January 1978
Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation
The authors have obtained recordings of the rhythmic slow electrical waves, characteristic of longitudinal muscle in the small intestine, from an ambulatory subject by use of the R. Arzbaecher electrode. This small, swallowable bipolar pair, on thin flexible wires, allows relatively free movement of the subject. This technique allows correlation of data from chronic implanted electrodes in animal studies with that obtained from normal human studies. Modifications needed to facilitate guiding the electrode into position include adding mass to the pill without exceeding that size which can be readily swallowed. Once positioned, without the hinderance of an attached ″sinker″ , the pill should allow relatively long term recordings with minimal discomfort.