Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39117667›Full record

ArticleNature communications2024

An ingestible, battery-free, tissue-adhering robotic interface for non-invasive and chronic electrostimulation of the gut.

Kewang Nan, Kiwan Wong, Dengfeng Li, Binbin Ying, James C McRae, Vivian R Feig, Shubing Wang, Ningjie Du, Yuelong Liang, Qijiang Mao and 14 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
24citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

24 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Robust Stitching Interface and Deep Learning Empowered Hydrogel Human-Machine Interface.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026
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  4. Review
  5. Liquid Metals for Reconfigurable Bioelectronics.Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) · 2026
    Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. AI-Enhanced Vibrational Capsule for Minimally Invasive Detection of Abnormal Bowel Tissue.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2026
    Article
  13. Article
  14. Physical Intelligence in Small-Scale Robots and Machines.Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.) · 2026
    Review
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Review
  18. Article
  19. Review
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

24 authors.

Kewang Nan *College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. knan@zju.edu.cn.ORCID 0000-0002-2745-0656
Kiwan Wong *Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Dengfeng Li *Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID 0000-0002-8875-6974
Binbin Ying *Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
James C McRaeDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Vivian R FeigDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Shubing WangDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Ningjie DuCollege of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.ORCID 0009-0000-4068-6711
Yuelong LiangDepartment of General Surgery, Sir Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Qijiang MaoDepartment of General Surgery, Sir Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Enjie ZhouDepartment of General Surgery, Sir Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Yonglin ChenDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Lei SangSchool of Microelectronics, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230601, China.
Kuanming YaoDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID 0000-0001-8744-8892
Jingkun ZhouDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID 0000-0001-5394-4388
Jian LiDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.ORCID 0000-0002-9768-0932
Joshua JenkinsDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-7698-9888
Keiko IshidaDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Johannes KuosmanenDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Wiam Abdalla Mohammed MadaniDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Alison HaywardDivision of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endoscopy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Khalil B RamadiDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Xinge YuDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. xingeyu@cityu.edu.hk.ORCID 0000-0003-0522-1171
Giovanni TraversoDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA. cgt20@mit.edu.ORCID 0000-0001-7851-4077

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Ingestible electronics have the capacity to transform our ability to effectively diagnose and potentially treat a broad set of conditions. Current applications could be significantly enhanced by addressing poor electrode-tissue contact, lack of navigation, short dwell time, and limited battery life. Here we report the development of an ingestible, battery-free, and tissue-adhering robotic interface (IngRI) for non-invasive and chronic electrostimulation of the gut, which addresses challenges associated with contact, navigation, retention, and powering (C-N-R-P) faced by existing ingestibles. We show that near-field inductive coupling operating near 13.56 MHz was sufficient to power and modulate the IngRI to deliver therapeutically relevant electrostimulation, which can be further enhanced by a bio-inspired, hydrogel-enabled adhesive interface. In swine models, we demonstrated the electrical interaction of IngRI with the gastric mucosa by recording conductive signaling from the subcutaneous space. We further observed changes in plasma ghrelin levels, the "hunger hormone," while IngRI was activated in vivo, demonstrating its clinical potential in regulating appetite and treating other endocrine conditions. The results of this study suggest that concepts inspired by soft and wireless skin-interfacing electronic devices can be applied to ingestible electronics with potential clinical applications for evaluating and treating gastrointestinal conditions.

Indexed as

GhrelinAnimalsElectric Power SuppliesElectric StimulationElectric Stimulation TherapyElectrodesFemaleGastric MucosaGastrointestinal TractHumansRoboticsSwineGhrelin

Identifiers

PMID39117667
PMCPMC11310346

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.