Abstract: The gastrointestinal capsule provides mechanical stimulation within the gastrointestinal tract. The capsule may be deployed in a subject's gastrointestinal tract orally by the subject ingesting the capsule. The capsule may mechanically stimulate any desired region within the gastrointestinal tract, including the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. The mechanical stimulations provided by the capsule are applied to a portion of the inner walls or lining of a section of the gastrointestinal tract to simulate satiety.

Abstract: An ingestible capsule includes a housing forming a cavity and having a textured outer surface. The textured outer surface forms a helical depression and a plurality of protruding studs disposed in the helical depression. The capsule further includes a therapeutic agent disposed in or on the housing. The capsule also includes a biodegradable coating on the textured outer surface of the housing, the biodegradable coating configured to dissolve in a fluid having a pH of 1.5 to 9.

Abstract: Mechanoneural Interfaces (MIs) and methods of forming MIs are provided, including cutaneous mechanoneural interfaces (CMIs) and proprioceptive mechanoneural interfaces (PMIs). A CMI includes a device in operative arrangement with a muscle actuator to stimulate muscle contraction, the muscle actuator disposed in a substantially circumferential configuration about a skin flap that includes a native or regenerative neurovascular structure of an amputated body segment. A PMI includes an actuator mechanically linked to a muscle end organ and configured to apply a force to the muscle end organ, the actuator including a synthetic actuator or a biological muscle actuator. The muscle end organ is of an agonist-antagonist muscle pair and can include at least one of a native or regenerative neurovascular structure. CMIs and PMIs can each further include a controller configured to provide a stimulation signal or operate an actuator based on a signal received from a sensor of a prosthetic device.

Abstract: Proprioceptive feedback is provided in a residual limb of a person that includes forming a linkage between a pair of agonist and antagonist muscles, forming a sliding surface over which the agonist and antagonist muscles slide. The sliding surface can include a synovial sleeve, a bridge formed between the distal ends of bones, or a fixture that is osseointegrated into the bone. The invention also includes a system for transdermal electrical communication in a person that includes a percutaneous access device, a sensory device that communicates signals between a muscle and the percutaneous device, and a stimulation device in communication with the percutaneous access device. In another embodiment, a closed-loop functional stimulation system restores lost functionality to a person that suffers from impairment of a neurological control system or at least partial loss of a limb.

Abstract: Proprioceptive feedback is provided in a residual limb of a person that includes forming a linkage between a pair of agonist and antagonist muscles, forming a sliding surface over which the agonist and antagonist muscles slide. The sliding surface can include a synovial sleeve, a bridge formed between the distal ends of bones, or a fixture that is osseointegrated into the bone. The invention also includes a system for transdermal electrical communication in a person that includes a percutaneous access device, a sensory device that communicates signals between a muscle and the percutaneous device, and a stimulation device in communication with the percutaneous access device. In another embodiment, a closed-loop functional stimulation system restores lost functionality to a person that suffers from impairment of a neurological control system or at least partial loss of a limb.