A collaborative team, led by Professor Louis Phee, Dean of Engineering at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and Professor Lawrence Ho, a clinician-innovator at NUHS and a gastroenterogist at NUH, has developed a self-inflating weight management capsule, known as EndoPil.
EndoPil is designed to combat obesity, offering a potentially non-invasive alternative in addressing the global obesity epidemic. This prototype capsule contains a balloon that can be self-inflated using a handheld magnet once inside the stomach. This process induces a sensation of fullness. Its unique magnetically activated inflation mechanism triggers a reaction between a harmless acid and a salt within the capsule, generating carbon dioxide to inflate the balloon.
The underlying concept of EndoPil is oral ingestion, providing a simpler and less invasive method compared to existing procedures. While trials for oral administration are yet to commence, EndoPil represents a promising step forward in weight management technology.
For additional information and updates, click on the following links:
Local team develops self-inflating capsule to help shed kilos (The Straits Times)
南大国大携手研发 吞胶囊胃内充气助肥胖者减重 (Lianhe Zaobao)
南大和国大共同研发‘自我膨胀’ 胶囊 助病人减重 (Shinmin Daily News)
吞自行充气胶囊 超重病人可减肥 (Lianhe Wanbao)
Online
Trying to lose weight? It could be as easy as swallowing a self-inflating pill (CNA)
NTU, NUHS develop 'pill' that inflates in stomach to help treat obesity (TODAY online)
Local researchers working on self-inflating weight management pill (Straits Times Online)
本地科研人员研发口服胶囊 协助肥胖人士控制体重 (Channel 8 News)
新胃部自行充气胶囊 助肥胖者控制饮食 (Channel 8 News)
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Channel 5 News (refer to 20:23 - 21:36)
Channel 8 News (refer to 10:00 - 11:52)
Channel U News (refer to 10:00 - 11:52)
Click here to read the joint press release.
