Gastrointestinal methods and apparatus for use in treating disorders

A method for treating a subject, comprising:

• applying an electrical signal to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of:
• a colon of the subject, and a distal small intestine of the subject;
• configuring the signal to stimulate cells of the subject to increase secretion of glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1), in order to treat the subject;
• and
• detecting eating by the subject, wherein applying the electrical signal comprises applying the signal responsive to detecting the eating.

Apparatus for treating a subject, comprising:

• at least one electrode, adapted to be coupled to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of:
• a colon of the subject, and a distal small intestine of the subject;
• a detection unit configured to detect an occurrence selected from the group consisting of:
• an occurrence of eating, an occurrence of excessive eating, and an occurrence of an elevated blood glucose level, and generate a detection unit signal in response thereto;
• and
• a control unit, adapted to drive the at least one electrode to apply an electrical treatment signal to the site, and to configure the treatment signal to stimulate cells of the subject to increase secretion of glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1), in order to treat the subject, and
• responsive to receiving the detection unit signal indicative of the detected occurrence, increase a strength of the treatment signal.

Apparatus for treating a subject, comprising:

• p1 at least one electrode, adapted to be coupled to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of:
• a colon of the subject, and a distal small intestine of the subject;
• a detection unit adapted to detect eating by the subject, and generate a detection unit signal in response thereto;
• and
• a control unit, adapted to drive the at least one electrode to apply an electrical treatment signal to the site responsive to receiving the detection unit signal indicative of the detected eating, and to configure the treatment signal to stimulate cells of the subject to increase secretion of glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1), in order to treat the subject.