Implantable electroacupuncture system and method for treating cardiovascular disease
First Claim
1. A method for treating cardiovascular disease in a patient comprising the steps of:
- (a) implanting an electroacupuncture (EA) device in the patient below the patient'"'"'s skin at or near at least one specified acupoint;
(b) enabling the EA device to generate stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, wherein each stimulation session comprises a series of stimulation pulses, wherein the duty cycle is the ratio of T3/T4, where T3 is the duration of each stimulation session, and T4 is the duration between stimulation sessions;
(c) delivering the stimulation pulses of each stimulation session to the at least one specified acupoint through a plurality of electrode arrays electrically connected to the EA device, where an electrode array comprises an array of n conductive contacts electrically joined together to function jointly as one electrode, where n is an integer from 1 to 30; and
(d) manually starting and stopping the stimulation sessions within parameter boundaries that set a minimum duration, T3(min), for the stimulation session and a maximum duration, T3(max), for the stimulation session;
as well as a minimum time period, T4(min), between stimulation sessions and a maximum time period, T4(max), between stimulation sessions, and then treating cardiovascular disease by;
(i) manually starting a stimulation session at any time after an initialization event;
(ii) manually stopping the stimulation session started in step (a) at any time after T3(min) has elapsed, or allowing the stimulation session started in step (i) to automatically stop after T3(max) has elapsed;
(iii) manually starting a new stimulation session at any time after T4(min) has elapsed since the stopping of the stimulation in step (ii), or allowing a new stimulation session to automatically start after T4(max) has elapsed;
(iv) repeating steps (ii) and (iii) for so long as the method for treating cardiovascular disease is to be continued, or aborting the treatment by manually shutting down the treatment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable electroacupuncture device (IEAD) treats cardiovascular disease through application of stimulation pulses applied at at least one of acupoints EX-HN1, BL14, HT7, HT5, PC6, ST36, LI11, LU7 and LU2. The IEAD comprises an implantable, coin-sized, self-contained, leadless electroacupuncture device having at least two electrodes attached to an outside surface of its housing. The device generates stimulation pulses in accordance with a specified stimulation regimen. Power management circuitry within the device allows a primary battery, having a high internal impedance, to be used to power the device. The stimulation regimen generates stimulation pulses during a stimulation session of duration T3 minutes applied every T4 minutes. The duty cycle, or ratio T3/T4 is very low, no greater than 0.05. The low duty cycle and careful power management allow the IEAD to perform its intended function for several years.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for treating cardiovascular disease in a patient comprising the steps of:
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(a) implanting an electroacupuncture (EA) device in the patient below the patient'"'"'s skin at or near at least one specified acupoint; (b) enabling the EA device to generate stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, wherein each stimulation session comprises a series of stimulation pulses, wherein the duty cycle is the ratio of T3/T4, where T3 is the duration of each stimulation session, and T4 is the duration between stimulation sessions; (c) delivering the stimulation pulses of each stimulation session to the at least one specified acupoint through a plurality of electrode arrays electrically connected to the EA device, where an electrode array comprises an array of n conductive contacts electrically joined together to function jointly as one electrode, where n is an integer from 1 to 30; and (d) manually starting and stopping the stimulation sessions within parameter boundaries that set a minimum duration, T3(min), for the stimulation session and a maximum duration, T3(max), for the stimulation session;
as well as a minimum time period, T4(min), between stimulation sessions and a maximum time period, T4(max), between stimulation sessions, and then treating cardiovascular disease by;(i) manually starting a stimulation session at any time after an initialization event; (ii) manually stopping the stimulation session started in step (a) at any time after T3(min) has elapsed, or allowing the stimulation session started in step (i) to automatically stop after T3(max) has elapsed; (iii) manually starting a new stimulation session at any time after T4(min) has elapsed since the stopping of the stimulation in step (ii), or allowing a new stimulation session to automatically start after T4(max) has elapsed; (iv) repeating steps (ii) and (iii) for so long as the method for treating cardiovascular disease is to be continued, or aborting the treatment by manually shutting down the treatment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for treating cardiovascular disease in a patient comprising the steps of:
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(a) implanting an electroacupuncture (EA) device in the patient below the patient'"'"'s skin at or near at least one specified acupoint; (b) enabling the EA device to generate stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, wherein each stimulation session comprises a series of stimulation pulses, wherein the duty cycle is the ratio of T3/T4, where T3 is the duration of each stimulation session, and T4 is the duration between stimulation sessions; (c) delivering the stimulation pulses of each stimulation session to the at least one specified acupoint through electrodes located on a case of the EA device; and (d) controlling the stimulation sessions within parameter boundaries that set a minimum duration, T3(min), for the stimulation session and a maximum duration, T3(max), for the stimulation session;
as well as a minimum time period, T4(min), between stimulation sessions and a maximum time period, T4(max), between stimulation sessions, and treating cardiovascular disease by;(i) starting a stimulation session at any time after an initialization event; (ii) stopping the stimulation session started in step (i) at any time after T3(min) has elapsed, or allowing the stimulation session started in step (a) to automatically stop after T3(max) has elapsed; (iii) starting a new stimulation session at any time after T4(min) has elapsed since the stopping of the stimulation in step (ii), or allowing a new stimulation session to automatically start after T4(max) has elapsed; and (iv) repeating steps (ii) and (iii) for so long as the method for treating cardiovascular disease is to be continued, or aborting the treatment by manually shutting down the treatment.
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Specification