Auricular nerve stimulation to address patient disorders, and associated systems and methods

A system for delivering electrical signals to a person having a headache disorder, comprising:

• a signal generator having instructions to generate an electrical signal to address the person's headache disorder, at least a portion of the electrical signal having:
• a frequency in a frequency range from about 15 kHz to about 50 kHz;
• an amplitude in an amplitude range from about 0.1 mA to about 10 mA;
• and
• a pulse width in a pulse width range from about 5 microseconds to about 30 microseconds;
• and
• two earpieces, each shaped to fit against skin of the person's external ear, external ear canal, or both, each earpiece carrying at least two transcutaneous electrodes coupled to the signal generator and positioned to be in electrical communication with at least one auricular nerve of the person, wherein the electrical signal includes a first electrical signal directed to the person's right ear, and a second electrical signal directed to the person's left ear, the first electrical signal differing from the second electrical signal with respect to one or more of the frequency or the amplitude.

A method for delivering an electrical signal to a person having a headache disorder, comprising:

• applying at least one electrical signal to at least one auricular nerve of the person to address the person's headache disorder, wherein the at least one electrical signal is applied via a plurality of transcutaneous electrodes carried by an earpiece positioned against skin of the person's external ear, external ear canal, or both;
• and
• wherein at least a portion of the at least one electrical signal has:
• a frequency in a frequency range from about 15 kHz to about 50 kHz;
• an amplitude in an amplitude range from about 0.1 mA to about 10 mA;
• and
• a pulse width in a pulse width range from about 5 microseconds to about 30 microseconds;
• and
• wherein the at least one electrical signal includes a first electrical signal applied to one of the patient's ears and a second electrical signal applied to the other of the patient's ears, the first electrical signal differing from the second electrical signal with respect to one or more of the frequency or the amplitude.

A method for making a treatment device, comprising:

• programming a signal generator to produce at least one electrical signal to treat a headache disorder, at least a portion of the at least one electrical signal having:
• a frequency in a frequency range from about 15 kHz to about 50 kHz;
• an amplitude in an amplitude range from about 0.1 mA to about 10 mA;
• and
• a pulse width in a pulse width range from about 5 microseconds to about 30 microseconds;
• and
• configuring the signal generator to couple to two earpieces, each shaped to fit against skin of a person's external ear, external ear canal, or both, each earpiece carrying at least two transcutaneous electrodes positioned to be in electrical communication with at least one auricular nerve of the person;
• and
• wherein the at least one electrical signal includes a first electrical signal applied to one of the patient's ears and a second electrical signal applied to the other of the patient's ears, the first electrical signal differing from the second electrical signal with respect to one or more of the frequency or the amplitude.