August Phelps
MIT Department: Mechanical Engineering
Faculty Mentor: Prof. Giovanni Traverso
Research Supervisor: Troy Kang
Undergraduate Institution: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Hometown: Gaithersburg, Maryland
Website: LinkedIn
Biography
August Phelps is a senior Meyerhoff Scholar majoring in mechanical engineering with a minor in computer science at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. His research interests lie in robotics, controls, and biomedical devices, with laboratory research experience in flexible thermoelectric devices, bistable carbon fiber composite materials, and adaptive controls. He also worked in construction management at Los Alamos National Laboratory and as a medical assistant at National Foot and Ankle. August currently works at MIT in Dr. Giovanni Traverso’s GI lab, developing ingestible medical devices for regulating hunger and satiation using electrical stimulation. In addition to his research, August served as the vice president of UMBC’s American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the president of the Maryland Delta chapter of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society. August is a passionate educator and works as an undergraduate teaching fellow for sophomore-level engineering classes at UMBC. Outside of his work, August enjoys cycling and exploring cities.
Abstract
Device for Electrical Stimulation of the Stomach Mucosal Lining to
Control Hunger and Satiation
August Phelps1, Troy Ziliang Kang2 and Giovanni Traverso2
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Metabolic disorders such as obesity are a growing epidemic in the US and across the world.
Pharmaceutical measures for controlling the gut-brain axis are in high demand, but they come with side effects and other risks. This research focuses on developing an ingestible device that uses electroceutical treatment to the lining of the stomach to trigger the production of hormones associated with hunger and satiation. A small device inspired by a bee’s stinger was developed to increase transit time in the stomach and create a stable electrode for stimulation. This device was then tested on artificial and swine stomach mucosal tissue to determine the mechanical strength of the connection and the electrical impedance of the device as an electrode. Additionally, a combined pH- and humidity-based release coating was developed to allow for precise targeting within the GI tract. This device holds promising results for
then development of a novel electroceutical therapy that is less invasive than current options on the market.
