Implantable electroacupuncture system and method for treating dyslipidemia and obesity
First Claim
1. A method for treating obesity or dyslipidemia of a patient using a small, thin, leadless, implantable electroacupuncture device (IEAD) powered by a small disc battery having an impedance of at least 5 ohms, the IEAD having a maximum linear dimension of no more than 25 mm in a first plane, and a maximum height of no more than 2.5 mm in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane, the IEAD being configured, using electronic circuitry housed within the IEAD, to generate electroacupuncture (EA) pulses in accordance with a specified stimulation regimen and apply the EA stimulation pulses through at least two electrodes/arrays located on a housing of the IEAD to the patient'"'"'s body tissue at or near at least one selected target tissue stimulation site, said at least two electrodes/arrays comprising at least one central electrode/array of a first polarity, having a maximum width of no more than 7 mm, centrally located on a first surface of the small IEAD housing, and at least one annular electrode/array of a second polarity spaced apart from the central electrode/array by at least 5 mm measured from the edge of the annular electrode/array closest to the central electrode/array to the center of the central electrode/array, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) implanting the IEAD below the skin surface of the patient at or near at least one selected target stimulation site, with the first surface of the IEAD facing inwardly into the patient'"'"'s body tissue at the selected target stimulation site; and
(b) enabling the EA device to generate stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than or equal to 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.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An Implantable ElectroAcupuncture System (IEAS) treats dyslipidemia or obesity through application of stimulation pulses applied at at least one of acupoints ST36, SP4, ST37, ST40, SP6, SP9, K16, or LR8, or underlying nerves saphenous or peroneal. The IEAS includes an hermetically-sealed implantable electroacupuncture (EA) device having at least two electrodes located outside of its housing. The housing contains a primary power source, pulse generation circuitry, and a sensor that wirelessly senses externally-generated operating commands. The pulse generation circuitry generates stimulation pulses as controlled, at least in part, by the operating commands sensed through the sensor. The stimulation pulses are applied to the specified acupoint or nerve through the electrodes in accordance with a specified stimulation regimen. Such stimulation regimen requires that the stimulation session be applied at a very low duty cycle not greater than 0.05.
82 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for treating obesity or dyslipidemia of a patient using a small, thin, leadless, implantable electroacupuncture device (IEAD) powered by a small disc battery having an impedance of at least 5 ohms, the IEAD having a maximum linear dimension of no more than 25 mm in a first plane, and a maximum height of no more than 2.5 mm in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane, the IEAD being configured, using electronic circuitry housed within the IEAD, to generate electroacupuncture (EA) pulses in accordance with a specified stimulation regimen and apply the EA stimulation pulses through at least two electrodes/arrays located on a housing of the IEAD to the patient'"'"'s body tissue at or near at least one selected target tissue stimulation site, said at least two electrodes/arrays comprising at least one central electrode/array of a first polarity, having a maximum width of no more than 7 mm, centrally located on a first surface of the small IEAD housing, and at least one annular electrode/array of a second polarity spaced apart from the central electrode/array by at least 5 mm measured from the edge of the annular electrode/array closest to the central electrode/array to the center of the central electrode/array, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) implanting the IEAD below the skin surface of the patient at or near at least one selected target stimulation site, with the first surface of the IEAD facing inwardly into the patient'"'"'s body tissue at the selected target stimulation site; and (b) enabling the EA device to generate stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than or equal to 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification