Methods and systems for treating hypertension using an implantable electroacupuncture device

An electroacupuncture device for treating hypertension in a patient, comprising:

• a housing configured to be implanted beneath a skin surface of the patient at an acupoint corresponding to a target tissue location within the patient, the acupoint comprising at least one of PC5, PC6, ST36, and ST37;
• a central electrode of a first polarity and centrally located and substantially planar on a first surface of the housing;
• an annular electrode of a second polarity and that surrounds the central electrode on the first surface of the housing, the annular electrode being spaced apart from the central electrode;
• and
• pulse generation circuitry located within the housing and electrically coupled to the annular and central electrodes, wherein the pulse generation circuitry
• generates stimulation sessions at a duty cycle that is less than 0.05, and
• applies the stimulation sessions to the target tissue location by way of the central electrode and the annular electrode in accordance with the duty cycle,
• wherein
• each stimulation session included in the plurality of stimulation sessions comprises a series of stimulation pulses,
• the duty cycle is a ratio of T3 to T4, and
• each stimulation session included in the stimulation sessions has a duration of T3 minutes and occurs at a rate of once every T4 minutes.