Patent ID: 9173811
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: A61H,A61N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An Implantable ElectroAcupuncture System (IEAS) adapted for treating depression through application of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation pulses at a specified tissue location of a patient, comprising: an implantable electroacupuncture (EA) device comprising a small, thin, leadless, hermetically-sealed coin-sized and coin-shaped housing containing self-contained circuitry including a primary power source having an internal impedance greater than 5 ohms, pulse generation circuitry powered by the primary power source, and a sensor that wirelessly senses the presence or absence of a magnetic field external to the housing, and uses the magnetic-field present/absent information to turn-on, turn-off and adjust the amplitude of the stimulation pulses generated by the pulse generation circuitry, wherein the self-contained pulse generation circuitry once turned on continuously generates stimulation sessions in accordance with a specified stimulation regimen; a plurality of electrode arrays arranged in a symmetrical pattern, 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, on an outside surface of the EA device housing electrically coupled to the pulse generation circuitry on the inside of the EA device housing through at least one feed-through terminal passing through a wall of the hermetically-sealed housing, whereby stimulation pulses generated by the pulse generation circuitry are directed to the electrode arrays on the outside of the EA device housing in accordance with the specified stimulation regimen, which results in corresponding electrical fields being created around the electrode arrays that cause EA stimulation pulses to be directed to the specified tissue location in accordance with the specified stimulation regimen; wherein the specified stimulation regimen defines how often a stimulation session comprising a stream of stimulation pulses is applied to the patient, the stimulation regimen requiring that the stimulation session have a duration of T wherein the specified tissue location at which EA stimulation pulses are applied comprises at least one of acupoints GV20 and EXHN3, or their underlying nerves, or at least one of the three branches of the Trigeminal nerve known as the supratrochlear, supraorbital and infraorbital nerves.