Patent ID: 11957894
Assignee: MEDTRONIC, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A  F | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A low profile implantable medical device configured to lay generally flat beneath skin, muscle or other tissue of a patient for delivering neurostimulation therapy to an acupuncture point for treatment of a symptom associated with the acupuncture point, the implantable medical device comprising:
a hermetically sealed housing formed of a biocompatible metal, the biocompatible metal comprising at least one of a titanium, stainless steel or an alloy thereof, the hermetically sealed housing including:
a top face;
a bottom face; and
a continuous sidewall;

wherein each of the top face and the bottom face has a linear dimension of less than approximately twenty-seven millimeters in length,
wherein the top face and the bottom face are circumscribed by the continuous sidewall defining an internal cavity,
wherein the continuous sidewall extends substantially perpendicular to the top face and is rounded to provide a smooth continuous surface without sharp corners or edges, and
wherein the hermetically sealed housing generally has a flat profile for positioning between tissue layers of a patient;
electronic circuitry positioned within the internal cavity of the hermetically sealed housing, electronic circuitry comprising:
a pulse generator,
a memory, and
a controller configured to cause the pulse generator to deliver a therapy output according to a specified stimulation regimen stored in the memory;
two or more electrodes electrically coupled to the pulse generator and located on an exterior surface of the hermetically sealed housing, the two or more electrodes comprising: a stimulating cathode arranged on the bottom face of the hermetically sealed housing,
the stimulating cathode comprising: an insulator; and an electrically conductive electrode extending through the insulator,
wherein the electrically conductive electrode is configured to be positioned in proximity to a targeted acupuncture point, and an anode, wherein an uninsulated portion of the housing functions as the anode; and

a telemetry module and associated antenna configured to establish a wireless telemetry link between the electronic circuitry and at least one external programming device, wherein the wireless telemetry link enables receipt of a command from the external programming device to adjust an intensity or strength of the therapy up or down,
wherein an established wireless telemetry link between the electronic circuitry and the at least one external programming device is confirmable.