Implantable Electroacupuncture Device and Method for Treating Obesity

Abstract

An exemplary method for treating obesity in a patient comprising the steps of 1) implanting a coin-sized electroacupuncture (EA) device in the patient below the patient's skin at at least one specified stimulation site, 2) enabling the EA device to generate stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, each stimulation session comprising a series of stimulation pulses, wherein the duty cycle is the ratio of T3 / T4, where T3 is the duration in minutes of each stimulation session, and T4 is the time in minutes between stimulation sessions, and 3) delivering the stimulation pulses of each stimulation session to the at least one specified stimulation site through at least two electrodes / arrays attached to an outside surface of the EA device.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 736,039, filed Jan. 7, 2013, which application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 622,497, filed Sep. 19, 2012 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,938,297. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 736,039 also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 606,995, filed Mar. 6, 2012; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 609,875, filed Mar. 12, 2012; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 672,257, filed Jul. 16, 2012; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 672,661, filed Jul. 17, 2012; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 673,254, filed Jul. 19, 2012; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 674,691, filed Jul. 23, 2012; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 676,275, filed Jul. 26, 2012. All of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their respective...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a device called IEAD that uses a primary battery to generate pulses. The battery has a high internal resistance, which helps to prevent the battery voltage from dropping below needed levels. This ensures that the device operates correctly and avoids any malfunctions. The high internal resistance also allows for the use of thinner batteries, making the device easier to implant. Additionally, the use of lower-cost commercial batteries makes the manufacturing process easier and cheaper.

Problems solved by technology

However, muscular people and athletes may have a BMI in the obese category even though they may not have excess body fat; a person with great muscle mass with a BMI of 30 or higher may not be considered obese.

2. Unhealthy diet and eating habits.

Obesity may also lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, gallbladder disease, gynecologic problems, erectile dysfunction, skin problems, and osteoarthritis.

Unfortunately, these medications can have a high rate of inefficacy and often lead to unfortunate side effects.

Side effects of these prescription drugs include oily and frequent bowel movements, bowel urgency, gas, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, insomnia, and constipation.

Other rare but serious side effects include suicidal thoughts, psychiatric problems, and problems with memory or comprehension.

It offers the best chance of high weight loss but contains serious risks.

However, these procedures are all considered major invasive surgery.

There are associated risks during surgery as well as risks for infection and malnutrition after surgery.

Further, payment for acupuncture services consumes a not insignificant portion of healthcare expenditures in the U.S. and Europe.

There is general agreement that acupuncture is safe when administered by well-trained practitioners using sterile needles, but not on its efficacy as a medical procedure.

The problem lies in trying to ascertain what is fact from what is fiction.

This problem is made more difficult when conducting research on this topic because the insertion of needles, and the manipulation of the needles once inserted, is more of an art than a science, and results from such research become highly subjective.

The methods and devices disclosed in these patents, however, typically utilize (i) large implantable stimulators having long leads that must be tunneled through tissue over an extended distance to reach the desired stimulation site, (ii) external devices that must interface with implanted electrodes via percutaneous leads or wires passing through the skin, or (iii) inefficient and power-consuming wireless transmission schemes.

Such devices and methods are still far too invasive, or are ineffective, and thus subject to the same limitations and concerns, as are the previously described electrical stimulation devices.

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