Devices and methods for the treatment of metabolic disorders

An implantable system for stimulating the release of satiety hormone in a subject, the system comprising:

• a stimulus device configured to be implantable in the subject and configured to apply an electrical stimulus to a tissue of a gastrointestinal system of the subject;
• and
• a detection device configured to be implantable in the subject and configured to continuously monitor a mechanical characteristic of the subject and an electrical characteristic of the subject;
• and
• a control unit configured to:
• determine, based on the mechanical characteristic, that the subject ingested food, and
• identify, based on the electrical characteristic, nutrients contained in the ingested food;
• wherein the detection device cooperates with the stimulus device such that the stimulus device applies the electrical stimulus in response to a detected ingestion of food;
• and
• wherein the control unit is configured to, based on the identified nutrients, vary from a pre-set electrical stimulus at least one of a voltage, a frequency, a pulse duration, a charge, and a place of application of the applied electrical stimulus.

A method of stimulating the release of satiety hormone in a subject comprising:

• continuously monitoring at least one of a mechanical characteristic and an electrical characteristic of the subject to detect an ingestion of food by the subject;
• and
• applying an electrical stimulus to a tissue of a gastrointestinal system of the subject in response to a detected ingestion of food;
• wherein the step of continuously monitoring includes monitoring a chewing movement of the subject by monitoring an acceleration at a lower jaw of the subject, the acceleration being the mechanical characteristic.

A method of stimulating the release of satiety hormone in a subject comprising:

• continuously monitoring at least one of a mechanical characteristic and an electrical characteristic of the subject to detect an ingestion of food by the subject;
• and
• applying an electrical stimulus to a tissue of a gastrointestinal system of the subject in response to a detected ingestion of food;
• wherein the step of continuously monitoring includes monitoring a chewing movement of the subject by monitoring at least one of a pressure and acceleration at a lower jaw of the subject, the pressure and acceleration being the mechanical characteristics.