Methods and systems for treating hypertension using an implantable electroacupuncture device

• US 10,518,082 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2017
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valencia Bioscience, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Valencia Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Greiner, Jeffrey H., Peterson, David K. L., Thenuwara, Chuladatta
• Primary Examiner(s): Kahelin, Michael W
• Application Number:
  US15/700,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20180021566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5005 for controlling frequency distribution, modulation or interference of a driving signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5035 Several programs selectable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5038 freely programmable by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/002 Using electric currents electrotherapy A61N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0504 Subcutaneous electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3605 Implantable neurostimulators for stimulating central or peripheral nerve system
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36125 Details of circuitry or electric components
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36175 Pulse width or duty cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3758 Packaging of the components within the casing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3782 producing a voltage above the power source level
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/907 Acupuncture

Abstract

An electroacupuncture device for treating hypertension in a patient includes 1) a housing configured to be implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient at an acupoint corresponding to a target tissue location within the patient, the acupoint comprising at least one of PC5, PC6, ST36, and ST37, 2) a central electrode of a first polarity and centrally located and substantially planar on a first surface of the housing, 3) an annular electrode of a second polarity and that surrounds the central electrode on the first surface of the housing, the annular electrode being spaced apart from the central electrode, and 4) pulse generation circuitry located within the housing and electrically coupled to the annular and central electrodes.

Claims

1. An electroacupuncture device for treating hypertension in a patient, comprising:

a housing configured to be implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient at an acupoint corresponding to a target tissue location within the patient, the acupoint comprising at least one of PC5, PC6, ST36, and ST37;

a central electrode of a first polarity and centrally located and substantially planar on a first surface of the housing;

an annular electrode of a second polarity and that surrounds the central electrode on the first surface of the housing, the annular electrode being spaced apart from the central electrode; and

pulse generation circuitry located within the housing and electrically coupled to the annular and central electrodes, wherein the pulse generation circuitry

generates stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, and

applies the stimulation sessions to the target tissue location by way of the central electrode and the annular electrode in accordance with the duty cycle,

wherein

each stimulation session included in the plurality of stimulation sessions comprises a series of stimulation pulses,

the duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4, and

each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes.

2. The electroacupuncture device of claim 1, wherein the target tissue location is a median nerve of the patient.

3. The electroacupuncture device of claim 1, wherein the stimulation sessions are configured to reduce sympathetic activity within the patient.

4. The electroacupuncture device of claim 1, wherein T3 is at least 10 minutes and less than 60 minutes, and wherein T4 is at least 1440 minutes.

5. The electroacupuncture device of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic sensor that receives, from a device external to the electroacupuncture device, a control command that configures the electroacupuncture device for treating hypertension.

6. The electroacupuncture device of claim 5, wherein the magnetic sensor receives the control command by detecting a magnetic field generated by the device external to the electroacupuncture device.

7. The electroacupuncture device of claim 1, further comprising a battery that powers the pulse generation circuitry, the battery having an internal impedance of at least 5 ohms.

8. The electroacupuncture device of claim 7, wherein the battery is non-rechargeable.

9. The electroacupuncture device of claim 7, wherein the battery has a capacity of less than 60 mAh.

10. The electroacupuncture device of claim 1, wherein the housing is coin-sized and coin-shaped.

11. The electroacupuncture device of claim 1, wherein the annular electrode is located on the first surface of the housing.

12. The electroacupuncture device of claim 1, wherein the annular electrode comprises a ring electrode located around a perimeter edge of the housing.

13. The electroacupuncture device of claim 1, wherein the annular electrode surrounds the central electrode and is spaced at least 5 mm from a center of the central electrode.

14. The electroacupuncture device of claim 1, wherein the pulse generation circuitry applies the stimulation sessions to the target tissue location by applying the stimulation sessions by way an electrode included on a lead connected to the electroacupuncture device.

15. A system for treating hypertension in a patient, comprising:

a housing configured to be implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient at an acupoint corresponding to a target tissue location within the patient the acupoint comprising at least one of PC5, PC6, ST36, and ST37;

a central electrode of a first polarity and centrally located and substantially planar on a first surface of the housing;

an annular electrode of a second polarity and that surrounds the central electrode on the first surface of the housing, the annular electrode being spaced apart from the central electrode;

means for generating stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05; and

means for applying the stimulation sessions to the target tissue location by way of the central electrode and the annular electrode in accordance with the duty cycle,

wherein

each stimulation session included in the plurality of stimulation sessions comprises a series of stimulation pulses,

the duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4, and

each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the target tissue location is a median nerve of the patient.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a battery that powers the pulse generation circuitry, the battery having an internal impedance of at least 5 ohms.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the battery is non-rechargeable.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the battery has a capacity of less than 60 mAh.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the housing is coin-sized and coin-shaped.