Methods and systems for treating hypertension using an implantable electroacupuncture device

• US 9,789,304 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Issued: 10/17/2017
• 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 WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US14/805,355
• Publication Number:
  US 20150321007A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 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

A method of treating hypertension in a patient includes 1) generating, by an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient at an acupoint corresponding to a target tissue location within the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, wherein 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 comprises a central electrode of a first polarity and an annular electrode of a second polarity and that is spaced apart from the central electrode; and 2) applying, by the electroacupuncture device, the stimulation sessions to the target tissue location by way of the central electrode and the annular electrode in accordance with the duty cycle.

Claims

1. A method of treating hypertension in a patient, comprising:

generating, by an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient at an acupoint corresponding to a target tissue location within the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, wherein

the acupoint comprises at least one of PC5, PC6, ST36, and ST37,

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,

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 comprises a central electrode of a first polarity centrally located and substantially planar on a first surface of a housing of the electroacupuncture device and an annular electrode of a second polarity and that is spaced apart from the central electrode; and

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

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

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

4. The method 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 method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the electroacupuncture device from a device external to the electroacupuncture device, a control command that configures the electroacupuncture device for treating hypertension.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the receiving of the control command comprises detecting, with a magnetic sensor included in the electroacupuncture device, a magnetic field generated by the device external to the electroacupuncture device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing is coin-sized and coin-shaped.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the annular electrode is located on the first surface of the housing.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the annular electrode comprises a ring electrode located around a perimeter edge of the housing.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the applying of the stimulation sessions to the target tissue location further comprises applying the stimulation sessions by way an electrode included on a lead connected to the electroacupuncture device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising powering electronic circuits within the electroacupuncture device with a battery having an internal impedance of at least 5 ohms.

12. The method 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.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the battery is non-rechargeable.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the battery has a capacity less than 60 mAh.