An ingestible device uses light to activate neurons in the gut, providing a new noninvasive way to study and potentially treat digestive and metabolic disorders. The technology, called ICOPS (Ingestible Controlled Optogenetic Stimulation), is based on optogenetics, a technique that makes specific neurons sensitive to light so they can be precisely controlled. The research demonstrates how ICOPS could be used to map and control the intestinal nervous system without surgery.
The capsule works without a battery, receiving power wirelessly through magnetic induction from an external transmitter. The capsule is entirely fabricated in-house using 3D printing, without the need for cleanroom facilities. It operates wirelessly in freely moving animals, enabling studies that were not possible with traditional tethered or invasive approaches.”
Beyond research, ICOPS could enable new treatments for gut motility disorders, metabolic diseases, and eating disorders by controlling neural activity in specific regions of the gut. Future versions could also provide electrical stimulation and targeted drug delivery.
