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Implantable electroacupuncture device and method for treating obesity

  • US 9,364,390 B2
  • Filed: 01/07/2013
  • Issued: 06/14/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of treating obesity and overweight conditions in a patient using a small, leadless, coin-sized and coin-shaped, self-contained, implantable electroacupuncture device (IEAD) powered by a small disc primary battery having a specified nominal output voltage of 3 volts, and having an internal impedance of at least 5 ohms, the IEAD being configured, using electronic circuitry within the IEAD, to generate electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation pulses in accordance with a specified stimulation regimen and apply the EA stimulation pulses through at least two electrodes/arrays located on the housing of the IEAD to the patient'"'"'s body tissue at a selected target tissue stimulation site, said at least two electrodes/arrays comprising a symmetrical electrode configuration that includes 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:

  • (a) implanting the IEAD below the skin surface of the patient at the selected target stimulation site, the target stimulation site being selected from the group of target stimulation sites comprising acupoints SP4, LR8 and ST40, and underlying nerves saphenous and peroneal, with the first surface of the IEAD facing inwardly into the patient'"'"'s body tissue at the selected target stimulation site;

    (b) enabling the IEAD to continuously provide stimulation pulses in accordance with a stimulation regimen that is configured to slowly and methodically remodel the central nervous system of the patient to provide provides a stimulation session at a rate of once every T4 minutes, with each stimulation session having a duration of T3 minutes, where T3 is at least 10 minutes, and where the ratio of T3/T4 is no greater than 0.05.

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