston Methodist Hospital, described the technology as “a vibrating capsule with a two-piece shell, flat motor, electronic card, batteries and a battery bridge, which is easy to swallow, and is intrinsically timed to have a delay mechanism, so it does not activate or begin vibrating until 8 hours after it’s been ingested in an attempt to approximate its arrival in the colon.” He added that an activation base unit transmits electromagnetic signals to the capsule to activate it, and then it vibrates to mechanically stimulate bowel movement.

The battery has to be awfully tiny. I guess concerned citizens should ask Dr. Quigley or Greta.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:
... Batteries in the sewage system? Batteries in sewage treatment?

That's someone else's problem.

The manufacturer has no interest after it leaves the patient.

quote:

Oh sweet negative Nelly Jesus!! Yes, YES, along with the pill you have to swallow a full size car battery. No, to be sure, they use a dual battery switch and you have to choke down two. TWO I say!!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Thanks that got a good laugh.

Or five life savers do it for me

USB port?

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
Or five life savers do it for me

That is oddly specific, my friend.

Serious,
It's on the website and some packaging.

Grape seems to work better than pineapple.

"The drug-free solution is designed for daily use."

"Daily use?" These things can't be inexpensive.

69 bucks for those without insurance.{Per month} Patients who are taking legit opiates would be good candidates I would think. Anyone having to under manual evacuation would appreciate it.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ZSMICHAEL,

quote:

Originally posted by Georgeair:
Oh sweet negative Nelly Jesus!! Yes, YES, along with the pill you have to swallow a full size car battery. No, to be sure, they use a dual battery switch and you have to choke down two. TWO I say!!

What's your point? What the fuck does a car battery have to do with the question I posed? I'm sorry sorry me so dumb compared to you. You so smart.

I can't be sure but didn't Fredrick's of Hollywood sell these in their catalog,
Forty years ago?