GI, MEDICINE

Constipation is often a hard problem to solve, typically requiring medications to get things moving down there. Medications have side effects, nor do they always work as is hoped for.

We, being fans of medical gadgetry, are glad to see that a drug-free pill has been developed capable of shacking up the large intestine and motivating the flow of excrement.

The Vibrant capsule, from an Israeli company of the same name, is swallowed like a typical pill. Before going in, it is programmed in a particular “mode” that regulates how and when the device will vibrate after ingestion. Once its job is done, the pill leaves the body along with the rest of the poop.

The device has already been evaluated for effectiveness on patients with Chronic Idiopathic Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation, demonstrating an increase in complete spontaneous bowel movements and a relief in constipation among 35% of the patients studied. Moreover, there wasn’t any noticeable side effects from the therapy.

It seems that the effectiveness of the Vibrant capsule is due to its ability to shake up the walls of the large intestine, freeing up tough buildup that refuses to budge on its own.

Product page: Vibrant capsule…

(hat tip: New Scientist)