Swallowable capsule, system and method for measuring gastric emptying parameters

A swallowable capsule for measurement of a gastric emptying parameter in a gastro-intestinal (GI) tract of a patient, the capsule comprising:

• a first, second, and third electrode;
• a first circuit electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes, the first circuit configured to generate a first input signal based on a current flow between the first and second electrodes at a first location in the GI tract;
• a second circuit electrically coupled to the second and third electrodes, the second circuit configured to generate a second input signal based on a current flow between the second and third electrodes at a second location in the GI tract different from the first location;
• and
• a controller operatively coupled to the first and second circuits, wherein the controller is programmed to determine the gastric emptying parameter based on information relating to the first and second input signals.

A swallowable capsule for measurement of a gastric emptying parameter in a gastro-intestinal (GI) tract of a patient, the capsule comprising:

• a first, second, and third electrode;
• a first circuit electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes, the first circuit configured to generate a first input signal based on a current flow between the first and second electrodes at a first location in the GI tract;
• a second circuit electrically coupled to the second and third electrodes, the second circuit configured to generate a second input signal based on a current flow between the second and third electrodes at a second location in the GI tract different from the first location;
• a controller operatively coupled to the first and second circuits, wherein the controller is programmed to generate a first output signal in response to the first input signal and a second output signal in response to the second input signal;
• and
• a transmitter configured to transmit the first and second output signals to an external controller to determine the gastric emptying parameter based on information relating to the first and second output signals.

A swallowable capsule for measurement of a gastric emptying parameter in a gastro-intestinal (GI) tract of a patient, the capsule comprising:

• a first, second, and third electrode;
• and
• a first circuit electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes, the first circuit configured to generate a first input signal based on a current flow between the first and second electrodes at a first location in the GI tract;
• a second circuit electrically coupled to the second and third electrodes, the second circuit configured to generate a second input signal based on a current flow between the second and third electrodes at a second location in the GI tract different from the first location;
• and
• a controller programmed to:
• generate and transmit a driver signal to the second electrode so as to provide the current flow between the first and second electrodes and the current flow between the second and third electrodes;
• and
• generate a first output signal in response to the first input signal and a second output signal in response to the second input signal.