The Vanderbilt Center for Surgical Weight Loss is now enrolling patients in a clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the Tantalus II gastric pacemaker for treating Type 2 diabetes in patients who are obese by reducing their blood sugar levels and weight.

The TANTALUS II is an investigational  device very similar to a heart pacemaker that is designed to sense when you are eating and deliver a small electrical current to the stomach. The TANTALUS must be charged once a week by placing the charging device over the TANTALUS which is underneath the skin for about a 1 hour period.

Who qualifies?

To be a potential candidate for this study, one must meet certain inclusion criteria, including:

• Have type 2 diabetes
• Between the ages of 18 to 70
• Have a body mass index (BMI) between 28 and 45 kg/m2. BMI is calculated by dividing a person’s weight by his or her height.
• Be medically treated for diabetes with stable, oral medication over the last 3 months
• Have stable weight with no significant changes in the prior three months

Those not eligible for this study include individuals who:

• Receive insulin or BYETTA therapy
• Have a systolic blood pressure above 150
• Take medications known to affect gastric motility
• Are experiencing severe and progressing diabetes complications
• Have had prior bariatric surgery
• Use an active medical device such as an ICD, pacemaker or neurostimulator

Other criteria will be explained to candidates by the investigators.

Further Information:

• Visit the website of Metacure, maker of the TANTALUS System at www.metacure.com
• Download our brochure.
• Contact the Vanderbilt Center for Surgical Weight Loss:
  Phone: 615-343-5821 or 322-7555
  Joan Kaiser, RN 
  E-mail: bill.richards@vanderbilt.edu or joan.kaiser@vanderbilt.edu