# US 10,307,331 B2 · Implantable electroacupuncture system and method for treating depression and similar mental conditions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,331 B2 - Document ID: US10307331B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/929,253 - Filed: 2015-10-30 - Published: 2016-02-25 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-29 - Assignees: Valencia Technologies Corporation - Applicants: Valencia Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Jeffrey H. Greiner; David K. L. Peterson; Chuladatta Thenuwara; Stacy Greiner Chambliss - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307331B2 ## CPC - A61H 39/002: {Using electric currents (electrotherapy A61N1/32)} - A61N 1/36096: {Mood disorders, e.g. depression, anxiety or panic disorder} - A61N 1/36175: {Pulse width or duty cycle} - A61N 1/37205: {Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula} - A61N 1/37223: {Circuits for electromagnetic coupling} - A61N 1/3756: {Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators} - A61H 2201/5005: for controlling frequency distribution, modulation or interference of a driving signal - A61H 2201/5038: freely programmable by the user - A61H 2201/5097: wireless - A61N 1/36125: {Details of circuitry or electric components} - A61N 1/36153: {Voltage (A61N1/3616 takes precedence)} - A61N 1/36157: {Current (A61N1/3616 takes precedence)} - A61N 1/3758: {Packaging of the components within the casing} - A61N 1/3782: {producing a voltage above the power source level} - Y10T 29/49117: Conductor or circuit manufacturing - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) - A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A method of treating a mental disorder of a patient includes 1) generating, by an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient at or near an acupoint corresponding to at least one of a trigeminal nerve and an occipital nerve of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, and 2) applying, by the electroacupuncture device, the stimulation sessions to at least one of the trigeminal nerve and the occipital nerve by way a central electrode and an annular electrode located on the electroacupuncture device in accordance with the duty cycle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of treating a mental disorder of a patient, comprising: generating, by an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, wherein each stimulation session included in the 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 is powered by a primary battery located within the electroacupuncture device and having an internal impedance greater than 5 ohms; and applying, by the electroacupuncture device in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to at least one of a trigeminal nerve and an occipital nerve by way of an electrode array located within the patient at an acupoint corresponding to at least one of the trigeminal nerve and the occipital nerve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the acupoint comprises at least one of acupoints GV20 and EXHN3. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein T3 is at least 10 minutes and less than 40 minutes, and wherein T4 is at least 1440 minutes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the electroacupuncture device from a device external to the electroacupuncture device, a control command that sets the times T3 and T4 to appropriate values configured to treat the mental disorder; wherein the generating of the stimulation sessions is performed in accordance with the control command. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the receiving of the control command comprises detecting, with an electromagnetic field sensor included in the electroacupuncture device, a magnetic field generated by the device external to the electroacupuncture device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the applying of the stimulation sessions to at least one of the trigeminal nerve and the occipital nerve further comprises applying the stimulation sessions by way an electrode included on a lead connected to the electroacupuncture device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the mental disorder comprises at least one of a major depression disorder (MDD), a generalized anxiety disorder (anxiety), bipolar disorder, a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, and an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). ### Claim 8 A system for treating a mental disorder of a patient, comprising: means for generating, within an electroacupuncture device implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient, stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, wherein each stimulation session included in the 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 is powered by a primary battery located within the electroacupuncture device and having an internal impedance greater than 5 ohms; and means for applying, in accordance with the duty cycle, the stimulation sessions to at least one of a trigeminal nerve and an occipital nerve by way of an electrode array located within the patient at an acupoint corresponding to at least one of the trigeminal nerve and the occipital nerve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the primary battery located within the electroacupuncture device has a capacity of less than 60 milliamp-hours (mAh). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the primary battery located within the electroacupuncture device is not rechargeable. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the primary battery located within the electroacupuncture device is a coin-cell battery. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the electrode array comprises a central electrode of a first polarity centrally located 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 the applying of the stimulation sessions to at least one of the trigeminal nerve and the occipital nerve by way of the electrode array comprises applying the stimulation sessions to at least one of the trigeminal nerve and the occipital nerve by way of the central electrode and the annular electrode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the annular electrode is located on the first surface of the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the annular electrode comprises a ring electrode located around a perimeter edge of the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the electrode array comprises a plurality of electrodes located on a lead that is attached to the electroacupuncture device; and the applying of the stimulation sessions to at least one of the trigeminal nerve and the occipital nerve by way of the electrode array comprises applying the stimulation sessions to at least one of the trigeminal nerve and the occipital nerve by way of the plurality of electrodes located on the lead. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the primary battery located within the electroacupuncture device has a capacity of less than 60 milliamp-hours (mAh). ### Claim 17 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the primary battery located within the electroacupuncture device is not rechargeable. ### Claim 18 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the primary battery located within the electroacupuncture device is a coin-cell battery.