As obesity rates rise, innovative interventions are becoming increasingly popular. According to a recent article, a tiny implant without a battery gives new hope for a painless weight loss.
The mechanism of action of the device
Obesity is a growing problem; experts believe that more than ¼ part of the Russian population is overweight. Worldwide, in 2017 alone, 5.1 million people died from conditions associated with a large body weight.
The immediate cause of being overweight is to consume more calories than the body needs.
Some scientists are trying to find ways to make the brain consume less food.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison recently tested innovative technology. Experts have developed a small implantable device that they hope will reduce the feeling of hunger and help people lose weight. A device whose width is less than 1 centimeter is implanted using mini-invasive (with minimal incisions) technique.
The implant consists of a flexible nanogenerator that sends small electrical impulses to the vagus nerve. He is responsible for messaging between the stomach and the brain. Gentle stimulation “convinces” the brain that the stomach is full, so hunger is reduced.
It is important to note that the device does not require a battery or charging.
The implant is triggered by the movement of the stomach, i.e. it only works with food.
Impulses correlate with stomach movements, helping to control food intake.
To test the implant, researchers used laboratory rats. They published their results in a scientific journal. The results inspired the authors: rats showed 38% weight loss in just 15 days without the yo-yo effect. The presented results are superior to all modern methods of electrical stimulation.
How safe is a small implant?
It is important to note that the implant remained in the correct position for a 12-week study. No significant adverse effects on rat kidney or liver function, or signs of infection, were detected.
Researchers conducted post-mortem studies of most vital organs in animals and found no side effects.
When they compared the implant with other weight loss devices, they found several advantages. Bypass surgery permanently reduces the capacity of the stomach, while a new implant can be removed at any time. Also, the implantation procedure is much less invasive.
However, the use of bisphosphonate in osteoporosis can cause a rejection reaction. There is also a higher risk of exposure of implants. In high-risk patients, implant insertions are still contraindicated.
The use of immunosuppressants is an absolute contraindication to implantation. After curing cancer, the implants should be abandoned for at least a year. Especially severely ill patients need a detailed consultation with their doctors and strict antibiotic therapy.
Other similar devices do not exist?
A pulsating implant is not the only device that stimulates the vagus nerve in order to reduce “hunger pangs”. There is a competitor called the Maestro. It has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, the Maestro requires constant maintenance and up to 3 hours of charging every week.
The new pulsation implant has no battery or wiring, as the researchers explain. It automatically responds to body functions, stimulating nerve endings if necessary.
The Maestro uses high-frequency pulses to completely shut off the vagus nerve, rather than intermittent pulsation. Since a new implant only works when necessary, the body is less likely to compensate for the lack of hunger. In the case of the "Maestro", the body is able to gradually adapt to the action of the apparatus.
The device will go on sale in at least 4-5 years, i.e. until clinical trials are over. In 2019, specialists plan to test the device on larger animals.
