Implantable electroacupuncture system and method for treating depression and similar mental conditions
First Claim
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1. A method of treating a mental disorder of a patient, comprising:
- generating, by an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, whereineach stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions comprises a series of stimulation pulses,the duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4,each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes, andthe electroacupuncture device is powered by a primary battery located within the electroacupuncture device and having an internal impedance greater than 5 ohms; and
applying, by the electroacupuncture device in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to at least one of a trigeminal nerve and an occipital nerve by way of an electrode array located within the patient at an acupoint corresponding to at least one of the trigeminal nerve and the occipital nerve.
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Abstract
A method of treating a mental disorder of a patient includes 1) generating, by an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient at or near an acupoint corresponding to at least one of a trigeminal nerve and an occipital nerve of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, and 2) applying, by the electroacupuncture device, the stimulation sessions to at least one of the trigeminal nerve and the occipital nerve by way a central electrode and an annular electrode located on the electroacupuncture device in accordance with the duty cycle.
71 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of treating a mental disorder of a patient, comprising:
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generating, by an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, wherein each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions comprises a series of stimulation pulses, the duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4, each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes, and the electroacupuncture device is powered by a primary battery located within the electroacupuncture device and having an internal impedance greater than 5 ohms; and applying, by the electroacupuncture device in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to at least one of a trigeminal nerve and an occipital nerve by way of an electrode array located within the patient at an acupoint corresponding to at least one of the trigeminal nerve and the occipital nerve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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8. A system for treating a mental disorder of a patient, comprising:
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means for generating, within an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, wherein each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions comprises a series of stimulation pulses, the duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4, each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes, and the electroacupuncture device is powered by a primary battery located within the electroacupuncture device and having an internal impedance greater than 5 ohms; and means for applying, in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to at least one of a trigeminal nerve and an occipital nerve by way of an electrode array located within the patient at an acupoint corresponding to at least one of the trigeminal nerve and the occipital nerve. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification