Minimally invasive implantable neurostimulation system

A low profile implantable medical device configured to lay generally flat beneath skin, muscle or other tissue of a patient for delivering neurostimulation therapy to an acupuncture point for treatment of a symptom associated with the acupuncture point, the implantable medical device comprising:

• a hermetically sealed housing formed of a biocompatible metal, the biocompatible metal comprising at least one of a titanium, stainless steel or an alloy thereof, the hermetically sealed housing including:
• a top face;
• a bottom face;
• and
• a continuous sidewall;
• wherein each of the top face and the bottom face has a linear dimension of less than approximately twenty-seven millimeters in length,
• wherein the top face and the bottom face are circumscribed by the continuous sidewall defining an internal cavity,
• wherein the continuous sidewall extends substantially perpendicular to the top face and is rounded to provide a smooth continuous surface without sharp corners or edges, and
• wherein the hermetically sealed housing generally has a flat profile for positioning between tissue layers of a patient;
• electronic circuitry positioned within the internal cavity of the hermetically sealed housing, electronic circuitry comprising:
• a pulse generator,
• a memory, and
• a controller configured to cause the pulse generator to deliver a therapy output according to a specified stimulation regimen stored in the memory;
• two or more electrodes electrically coupled to the pulse generator and located on an exterior surface of the hermetically sealed housing, the two or more electrodes comprising:
• a stimulating cathode arranged on the bottom face of the hermetically sealed housing,
• the stimulating cathode comprising:
• an insulator;
• and an electrically conductive electrode extending through the insulator,
• wherein the electrically conductive electrode is configured to be positioned in proximity to a targeted acupuncture point, and an anode, wherein an uninsulated portion of the housing functions as the anode;
• and
• a telemetry module and associated antenna configured to establish a wireless telemetry link between the electronic circuitry and at least one external programming device, wherein the wireless telemetry link enables receipt of a command from the external programming device to adjust an intensity or strength of the therapy up or down,
• wherein an established wireless telemetry link between the electronic circuitry and the at least one external programming device is confirmable.