IMPLANTABLE ELECTROACUPUNCTURE DEVICE EMPLOYING A HIGH IMPEDANCE COIN-CELL BATTERY AS A PRIMARY POWER SOURCE

摘要

An implantable electroacupuncture (ΕΞΑ) device provides stimulation pulses (219) applied at a specified acupoint or other target tissue location for the treatment of specific condition. In a preferred implementation, the EA device is implantable, thin, coin-sized, self- contained and leadless (FIG. 1) having at least two electrodes (110, 120) attached to an outside surface of its housing (122, 124). The EA device generates stimulation pulses in accordance with a specified stimulation regimen (FIGS. 15A, 15B). Power management circuitry (200, 210) within the device allows a thin, coin-cell primary battery (215), having a high internal impedance, to be used to power the device. The stimulation regimen generates stimulation pulses having an amplitude of up to 25 mA during a stimulation session of duration T3 minutes applied every T4 minutes. The duty cycle, or ratio T3/T4, is very low, no greater than 0.05. The low duty cycle and careful power management allow the device to perform its intended function for several years.