Multidirectional periocular nerve stimulation and associated systems, devices, and methods

A device configured to be positioned between an eyeball and an eyelid of a patient for directing stimulation from underneath an eyelid of the patient into a conjunctiva of the patient to stimulate nerves in or around the eyeball, the device comprising:

• an annular body having a central axis therethrough;
• and
• a flex circuit mounted on and conforming to at least a portion of an outer surface of the annular body, the flex circuit comprising;
• a substrate comprising an electronic circuitry portion and one or more electrode portions;
• electronic circuitry disposed on the electronic circuitry portion of the substrate;
• and
• one or more electrodes bonded to the substrate at the one or more electrode portions, the one or more electrodes being separated from the position of the electronic circuitry on the substrate by an angular distance along the annular body and relative to the central axis, the one or more electrodes being electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry by one or more electrical leads extending the angular distance along the annular body, the one or more electrodes configured to apply stimulation from underneath the eyelid of the patient to the conjunctiva of the patient to stimulate the nerves of the patient,
• wherein an orientation around the annular body of each of the one or more electrodes is based on a position on the substrate of a respective electrode portion of the one or more electrode portions,
• wherein the annular body comprises a toroidal shape such that a first electrode is positioned on a radially inward-facing portion of the toroidal shape, and wherein a second electrode is positioned on a radially outward-facing portion of the toroidal shape.

A method for directing stimulation from underneath an eyelid of a patient into a conjunctiva of the patient to stimulate nerves in or around an eyeball of the patient, the method comprising:

• positioning a device on a surface of the eyeball without extending over an iris of the eyeball, the device comprising:
• an annular body having a central axis therethrough;
• and
• a flex circuit mounted on and conforming to at least a portion of an outer surface of the annular body, the flex circuit comprising;
• a substrate comprising an electronic circuitry portion and one or more electrode portions;
• electronic circuitry disposed on the electronic circuitry portion of the substrate;
• and
• one or more electrodes bonded to the substrate at the one or more electrode portions, the one or more electrodes being separated from the position of the electronic circuitry on the substrate by an angular distance along the annular body and relative to the central axis, the one or more electrodes being electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry by one or more electrical leads extending the angular distance along the annular body,
• wherein the annular body comprises a toroidal shape such that a first electrode is positioned on a radially inward-facing portion of the toroidal shape, and wherein a second electrode is positioned on a radially outward-facing portion of the toroidal shape;
• and
• actuating the one or more electrodes to apply stimulation from underneath the eyelid of the patient to the conjunctiva of the patient to stimulate the nerves of the patient.