Vibrating Capsule Could Treat Chronic Constipation

An oral capsule that vibrates as it moves through the digestive tract has shown promise as a nonpharmacological treatment for constipation, according to a new study.

The capsule, under development by Vibrant (Petach Tikva, Israel), is preprogrammed by a clinician to begin vibrating six to eight hours after being swallowed. The vibration causes mechanical stimulations that result in contractions in the intestine, which help move the stool through the digestive tract; the capsule is washed out of the body with the bowel movement. In a pilot study at the Sourasky Medical Center (Tel Aviv, Israel), 26 patients swallowed the vibrating capsule twice a week and answered a daily bowel movement questionnaire. All patients initially underwent a two-week preliminary period without the use of laxatives.


The results showed that the vibrating capsule drastically improved weekly bowel movements of patients suffering from chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) and constipation predominant irritable bowel syndrome (C-IBS). The patients reported an increase in spontaneous bowel movements from two to four times per week, as well as a decrease in constipation symptoms, including reduced difficulty in passing stools and incomplete evacuation. The study also found minimal side effects from the capsule use. The study was presented at Digestive Disease Week (DDW), held during May 2014 in Chicago (IL, USA).

“Despite the widespread use of medication to treat constipation, nearly 50% of patients are unsatisfied with the treatment either because of side effects, safety concerns about long-term use, or the fact that it simply doesn’t work,” said study presenter Yishai Ron, MD, director of neurogastroenterology and motility. “The results of this study point to the potential for an alternative treatment that avoids the typical drug side effects, such as bloating and electrolyte imbalance, by imitating the body's natural physiology.”

Constipation is the most common digestive complaint in the United States, affecting 2%–20% of the population; it is more common in women, the elderly, and children. The reason it occurs more frequently in the elderly is felt to be due to an increasing number of health problems due to age and decreased physical activity. Chronic constipation also accounts for 3% of all visits annually to pediatric outpatient clinics. In the United States alone, more than four million Americans have frequent constipation, causing around USD 725 million spent on laxative products each year.

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Sourasky Medical Center